A Modified Feather TTO With A Metal Handle?

[mgoldmann]

I recently came upon an intriguing concept It's a Feather TTO head and dial attached to a metal handle. Does anyone have any experience with this combination? How does the metal handle change the quality of the shave or the techniques of the user?

 

[MondoJ]

Pics?

 

[Sledgehammer39]

Don't see any pic's either!

 

[mgoldmann]

Working on pictures for it. I ended up ordering one from the website I found it on. When I get it, I hope to do a review that compares it to what else is out there.

 

[mgoldmann]

Well, it has some similarities to a Feather Popular; it has some key differences too.
The "No Name TTO" (which is what I've taken to calling it) is all metal. The lockwork (TTO dial) is rougher than the Feather. The "No Name" also seems to have uneven blade exposure.
The strange thing is that the "No Name" also gives a better shave than the Feather. I find the Feather to be too mild, and actually gives me skin irritation on my neck. The "No Name" is more agressive, and gives a closer shave with less irritation.
I learned from the seller than the "No Name" is imported from Pakistan. It might even be the same factory that makes the Treet.
It's not the best razor I own from a mechanical stand point, but it gives a BBS shave.

 

[dashmaverick]

It's a Sabi TTO. Shave-a-buck used to sell them. Questionable build quality but does a commendable job.

 

[BlackBard]

Well, it has some similarities to a Feather Popular; it has some key differences too.
The "No Name TTO" (which is what I've taken to calling it) is all metal. The lockwork (TTO dial) is rougher than the Feather.

I thought this thread was about a Feather razor.

 

[mgoldmann]

I thought this thread was about a Feather razor.

Until I physically had one of the razors in my hands, so did I. My initial impression was that this was a hobbyist's modification of an existing design (ie a Feather Popular with a handle transplant). Once I had one to examine, I realized it was not a modified Feather, but a similar design, with different characteristics. Thanks to dashmaverick, we now have a brand name to work with.

 

[BlackBard]

Until I physically had one of the razors in my hands, so did I. My initial impression was that this was a hobbyist's modification of an existing design (ie a Feather Popular with a handle transplant). Once I had one to examine, I realized it was not a modified Feather, but a similar design, with different characteristics. Thanks to dashmaverick, we now have a brand name to work with.

Excellent. Thanks.

 

[michiganlover]

It's a Sabi TTO. Shave-a-buck used to sell them. Questionable build quality but does a commendable job.

I am not sure it's fair to call it that, since Shave A Buck no longer sells such a razor. He sold it briefly about two years ago, but it was not very well reviewed. SABI is not a Pakistani brand name, it is short hand for "Shave A Buck Incorporated".

Shave a Buck called this razor the Sabi Gen I.

 

[Axebreaker]

WhippedDog sells one, is this it?

http://www.whippeddog.com/products/view/double-edge-razor

 

[mgoldmann]

WhippedDog sells one, is this it?

http://www.whippeddog.com/products/view/double-edge-razor

That's the same one....I used it again this morning. TTO mechanism seems to be getting smoother with repeated use. Shave quality is still better than the Feather- much closer shave.

 

[michiganlover]

That's the same one....I used it again this morning. TTO mechanism seems to be getting smoother with repeated use. Shave quality is still better than the Feather- much closer shave.

Looking at his site this morning, I see he has now removed any reference to the razor being a Feather TTO Razor, or like the Feather TTO Razor.

I am not sure why Larry was calling this a Feather razor, as a quick look at the photos shows it is clearly not a Feather (who's head features quite a bit of plastic, while the Pakistani razor is all metal). The Feather TTO also prominently displays the Feather name. I would think if Feather did actually make an all metal TTO, they would be proud of it, and prominently display their name on it.

One would think, that Larry should know the origins of the razors he sells.

Leisure Guy's review calls it a Feather TTO as well (likely because that is what Larry was calling it up until recently).

Here is a the previous review of the Sabi Gen I model (in retrospect, PIFing a razor of questionable quality to a newbie was probably not a good decision on my part; but it was also PIFed along side of a Gillette Knack).

 

[mgoldmann]

This is definately going in a direction I hadn't planned on.

If Larry was calling it a Feather TTO, it was before I found his website. My belief that it was a variation of the Feather is based on a link from Leisure Guy's review. My thought was initially that it was a modified Feather or a variant sold under a different name. The design of the razor bears enough similarity to the Feather/Treet/Crystal TTO to lead me to believe that they either are all made at the same factory, use the same part suppliers, have the same designers, or are otherwise connected in some way. As someone who dabbles in antique collecting and is a history buff, these kinds of things interest me.

All I know is that it serves the purpose I bought it for: I wanted an inexpensive TTO for my private collection that shaves better than the Feather TTO. Using that measure, I'm ok with my purchase.

 

[michiganlover]

My thought was initially that it was a modified Feather or a variant sold under a different name. The design of the razor bears enough similarity to the Feather/Treet/Crystal TTO to lead me to believe that they either are all made at the same factory, use the same part suppliers, have the same designers, or are otherwise connected in some way. As someone who dabbles in antique collecting and is a history buff, these kinds of things interest me.

I highly doubt that Feather has any connection with a Pakistani manufacturing company. I simply think both designs are based off of the Gillette Knack/ Slim Twist/ other late model Gillette TTO's. They are simply both basing their design off of a tried, and true time proven design. The design of the Gillette Knack dates back to 1967. The design was used from then, all the way until the last Gillette TTO models were made in the late 80's.

I can buy that the Treet Starline could be made in the same factory, as the Treet razor says it is made in Pakistan, and looks identical to this razor except for the metal vs. plastic handle.

 

[mgoldmann]

The same way various eastern bloc handguns are based on some of the Walther patterns, or a certain Chinese razor resembles a Gillette Superspeed. Ok I get it. A copy of a copy of a copy. Or, let's evolve this design concept in a different direction.

I went back and read through some of the earlier Threads related to this razor. They helped clarify some of the origins.