Gillette Tech

[LeeMaz]

Ok my one be in, one out rule has been blown two weeks into the new year! I’ve had a first try with a Tech after a kind loan by @ATG and have fallen for it already with one use so I’ve found a vintage razor I get on with finally! There seems loads about, is there any date, materials I need to look out for? Handles or differences to look out for? Anyone have a good one, they would like to move on?
And yes I know like everyone I was told try a Tech, you don’t/won’t want anything else! I’ve a lovely new steel handle that needs a home, but don’t know if that’s a issue with aluminium or zamak heads which I believe the Tech has!
Any help and advise would be greatly received!

 

[pjgh]

I have an extensive collection of Techs (alas, none spare or you'd be more than welcome to it) and consider the following the ones that I most enjoy ...

Pre-WW2 American (Brass) < look for the triangular drain holes; brass is just lovely on the face (8 in the picture)
1940s British Flat Bottom (Nickel) < it's a pretty flat plate with two slots (6 in the picture)
1930s?1940s? British Hybrid Tech (mine is Rhodium re-plated) < look for the raised part under the bottom plate (7 in the picture)

From: https://www.theshavingroom.co.uk/co...illette-connoisseurs.54816/page-3#post-840172

The point of the picture (for that thread) was to sho how the 'New' morphed into the British Tech (left), which on the right hand side we can see that the American Tech remained pretty much unchanged pre-War to post-War (8 to 9).

 

[Bogeyman]

...which on the right hand side we can see that the American Tech remained pretty much unchanged pre-War to post-War (8 to 9).

Yes, but in the opinion of many (myself included) that small "tweak" they did to the post-war was the zenith of Tech design.

 

[pjgh]

You like the 1950s model, right @Bogeyman (9 in the picture).

 

[Scorpio93]

I have an extensive collection of Techs (alas, none spare or you'd be more than welcome to it) and consider the following the ones that I most enjoy ...

Pre-WW2 American (Brass) < look for the triangular drain holes; brass is just lovely on the face (8 in the picture)
1940s British Flat Bottom (Nickel) < it's a pretty flat plate with two slots (6 in the picture)
1930s?1940s? British Hybrid Tech (mine is Rhodium re-plated) < look for the raised part under the bottom plate (7 in the picture)

From: https://www.theshavingroom.co.uk/co...illette-connoisseurs.54816/page-3#post-840172

The point of the picture (for that thread) was to sho how the 'New' morphed into the British Tech (left), which on the right hand side we can see that the American Tech remained pretty much unchanged pre-War to post-War (8 to 9).

Out of curiosity - how much different are you finding the shave hybrid tech gives you to flat bottom tech? I got the latter and love it, but also heard good stuff about the elusive hybrid tech

 

[Bogeyman]

You like the 1950s model, right @Bogeyman (9 in the picture).

Like a hog loves slop!

Out of curiosity - how much different are you finding the shave hybrid tech gives you to flat bottom tech? I got the latter and love it, but also heard good stuff about the elusive hybrid tech

People on this forum whose opinion I trust say they shave exactly the same. YMMV.

 

[pjgh]

Out of curiosity - how much different are you finding the shave hybrid tech gives you to flat bottom tech? I got the latter and love it, but also heard good stuff about the elusive hybrid tech

Haha! It's a tough one to answer ...

The short answer is: they're the same geometry at the working end. They shave the same. Any marginal difference, say in weight, would be compensated by the shaver's hand/wrist in use.

The long answer is akin to, say, differences between wine vintages and the shape of the glass that you drink it from. We are, of course, absolutely (and in reality) splitting hairs here, but placed side by side I'd pick the Hybrid. Why? The only material difference is that it is slightly heavier in the head (18g vs 13g, so 5g* heavier), which might make a difference, sorta like the Rocket HD vs the Parat. The truth of the matter is more likely that it's rarer, which makes the shave sweeter ... that je ne sait quoi which only eloquent language can determine a difference.

That said, it is a very nice razor. Mine is replated in rhodium and I like to sit the (slightly heavier head) onto a slightly heavier handle, in my case the Weber Bulldog in stainless. I think that handle really suits the weight and gives the razor a modern look and appeal.

