Gillette Tech...what should I look for?

[Bogeyman]

pjgh, what are your opinions on the rare so called "Hybrid" Tech? I fail to see how it could possibly shave any different than a standard "flat bottom" Tech for that matter.

Yes, those OC Techs (not Nacet marked) were made mainly in the 70's in the UK for the French market from what I have read. I had a chance to buy one once, but I remembered how much I detested the Gillette NEW LC & SC models and passed on the deal.

 

[pjgh]

pjgh, what are your opinions on the rare so called "Hybrid" Tech? I fail to see how it could possibly shave any different than a standard "flat bottom" Tech for that matter.

Oh, it's amazing! Shaves like nothing else on earth! Nah, if anything the head is slightly heavier and so weighting is towards the head with most metal handles. That translates as having a little more heft. Negligible. We're talking about the final part at the end of the final percentage and so to convey any kind of difference between two objects that are ostensibly the same we have to make bold statements that are way beyond any empirical calculation. Negligible. Certainly, there's no material difference in the bit that touches your face.

It's a nice razor to handle and to use.

 

[Bogeyman]

pjgh, since you have a better cam than I do I wish you would post photos showing the leading edge of the safety bars on the your Techs, please. That is the part that actually makes first contact with the face and guides the shave, i.e., the lower edge. The "flat bottom" is more squared (or less chamfered to be more exact) causing a different sensation IMO,

 

[pjgh]

I've got an iPhone SE, so not easy to focus that close ...

But, suffice to say the pre-war and post-War American are exactly the same with a ridge down the side of the comb, as found also on the ball-end Tech (both British and American). The flat bottom and the raised flat bottom (hybrid) Techs from Britain do not exhibit that ridge on the comb - they're perfectly flat. Yet, the other day we were discussing an oddity I found in my collection which was a flat bottom Tech (Biritsh) that had the comb from the ball-end era; that, and the "Gillette Made in England" was on the lower half of the plate rather than the top half as was de rigeur for the majority of the flat bottom Tech.

Let's see if we can see anything ...

Left to right: pre-War, post-War & Ball-end

Left to right: Flat bottom & Raised flat bottom (Hybrid)

 

[Greybeard]

I've got an iPhone SE, so not easy to focus that close ...

But, suffice to say the pre-war and post-War American are exactly the same with a ridge down the side of the comb, as found also on the ball-end Tech (both British and American). The flat bottom and the raised flat bottom (hybrid) Techs from Britain do not exhibit that ridge on the comb - they're perfectly flat. Yet, the other day we were discussing an oddity I found in my collection which was a flat bottom Tech (Biritsh) that had the comb from the ball-end era; that, and the "Gillette Made in England" was on the lower half of the plate rather than the top half as was de rigeur for the majority of the flat bottom Tech.

Let's see if we can see anything ...

Left to right: pre-War, post-War & Ball-end

Left to right: Flat bottom & Raised flat bottom (Hybrid)

I like the look of the ball end more than the flat bottom...God, I sound like I'm in a Carry-On film!

 

[Bogeyman]

...suffice to say the pre-war and post-War American are exactly the same with a ridge down the side of the comb, as found also on the ball-end Tech (both British and American). The flat bottom and the raised flat bottom (hybrid) Techs from Britain do not exhibit that ridge on the comb - they're perfectly flat...

Yes, that is what I was referring to and now for my theory: the "flat bottom", due to the flat leading edge, is more blade specific than the rounded leading edge Tech models. The rounded edge Techs have a "sweet spot" that is easier to find as well as less blade specific. IMO. That makes sense to me as the fulcrum is easier to hold in place.

These guys weren't no dummies.

P.S. Thanks for the photos.

 

[pjgh]

I like the look of the ball end more than the flat bottom...God, I sound like I'm in a Carry-On film!

Flat bottomed Techs make the shaving world go round!

These guys weren't no dummies.

They certainly were no kickstarter outfit ...

 

[TobyC]

Left to right: pre-War, post-War & Ball-end

Left to right: Flat bottom & Raised flat bottom (Hybrid)

The Flat Bottom and the RFB have the same blade bed (fulcrum location) as the pre-war Tech (and the LC New) no wonder you like those! I would think that they shave much the same as the pre-war. You should try them against each other using the same handle.

