Gillette Tech heads and thoughts.

I have seen only a few triangle slot Canadian Techs with ball end handles in antique shops. Canadian made triangle slot techs are fairly plentiful here, and the vast majority have fat handles. I have often wondered if the ball end razors were frankenrazors or whether Gillette was mixing and matching parts. I think @Bogeyman has the best guess, particularly given wartime production. Still, no matter how you slice it, they're one heckuva razor.
 
I actually feel that if someone would clone the cheap pot metal Tech head/base plate that is currently made/sold in China and use a heavy stainless alloy that it would be a fantastic shaver as it has the same blade gap as all other earlier Tech razors, but due to its thinner head & base plate is far more maneuverable. The only drawback to the pot metal one is weight.

This one:

 
I have a lot of Techs, quite possibly one of every variant, and there are two that I return to again and again ... the slotted British from the 1940s and the brass with bakelite handled American from the 1950s. There's also the "raised flat bottom" which I seem to reserve for a special shave and it never really turns out quite as well as the regular slotted British Tech.

To return to the original question, if you've shaved with the slotted British Tech, the 'New' is not going to feel that dissimilar. I know, I l know, the 'New' has teeth and "is more aggressive" but I think some of that is in the mind. I use mine when I've a week or so to mow down, but in practical fact the slotted British Tech would get through it with little problem.

I like the 'New' and if I'd have asked the same question (which I probably did some years ago), I know I would have to get one in ... Yeah, you need one in you life!

While on Techs, I wonder if anyone has seen one of these. I cannot find another example anywhere ...

QT8YtMKrr-9WK9rBymYIKTZDunHyQgRgyFfBDBxouLHPpYW3AomMWV0moZS45OLbX7NxQuG66dS3xbiOJYdmZ6xd8BZ0UjxE7e-Xa9Xp4nUJC6hvdBxOWtrTt5o6YRWGmmTuPHS9U89BUBEeUxuGIAm5-NDCeLyKsdVxYlZMIUAJs_cKp3aGr5mz1mcNByEng5OHbnC2YyrtHiOqT0M59f7GM_8ofSwS_jPZsckRCnnt8o9xfQYdgiweXVGdl712vtldpLQ2q5sxLU-yb8dUrLagrkJuIu6kh9rTnvnZ4sF6ITxx9ZXGxq4jE6minJONWm5UnmrJTTL7zt97rlaH6UvlZ9fRhUqQukWDAxSlfoXMstLgWfOs2OHyAdIHSKaEic9PEBKE_EG5wiNIriE8huPyI68PBTdXmbz0fqFR7pRpCpTdt1roV2xDk7oZHjeyx_ifOmL0XbVo-9uOZJuIS2dR33UCX6d1gI2An6pBXNE7VAGEGh4tDtsU8dXukGbllT0C7zfxxSalfU8HWbsQ2GbqmoaaR5y6oILmRDZLVZdo7DUl_ObmQkKKbjv0-4M5SeGuFImiKVerNSpL5PGNqOZrMR_zm5sFlfu5oD0j7MaBMcJihkwqM3wsHbSpSQdeRleIWQNwmFPbULEv_gEGDPwpXH8KcXxmaaPPxiNx-3RTA2HpjlLBabmWV6E5S2ay4wPch_YeFMwB3pzWj9ZHPHwhKUbd-qq8PHUxaR3ZOX871WqU8A=w1200
 
I actually feel that if someone would clone the cheap pot metal Tech head/base plate that is currently made/sold in China and use a heavy stainless alloy that it would be a fantastic shaver as it has the same blade gap as all other earlier Tech razors, but due to its thinner head & base plate is far more maneuverable. The only drawback to the pot metal one is weight.

This one:


Brass is heavier than SS.
 
I have a lot of Techs, quite possibly one of every variant, and there are two that I return to again and again ... the slotted British from the 1940s and the brass with bakelite handled American from the 1950s. There's also the "raised flat bottom" which I seem to reserve for a special shave and it never really turns out quite as well as the regular slotted British Tech.

To return to the original question, if you've shaved with the slotted British Tech, the 'New' is not going to feel that dissimilar. I know, I l know, the 'New' has teeth and "is more aggressive" but I think some of that is in the mind. I use mine when I've a week or so to mow down, but in practical fact the slotted British Tech would get through it with little problem.

I like the 'New' and if I'd have asked the same question (which I probably did some years ago), I know I would have to get one in ... Yeah, you need one in you life!

While on Techs, I wonder if anyone has seen one of these. I cannot find another example anywhere ...