* g = grams ... you know, because of the metric system. In our case, for the sake of our friends over the Atlantic, g = units of Gillette

 

[pjgh]

So, a list of 4 so far @LeeMaz

Pre-WW2 American (Brass) < look for the triangular drain holes; brass is just lovely on the face (8 in the picture)
1940s British Flat Bottom (Nickel) < it's a pretty flat plate with two slots (6 in the picture)
1930s?1940s? British Hybrid Tech (mine is Rhodium re-plated) < look for the raised part under the bottom plate (7 in the picture)
1950s Diamond Base < look for the shape of the baseplate (9 in the picture). This model can also be had with a lightweight aluminium baseplate, possibly something to do with the Korean War, possibly something to do with the British fancy for austerity.

That said, I don't at all mind a later model for which you should be able to pick up mint or certainly near mint quite easily, so giving you a nearly new razor mitigating against Zamak rot. For the French (French African?) market you can get an open comb version, also found under the Nacet brand.

So, that's a short list then of pretty much all the models and absolutely no use whatsoever in helping you pick one

The conclusion, therefore ... get one of each!

 

[Scorpio93]

Haha! It's a tough one to answer ...

The short answer is: they're the same geometry at the working end. They shave the same. Any marginal difference, say in weight, would be compensated by the shaver's hand/wrist in use.

The long answer is akin to, say, differences between wine vintages and the shape of the glass that you drink it from. We are, of course, absolutely (and in reality) splitting hairs here, but placed side by side I'd pick the Hybrid. Why? The only material difference is that it is slightly heavier in the head (18g vs 13g, so 5g* heavier), which might make a difference, sorta like the Rocket HD vs the Parat. The truth of the matter is more likely that it's rarer, which makes the shave sweeter ... that je ne sait quoi which only eloquent language can determine a difference.

That said, it is a very nice razor. Mine is replated in rhodium and I like to sit the (slightly heavier head) onto a slightly heavier handle, in my case the Weber Bulldog in stainless. I think that handle really suits the weight and gives the razor a modern look and appeal.

* g = grams ... you know, because of the metric system. In our case, for the sake of our friends over the Atlantic, g = units of Gillette

Thanks Paul - that is quite interesting! I think if occasion pops up (for the right price) I’ll grab one . With my FBT I do wish the head was slightly heavier (actually I wish that with all techs I’ve used) so that one might be a winner in that department! Thanks a lot for the insight

 

[TobyC]

Thanks Paul - that is quite interesting! I think if occasion pops up (for the right price) I’ll grab one . With my FBT I do wish the head was slightly heavier (actually I wish that with all techs I’ve used) so that one might be a winner in that department! Thanks a lot for the insight

It would be hard to find a "bad" Tech, I prefer all brass for weight and balance, but they all work.

 

[pjgh]

Brass is lovely on the face.

Worth mentioning is a difference between British and American brass Techs, where the top cap on the American is red brass on yellow brass plate while the British is all yellow brass. Just a material difference. The American fat handle is also part yellow and part red brass.

 

[Bogeyman]

...The truth of the matter is more likely that it's rarer, which makes the shave sweeter ... that je ne sait quoi which only eloquent language can determine a difference...

In other words you, as well as one unnamed regular poster puts it , are implying...

 

[vates]

Great thread!

I have a question too.
Which brass Tech is the most efficient (or rather "aggressive") of the bunch?

 

[pjgh]

Great thread!

I have a question too.
Which brass Tech is the most of efficient (or rather "aggressive") of the bunch?

pre-War (number 8)

... or course if you sand the nickel off any British FB and take a smidge of the brass off as well, you'll be in for a treat!

 

[vates]

Thanks!

 

[Bogeyman]

pre-War (number 8)

... or course if you sand the nickel off any British FB and take a smidge of the brass off as well, you'll be in for a treat!

Did you ever feeler gauge the blade gap on any of these? I did on several a few years back and if I recall all were right at 0.025" + or - 0.002", i.e., the same for all intents & purposes. The only exception is the one "Contract" Tech I have which is milder than normal. Of course, it is not in the best of shape either. As you well know, I subscribe to the more stable blade clamping theory for the post-war Tech theory.