Item Description
Many people are familiar with the long-running Gillette Tech series of razors. They're cheap, plentiful and well-made. This particular review is about the earliest of the Techs-- those with triangular guard holes and flat profile safety bars.
The majority of Techs on the market date from after WWII and have bowed profile guards/lower plates with round corner rectangular openings. These are generally mild razors. However the early Techs, those made before and during WWII, have triangular guard holes and flat profile guards/lower plates. This difference creates a little bit bigger blade gap and, according to some, a slightly more aggressive shave. I agree with that assessment.
These early razors often look identical to later Tachs at first glance. But a close inspection shows a few giveaway characteristics.
First-- the guard bar has semi-triangular holes rather than rectangular ones. Second, the guard plate viewed from the cide has a flat, rather than curved center section.
Pre war Techs can come with either ball handles or "fat" handles. Wartime military examples often having a black plastic handle unique to that model. This sort of close examination can help you pick out an early Tech, if you're looking for it.
Some people tend to group these early Techs with later ones, but my view is that they're somewhat distinct because of these features and because seems just a step more aggressive to me.
The razors have the normal 3-piece construction the Tech series as a whole is famous for. They have the "bar and slot" type blade clasp, like many other designs from that period. The shaving experience is generally mild, though it seems a bit more aggressive than the later Techs. The larger triangular holes also allow more of the lather to pass through the bar. They seem to avoid clogging slightly (though not much) better than the post war Techs. They are lightweight razors, though in the fat handle variety do have a bit more heft than the usual Tech. The quality of the workmanship is generally quite good. They can be found for prices similar to other Techs, usually because the seller doesn't recognize the subtle differences.
So, if you're looking for a Tech that is a little different than your average find, this one might be worth a look. It seems to me it shaves a little bit more aggressively, but still retains a generally mild approach.
The majority of Techs on the market date from after WWII and have bowed profile guards/lower plates with round corner rectangular openings. These are generally mild razors. However the early Techs, those made before and during WWII, have triangular guard holes and flat profile guards/lower plates. This difference creates a little bit bigger blade gap and, according to some, a slightly more aggressive shave. I agree with that assessment.
These early razors often look identical to later Tachs at first glance. But a close inspection shows a few giveaway characteristics.
First-- the guard bar has semi-triangular holes rather than rectangular ones. Second, the guard plate viewed from the cide has a flat, rather than curved center section.
Pre war Techs can come with either ball handles or "fat" handles. Wartime military examples often having a black plastic handle unique to that model. This sort of close examination can help you pick out an early Tech, if you're looking for it.
Some people tend to group these early Techs with later ones, but my view is that they're somewhat distinct because of these features and because seems just a step more aggressive to me.
The razors have the normal 3-piece construction the Tech series as a whole is famous for. They have the "bar and slot" type blade clasp, like many other designs from that period. The shaving experience is generally mild, though it seems a bit more aggressive than the later Techs. The larger triangular holes also allow more of the lather to pass through the bar. They seem to avoid clogging slightly (though not much) better than the post war Techs. They are lightweight razors, though in the fat handle variety do have a bit more heft than the usual Tech. The quality of the workmanship is generally quite good. They can be found for prices similar to other Techs, usually because the seller doesn't recognize the subtle differences.
So, if you're looking for a Tech that is a little different than your average find, this one might be worth a look. It seems to me it shaves a little bit more aggressively, but still retains a generally mild approach.