 

[Bogeyman]

The Flat Bottom and the RFB have the same blade bed (fulcrum location) as the pre-war Tech (and the LC New) no wonder you like those! I would think that they shave much the same as the pre-war. You should try them against each other using the same handle.

But the US & Canadian pre-war are rounded on their leading edge fulcrums and not squared. As well, the post-war in the opinions of many shave smoother due to a smidgen more blade rigidity. I agree.

 

[Greybeard]

Yes, that is what I was referring to and now for my theory: the "flat bottom", due to the flat leading edge, is more blade specific than the rounded leading edge Tech models. The rounded edge Techs have a "sweet spot" that is easier to find as well as less blade specific. IMO. That makes sense to me as the fulcrum is easier to hold in place.

The Flat Bottom and the RFB have the same blade bed (fulcrum location) as the pre-war Tech (and the LC New) no wonder you like those! I would think that they shave much the same as the pre-war. You should try them against each other using the same handle.

But the US & Canadian pre-war are rounded on their leading edge fulcrums and not squared. As well, the post-war in the opinions of many shave smoother due to a smidgen more blade rigidity. I agree.

REALLY?...REEEEEAAAAALLLLLLLYYYYY? Why don't you guys just get a room?

 

[Boycie83]

The following is the ideal specification of Tech that you want:

Handle: 79mm long x 13mm diameter, note the collar is 16mm diameter and the base is 15mm diameter.
The handle is deeply machine-tooled in a cross hatch design, it's absolutely non-slip
Head width: 44.2mm
Total height: 88.7mm
Weight: 110g
Blade Gap Range: 0.012" - 0.051" (0.3048mm - 1.2954mm)




AND IT LOOKS LIKE THIS!!!

 

[donnie_arko]

Having had the pre-war American Tech in brass/copper, I turned my sights on a British flat-bottom equivalent and found that no such thing actually exists! Always one for wanting a unicorn, I made my own

What you do is take a British flat-bottom Tech and some sandpaper ...

In fact, I have spare Tech and New heads with worn plating sitting right here. I'm lacking the sandpaper at the moment, but if I pull my finger out I could sand those down for you. No handle, mind.

Wow, so you did that yourself! Really impressive. If I had a Tech or New heads in my hands and with my sandpaper skills if I'd either end up with a handful of dust and rubble, or with a Yaqi Cobbed Head that was even shinier and even more aggressive than when I started.

No handle is fine with me though!

 

[pjgh]

Wow, so you did that yourself! Really impressive. If I had a Tech or New heads in my hands and with my sandpaper skills if I'd either end up with a handful of dust and rubble, or with a Yaqi Cobbed Head that was even shinier and even more aggressive than when I started.

No handle is fine with me though!

Then I shall pick up some sandpaper and get those two heads sanded down. I like the rubber backed stuff which I do have a couple of but the sandy part has kinda long gone. Leave it with me ...

 

[TobyC]

The following is the ideal specification of Tech that you want:

Handle: 79mm long x 13mm diameter, note the collar is 16mm diameter and the base is 15mm diameter.
The handle is deeply machine-tooled in a cross hatch design, it's absolutely non-slip
Head width: 44.2mm
Total height: 88.7mm
Weight: 110g
Blade Gap Range: 0.012" - 0.051" (0.3048mm - 1.2954mm)




AND IT LOOKS LIKE THIS!!!
View attachment 57181

That's one of them newfangled girly men fluffers! No character, no history, no bazaba!

And a Tech needs no adjustment it comes absolutely perfect!!!

 

[Greybeard]

The following is the ideal specification of Tech that you want:

Handle: 79mm long x 13mm diameter, note the collar is 16mm diameter and the base is 15mm diameter.
The handle is deeply machine-tooled in a cross hatch design, it's absolutely non-slip
Head width: 44.2mm
Total height: 88.7mm
Weight: 110g
Blade Gap Range: 0.012" - 0.051" (0.3048mm - 1.2954mm)




AND IT LOOKS LIKE THIS!!!
View attachment 57181

Chris...enough already! OK, I'll remortgage and buy the fekin thing!

 

[TobyC]

Chris...enough already! OK, I'll remortgage and buy the fekin thing!

Traitor!

Turncoat!

You're a girl!!!