QT8YtMKrr-9WK9rBymYIKTZDunHyQgRgyFfBDBxouLHPpYW3AomMWV0moZS45OLbX7NxQuG66dS3xbiOJYdmZ6xd8BZ0UjxE7e-Xa9Xp4nUJC6hvdBxOWtrTt5o6YRWGmmTuPHS9U89BUBEeUxuGIAm5-NDCeLyKsdVxYlZMIUAJs_cKp3aGr5mz1mcNByEng5OHbnC2YyrtHiOqT0M59f7GM_8ofSwS_jPZsckRCnnt8o9xfQYdgiweXVGdl712vtldpLQ2q5sxLU-yb8dUrLagrkJuIu6kh9rTnvnZ4sF6ITxx9ZXGxq4jE6minJONWm5UnmrJTTL7zt97rlaH6UvlZ9fRhUqQukWDAxSlfoXMstLgWfOs2OHyAdIHSKaEic9PEBKE_EG5wiNIriE8huPyI68PBTdXmbz0fqFR7pRpCpTdt1roV2xDk7oZHjeyx_ifOmL0XbVo-9uOZJuIS2dR33UCX6d1gI2An6pBXNE7VAGEGh4tDtsU8dXukGbllT0C7zfxxSalfU8HWbsQ2GbqmoaaR5y6oILmRDZLVZdo7DUl_ObmQkKKbjv0-4M5SeGuFImiKVerNSpL5PGNqOZrMR_zm5sFlfu5oD0j7MaBMcJihkwqM3wsHbSpSQdeRleIWQNwmFPbULEv_gEGDPwpXH8KcXxmaaPPxiNx-3RTA2HpjlLBabmWV6E5S2ay4wPch_YeFMwB3pzWj9ZHPHwhKUbd-qq8PHUxaR3ZOX871WqU8A=w1200

I've seen them on B&B a few years ago, and occasionally on the web, but I tried to find an image of one the other day and couldn't.

They were identified as "long slot", and I don't think they made many that way.
 
The pretty long slot razor you show is not a Hybrid I believe but rather a version of the flat bottom British Tech. The Hybrid Tech as shown in mr-razor on the other hand is indeed a Raised Flat Bottom, the only solid bar RFB that Gillette ever made.

The Hybrid Techs are my favorite subject as it is the smoothest shave I ever experienced. Almost no blade feel and efficient as a New - but with the solid bar making it risk free. And rhodium plating makes it the true Rolls-Royce of Techs (and NEWs, for that matter). A stealth high-end razor, wonderful and modest looking :love::love::love:

Here are some selected photos showing the razor. The razor only came in one guise but came with 2 different engravings. And further it came in 3 different cases: The tan leather one seen in mr-razor, another tan leather case, and then (though it is disputed) also in the brown bakelite case of the 1930s. When it was made is being discussed, some say they came out in the late 1930s but mr-razor now says 1947 as per an Australian ad showing it, the only know advertisement for this rarity:

The Hybrid Tech showing its distinguishing feature: The RFB profile along with the hole seen from the side:
231C9143-A4CD-41F0-BC9F-F7907669CA7C.jpeg

The two different angravings on the baseplate (sorry for the poor pic):
06333499-25FC-4AFE-B7C0-648EBFFA83B8.jpeg9213E496-89CA-475E-AC83-CE31B385E805.jpeg

The engravings similar to the same-era 2-piece New RFB's also made in England (#77/#88 sets):A9EE6330-EFED-4054-9F40-01434C91461A.jpeg

07DF60B8-36A9-4516-92C7-3239D2AA2A08.jpeg

The 3 different case variations:
EC8B3D82-7AB6-4FB9-AE97-61C01502DEAA.jpeg
 
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The pretty long slot razor you show is not a Hybrid I believe but rather a version of the flat bottom British Tech. The Hybrid Tech as shown in mr-razor on the other hand is indeed a Raised Flat Bottom, the only solid bar RFB that Gillette ever made.

The Hybrid Techs are my favorite subject as it is the smoothest shave I ever experienced. Almost no blade feel and efficient as a New - but with the solid bar making it risk free. And rhodium plating makes it the true Rolls-Royce of Techs (and NEWs, for that matter). A stealth high-end razor, wonderful and modest looking :love::love::love:

Here are some selected photos showing the razor. The razor only came in one guise but came with 2 different engravings. And further it came in 3 different cases: The tan leather one seen in mr-razor, another tan leather case, and then (though it is disputed) also in the brown bakelite case of the 1930s. When it was made is being discussed, some say they came out in the late 1930s but mr-razor now says 1947 as per an Australian ad showing it, the only know advertisement for this rarity:

The Hybrid Tech showing its distinguishing feature: The RFB profile along with the hole seen from the side:
View attachment 50020

The two different angravings on the baseplate (sorry for the poor pic):
View attachment 50018View attachment 50017

The engravings similar to the same-era 2-piece New RFB's also made in England (#77/#88 sets):View attachment 50015

View attachment 50016

The 3 different case variations:
View attachment 50019

You are absolutely correct my friend. (y) :cool:
 
The pretty long slot razor you show is not a Hybrid I believe but rather a version of the flat bottom British Tech....

Thanks for straightening that out. I have never seen a "Hybrid" in the flesh as they are non-existent on this side of the Atlantic. However, I have shaved with both NEW types ( and despise them as I do all OC Gillette razors) as well as owning an English "flat bottom" Tech years ago. Personally, I concluded that in the end I could not tell one iota of difference between the latter and a "ball end" post war Tech when shaving. I measured the blade gaps and there was no difference. I would bet dollars to dog turds that the "Hybrid" mikes the same, i.e., 0.023" + or - 0.003.
 
All "ball end" Techs are oval slots.

No absolutes where Gillette is concerned. The Tech in particular had every imaginable combination of cap, baseplate, and handle. Plastic, bakelite, zamak, yellow brass, red brass, steel, aluminum, whatever could be used was used to make parts. There were many different styles of baseplate as well. They used everything until it was gone, they didn't have cut-off dates when something would no longer be used.
 
I've had a hybrid tech, and a few flat bottomed ones too. I couldn't really tell the difference in the shave, to be honest. But then I'm not a huge fan of the RFB in general.
 
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