Antique store find, need help

[mpetruzz]

So my wife dragged me to a local antique store today. I know that many people have found some good razors so I was hoping to find something. I did! I am getting a pic, but from what I can tell this is a Gillette Tech Safety Razor. The attached pic is one I found online that looks identical. My problem is I have no idea how to get the blade in, I know that sounds crazy.

From what I can tell you twist the bottom of the razor and push it up. That makes the head open slightly from the safety bar. On one end of the top it says "insert". I'm assuming that's where you slide the blade in. The problem is that the blade won't go in all the way.

Are there possibly different types of blades that would fit this razor?? Any help would be appreciated. I only paid $2 for the razor and after it's cleaned up i think it may be a good find.

PS pics will be coming tomorrow of the actual razor.

 

[AsylumGuido]

The whole head screws off the Tech and is made up of the guard plate and the cap. It is a three piece razor. You may have some other brand that looks similar. Are there any markings or print on the razor anywhere other than the "insert" text?

 

[gaseousclay]

great safety razor, great shave.

 

[AsylumGuido]

great safety razor, great shave.

Yes, the Tech is, but the razor that mpetruzz has isn't a Tech. In fact, it isn't a Gillette at all. No Gillette has the text "insert" on it.

 

[Joker]

I just got the same razor at the antique store for $3 it says Gillette on the top. But mine is not as clean as this thing in that photo. I might have to have mine re-plated.

 

[Zumkopf]

The handle screws into the base of the razor head. Unscrew it, and the top will come off. You'll then see the top is two pieces, the flat "guard plate," or "shield", for want of a better term, and the underside, which has the safety bars (to keep the blade from cutting you to ribbons) and works with the shield to hold the blade in place. The blade fits squarely between the shield and the underside head. The shield, you will see, has two prongs that fit through two spaces in the blade, then through two holes in the underside head. The shield also has a threaded shaft that will screw into the handle.

So you load it by disassembling the unit, turning the shield on its face, placing a blade over the two prongs, placing the underside head over the two prongs next, and then screwing the handle onto the threaded shaft. Tighten, but be careful not to cut your fingers on the blade while you do this. Then you're ready to shave.

 

[Topgumby]

Yes, the Tech is, but the razor that mpetruzz has isn't a Tech. In fact, it isn't a Gillette at all. No Gillette has the text "insert" on it.

Hmmm, I'm really puzzled, too. The picture is of a Tech, but the description does not match.

 

[DSB]

Yes, the Tech is, but the razor that mpetruzz has isn't a Tech. In fact, it isn't a Gillette at all. No Gillette has the text "insert" on it.

Agreed. A photo of the actual razor would help. Sounds like it might be a Tech clone.

 

[mpetruzz]

OK, here is the pic. I loosened the bottom and the red ring is showing. The word insert is on the side of the head you see. I tried to take a pic of the back showing the Gillette stamp, but I couldn't get a clear one. It indeed is a Gillette razor.

Thanks!

 

[Oldguy]

OK, here is the pic. I loosened the bottom and the red ring is showing. The word insert is on the side of the head you see. I tried to take a pic of the back showing the Gillette stamp, but I couldn't get a clear one. It indeed is a Gillette razor.

Thanks!

You have a frankenrazor. It is made up of a couple different parts.

The head is not a standard Tech. And if the cap says insert blade here it's not a Gillette. You should be able to unsrew the head from the handle and insert a blade between the cap and the guard. But the end of the handle is from a New Improved razor. I don't know how it was fitted on. That's pretty interesting. It looks like you have three razors to make one. How long is the threaded post attached to the head? And does the end knob of the handle screw into the cap post?

Len

 

[mpetruzz]

I just popped the bottom screw off and the top of the head does indeed screw into the bottom knob. So the only way to put a blade in is to disassemble the razor. I might give it a shot. Now that the screw is out, it only takes a few seconds to get the blade in.

It's got a great feel and weight to it so I want to try her out!