Razor of the Week: 1940's British Thin Handle Tech
I've chosen my Thin Handle Tech as razor of the week as this is one of my favourite razors to shave with. This razor stays in permanent rotation.
The Badger and Blade wiki sums up the Tech nicely, and rather than re-writing what they have to say, here it is verbatim:
The Gillette Tech was notable as the first Gillette razor sold with a solid safety bar rather than an open comb guard. From a manufacturing standpoint, the Tech was the first safety razor made with a guard plate stamped from sheet metal. Previously guard plates had been machined or swaged (die-forged) from stock. This technique was patented as US 2,270,388, filed 9 Aug 1938 and issued 20 Jan 1942, and gave the Tech its characteristic diamond-indented guard plate. This depression stiffens the plate. Some UK variants do not have this feature, and may have been stamped from thicker sheet-metal, or may have been machined or swaged.
Gillette claimed the Tech made advancements in 4 "points" of Technology, all of which were widely advertised, including "The ridgid blade support speeds shaving", "Non-skid tread protects face", "Cleans quickly - never clogs" and "Solid bar guard assures comfort". Throughout the razor's production, Gillette positioned the Tech as a low-cost model of it's razor lineup, selling for years for 49 cents for the nickel version, and 98 cents for the gold-plated version.
The Gillette Tech was also a common gift to American soldiers from WWII through Vietnam from the American Red Cross in care packages.
I acquired my Thin Handle Tech in January of 2014. It was my second ever purchase of vintage razors. This particular razor was purchased on Trade Me and came with another unknown branded razor. The pair cost me $21 NZD and I later sold the unknown branded razor for $15. The difference being $6 for the Thin Handle Tech - pretty good deal if you ask me.
About a quarter of my collection are techs. However, I have only one Thin Handle Tech - and it's the only Tech that stays in permanent rotation (I'm yet to try my fat handle Tech. I hear it's many a wet shaver's favourite). In true Tech fashion, it's a mild razor that gives me a very comfortable shave. As usual, I pair this with a Feather blade.
It's your basic three piece razor. It has a nice grippy handle and a decent weight, weighing in at 43 grams. It's British made, as are most of the razors that make their way to New Zealand and Australia, and from the 1940's.
My particular one has a little bit of brassing around the ring near the top, as can be seen in the first photo. The printed "Gillette" logo has also since disappeared. Beside these it is in a fairly decent condition.
I think I have only ever seen one other for sale in New Zealand. It was either that or a Fat Handle Tech; sometimes it's hard to distinguish when you don't get a clear photo.
If you like mild razors, I recommend you give this one ago.
