Almost no information exists online on the history and design of this model. Therefore, my aim with this thread is to document more detail for any interested Gillette enthusiasts outthere.
PART 1:
As the Gillette company emerged from the shadows of WW II their ingenuity had not slowed down. Already in February 1945 a patent was filed for this adjustable razor with an advanced and intricate blade feeder system.
But sadly, as far as we know, the model never made it to the market.
A failed design?
Searching for history on this model the only thing I was able to find was a hypothesis that only a few sets were built for Gillette executives to test before decision would be made to mass produce and market - and that the model then was abandoned prematurely.
If this hypothesis holds true, I am thinking that this could have been because the razor was overengineered or because the reusable blade loading system was too complicated/expensive. Or maybe it was simply because another Gillette invention team came up with a much smarter idea: The ingenious disposable blade dispensers which started to come out in the late 1940s with most Gillette model sets.
With the much simpler disposable blade loader solution Gillette was able for the next decades to continue with standard TTO razors. But with the collateral side effect that the few produced Techmatic razors, beautiful as they were, were relegated to the executive drawers of Gillette memorable failures.
Razor shown with the blade loader/injector accessories, very detailed, heavy and complex constructions.
The prototype?
Only 4 specimens of this early Techmatic are confirmed in existence today. Of these four razors 2 are documented as part of full sets (of which one is pictured in mr-razor in its fantastic bright blue case), whereas the 2 other razors have no case. One of these sits with a famous collector in the UK and then there is this 4th one.
And to sum all up, in addition to these four razors only a couple of loose injectors/blade loaders are known to exist.
The UK owned immaculate full set as shown in mr-razor - bought by a lucky guy for 60 GBP!
What makes this particular 4th specimen extra interesting is that it holds discernible differences from the one shown in mr-razor. And I found a photo below which seems to indicate that this 4th specimen could actually be the prototype shown in the photo. It has no Gillette markings or diamond logo on the baseplate, and it lacks the ‘1’ and ‘2’ on the top cap which the razor in mr-razor has. And a third difference to the below blue case set is that the knob has thinner side edges.. Wow.
Only 4 specimens known - including the prototype...?
The visual design
This razor is a gorgeous thing to hold. I love the visual design, the tactile grip/knurling is perfect and the industrial masculine design of the whole razor seems to have inspired the Fatboys and Slims that were to come more than a decade later.
I believe it is rhodium plated, but the rhodium has a fabulous silver-like shine to it, more yellowish than my other rhodium Gillettes. Stunning. Weighing in at 82 grams it feels truly solid and it is very well balanced.
In the last photo notice the thinner edges of the knob - if compared to the full blue cased set shown above. The plot thickens...
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Judging by the mechanism it uses a different method to adjust, than other Gillettes. If the blade is pressed to the base plate by the springs then only the cap moves and dialing it up (cap further from blade) would mean the razor becomes less effective? Like putting shims on the top of the blade.
