Can somebody comment on this?

[bill mcdill]

I saw this during my daily perusal of the 'bay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Frakenrazor-Gil...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item518d987df8

Can someone comment on whether this is a stock razor or if this is a custom creation.

 

[dwnwrdishvnwrd]

Looks custom. Definitely not worth $150. Most likely someone took apart a SS and cobbled it back together using a silver handle or for some reason plated the handle.

 

[rickw]

Looks custom. Definitely not worth $150. Most likely someone took apart a SS and cobbled it back together using a silver handle or for some reason plated the handle.

Looks like a cross between a Milord (gold) and a Ranger Tech (chrome).

 

[AsylumGuido]

Looks like a cross between a Milord (gold) and a Ranger Tech (chrome).

It is a Milord which has lost it's gold plating. I have one almost like it.

 

[bill mcdill]

Guido, that was my first impression, but the loss of the gold plating is so precise.

 

[AsylumGuido]

It was discussed here a few weeks back ...

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=110483&highlight=milord

Here is mine.

 

[AsylumGuido]

I know of at least three others owned by B&B members.

 

[Hoos]

In my opinion, that ebay vendor is no longer trustworthy in regards to adjectives like "rare", "minty", "unusual", etc.

In addition to, again in my opinion, their prices being unrealistic.

When they first started out, they would come up with some nice things at reasonable (if slightly high) prices. It's too bad that they didn't stay there. They could have been a nice supplier of razors to a number of people.

Currently, I would not buy from them because there are too many red flags in terms of what's being offered, how it's described, and everything pretty much being BIN at ridiculous prices.

 

[Mr. Scruffy]

Wasn't the same guy trying to sell this same razor as a "Flare Tip Prototype" last week?

 

[texbilly]

It was discussed here a few weeks back ...

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=110483&highlight=milord

Here is mine.

Guido,

I think yours is one of the oddball hybrid Ranger Techs. The band on the handle gives it away and the Milord does not have it. I had one until a few months ago. Certainly uncommon.

 

[dashmaverick]

In my opinion, that ebay vendor is no longer trustworthy in regards to adjectives like "rare", "minty", "unusual", etc.

In addition to, again in my opinion, their prices being unrealistic.

When they first started out, they would come up with some nice things at reasonable (if slightly high) prices. It's too bad that they didn't stay there. They could have been a nice supplier of razors to a number of people.

Currently, I would not buy from them because there are too many red flags in terms of what's being offered, how it's described, and everything pretty much being BIN at ridiculous prices.

I agree, this seller is a joke! Trying to play us like fools with his "ultra rare" razors. His prices are outrageous!! I refuse to bid or buy anything from this seller!!

 

[AsylumGuido]

Guido,

I think yours is one of the oddball hybrid Ranger Techs. The band on the handle gives it away and the Milord does not have it. I had one until a few months ago. Certainly uncommon.

The gold version of the 1941 Ranger Tech was marketed as the Milord and Milord Tech.

 

[AsylumGuido]

Guido,

I think yours is one of the oddball hybrid Ranger Techs. The band on the handle gives it away and the Milord does not have it. I had one until a few months ago. Certainly uncommon.

Here is the seller's razor. As you can see the only difference between his and mine is that the knob on his didn't lose its plating.

His

Mine

 

[Rockytop]

The gold version of the 1941 Ranger Tech was marketed as the Milord and Milord Tech.

I bought a nice example of this case in an antique store with a fat handled Tech in it. If anyone has the Milord razor and the Tech case...I'd be willing to swap razors.

 

[texbilly]

The gold version of the 1941 Ranger Tech was marketed as the Milord and Milord Tech.

I certainly defer to your Gillette education, but a few comments:

(1) Although photography must be considered, the razor on the left of Achim's photo looks to be gold on top, nickel on bottom?
(2) There must be something inherently weak about the plating of that model if several have been "spotted" with the exact, precise plating loss below the goose neck. Any idea why?
(3) Having said that, I notice what I thought was brassing just below the goose neck and on the TTO knob of the one I sold a few weeks ago, pictured below (at the time I still considered the RH razor to be one of the Ranger Tech "hybrids). Still could be brassing, but hmm...

 

[AsylumGuido]

I certainly defer to your Gillette education, but a few comments:

(1) Although photography must be considered, the razor on the left of Achim's photo looks to be gold on top, nickel on bottom?
(2) There must be something inherently weak about the plating of that model if several have been "spotted" with the exact, precise plating loss below the goose neck. Any idea why?
(3) Having said that, I notice what I thought was brassing just below the goose neck and on the TTO knob of the one I sold a few weeks ago, pictured below (at the time I still considered the RH razor to be one of the Ranger Tech "hybrids). Still could be brassing, but hmm...

Note the gold in the groove below the smooth band. That is where the plating has not worn away.

As for why, I have stated my thoughts before. When the Ranger Techs were produced the thought was to produce a gold version as the Milord. I feel they may have used some previously nickel plated parts (handles and/knobs) and then gold plated the resulting razor. Gillette was well know for using up stock. I think that the nickel plated portions failed to retain the plating. The groove on yours supports this theory.

 

[texbilly]

Note the gold in the groove below the smooth band. That is where the plating has not worn away.

As for why, I have stated my thoughts before. When the Ranger Techs were produced the thought was to produce a gold version as the Milord. I feel they may have used some previously nickel plated parts (handles and/knobs) and then gold plated the resulting razor. Gillette was well know for using up stock. I think that the nickel plated portions failed to retain the plating. The groove on yours supports this theory.

Didn't see your prior thoughts. Makes sense but I find it curious Gillette would gold plate over nickel? If they did, they apparently learned their lesson as I can't think of another model that exhibited such common gold plating loss. The only other thing I find interesting is how few of these razors we see. Was production of the initial Milord that low?

 

[AsylumGuido]

Didn't see your prior thoughts. Makes sense but I find it curious Gillette would gold plate over nickel? If they did, they apparently learned their lesson as I can't think of another model that exhibited such common gold plating loss. The only other thing I find interesting is how few of these razors we see. Was production of the initial Milord that low?

No, I think i would be attributed to use of leftovers as I mentioned before. Gillette hated wasting stock. That is why the Red & Black Set of the 1930's had at least seven razor variations in it. It is also why the Goodwill was made. It is also why early NEWs had Old Type handles.

Maybe the 1941 Milord/Milord Tech was an afterthought. Note that the case has no ID to Milord. The later Milords have "Milord" in the case.

 

[texbilly]

Gillette hated wasting stock.

So true! And that's why all these variants continue to fascinate and puzzle!

 

[AsylumGuido]

So true! And that's why all these variants continue to fascinate and puzzle!

Thus the difference between historian/collectors and users. A double edge user would question why we waste our time on these trivial details.

Just the way I roll.