I picked up an adorable Travel Tech on Ebay earlier in the week -- a pretty good deal, I think (I hope), at $7.50. It came with unopened blades in a metal tin with a powder blue vinyl insert and "HERS" printed in gold. The date code is L2, which I understand means early '66. My question is: now what? I'm going to put the razor itself in some boiling water to get any ick off before I use it, but I don't know how to safely clean the case. Eventually I'll have to get a larger handle for it, but I have no idea how to tell if a given handle will fit. Any suggestions for this vintage razor newbie?
First vintage razor
- Thread starter AnnieV
- Start date
Many use the bathroom cleaner Scrubbing Bubbles for cleaning and disinfecting a razor. Does a really great job when you use an old toothbrush to clean out the hard to reach places. Fortunately a 3 piece Tech like I believe you are talking about are easy to clean. All the Tech razors share the same thread type for there handles so finding a different handle should not take long.
Congrats.
Congrats.
Annie...I have had no problems fitting different handles to the vintage Gillette's. I have used Muhle handles, Merkur handles, Weber handles and Cadet handles...all with no problems. There are some fine handles out there now that you can get for well under $20. Depending on how long you like, the options are a bit fewer. 3" seems to be about the standard. I prefer 4", just more comfortable for my hand. So far, Cadet makes one which is my current favorite and the Weber Classic is just shy of 4". I don't know of any others currently, but both of those should fit your tech.
Like has been said, use Scrubbing Bubbles with NO BLEACH, let it soak, use a toothbrush. Follow up with dish soap and toothbrush if you like, but you should be good to go from a sanitary perspective after the SB.
Like has been said, use Scrubbing Bubbles with NO BLEACH, let it soak, use a toothbrush. Follow up with dish soap and toothbrush if you like, but you should be good to go from a sanitary perspective after the SB.
- Thread starter
- #4
Yeah, it seems like it'll be easy enough to clean the razor itself, I'm not too concerned about that. It seems to be in new or nearly-new shape, so it should shine up pretty well. That's good to know about the handles, thanks! Now to see if I can snag one of those pretty cross-hatch patterned ones. 
I'm amazed at how HEAVY this little thing is!
I'm amazed at how HEAVY this little thing is!
- Thread starter
- #5
That's great information, thanks! I think I'll prefer a longer handle too, so I'll definitely check those out!
Annie...you can also check out the Lady Gillette's....if that's your thing. They come in Blue, Pink, Yellow or Champagne and maybe one other color, I can't recall. Anyway, the point is they have a really nice, long handle on them. They can be had in very good shape in the $30 range. It's a TTO, but I really think the head is from a Super Speed, so it is very mild.
My wife was using my Aristocrat, which is mild also. I bought a Blue Lady G for her and she loves it...especially the long handle. Something to look into as an alternate to what you have. Best of luck.
My wife was using my Aristocrat, which is mild also. I bought a Blue Lady G for her and she loves it...especially the long handle. Something to look into as an alternate to what you have. Best of luck.
- Thread starter
- #7
Jeff, I actually have a Parker 29l, which I hear is very similar to the Lady G. It tends to unscrew as I use it, which makes me anxious. : (
I don't have Scrubbing Bubbles on hand (or a decent camera), but here she is after a quick vinegar soak:
The case:
Everything in its place:
I don't have Scrubbing Bubbles on hand (or a decent camera), but here she is after a quick vinegar soak:
The case:
Everything in its place:
Nice razor! Congratulations.
For cleaning, I use either Scrubbing Bubbles with the built-in antiseptic (quarternay amines, like Lysol) or just dish soap and water. I have heard of boiling and vinegar damaging finishes, FYI.
For a long handle, the longest vintage handles I have seen are on Techs (there is a crosshatched one, and there is also the fat handle (as well as a thinner version) which I like.
I've actually not generally heard of a TTO unscrewing, so I wonder if your Parker is defective. I do prefer 3 piece razor myself, though. Or my single edge ones.
For cleaning, I use either Scrubbing Bubbles with the built-in antiseptic (quarternay amines, like Lysol) or just dish soap and water. I have heard of boiling and vinegar damaging finishes, FYI.
For a long handle, the longest vintage handles I have seen are on Techs (there is a crosshatched one, and there is also the fat handle (as well as a thinner version) which I like.
I've actually not generally heard of a TTO unscrewing, so I wonder if your Parker is defective. I do prefer 3 piece razor myself, though. Or my single edge ones.
- Thread starter
- #9
Eek. Well, I guess I'll avoid that in the future. The one vinegar bath seems to have done more good than harm. Thanks for the warning!
Honestly, it doesn't seem defective. It's just that the way I hold it, especially for my lower legs, the ball sits in my palm and slowly unscrews.
Annie...I think that is more than cleaned up and disinfected. It really looks to be in great shape. If you want to clean it one more time with just hot water and dish soap you would be more than good. You do have to be extremely careful with the Gillette gold finish. There aren't any metal polishes that I am aware of that work on gold without removing the finish from the razor. I've even heard of whitening toothpaste on a toothbrush removing the gold finish. I think just a polishing with a microfiber cloth or something equally soft would be fine.
Someone once mentioned there is a cloth especially made for polishing gold jewelry that you can buy at Walmart. It sounded like a kit that came with a cloth for gold and another for silver. It might be worth it if you feel it needs more polishing.
The most important thing is how is shaves and then getting a handle that you like if this razor shaves well for you. I hope it does. It's a really nice looking razor, so please update us when you've had a chance to try it.
Someone once mentioned there is a cloth especially made for polishing gold jewelry that you can buy at Walmart. It sounded like a kit that came with a cloth for gold and another for silver. It might be worth it if you feel it needs more polishing.
The most important thing is how is shaves and then getting a handle that you like if this razor shaves well for you. I hope it does. It's a really nice looking razor, so please update us when you've had a chance to try it.
That looks like a great little set Nice find for $7.50 IMO
Nice find for $7.50 IMO
5% acetic acid (common white vinegar) wiill react with the Ni plating, but slowly. Scrubbing Bubbles is safe as is a quick bath in alcohol (rubbing or drinking).
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- #13
Do you have a reference you could link me to? Everything I'm reading seems to indicate that vinegar is one of the safer cleaners to use on Ni plating. (I ask because I have neither alcohol nor chemical cleaners in my home, and don't want to use either if at all possible.)
You people are a terrible influence.
I just found what I think is an American-made prewar Tech in Ebay for $5.50. It looks to be in rough shape, but from what you folks have said the handle should fit.http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/209030-Do-not-clean-vintage-razor-with-vinegar!
As for natural cleaners, hmmm . . . I have Biokleen's general purpose cleanser, which I think I have used from time to time. I try to use natural stuff myself, but when it comes to disinfecting/sanitizing a razor for the first time I make an exception with Scrubbing Bubbles (antiseptic). Normally I use Biokleen for usual housecleaning and for dish soap the 7th Generation lavender.
As for natural cleaners, hmmm . . . I have Biokleen's general purpose cleanser, which I think I have used from time to time. I try to use natural stuff myself, but when it comes to disinfecting/sanitizing a razor for the first time I make an exception with Scrubbing Bubbles (antiseptic). Normally I use Biokleen for usual housecleaning and for dish soap the 7th Generation lavender.
Do you have a reference you could link me to? Everything I'm reading seems to indicate that vinegar is one of the safer cleaners to use on Ni plating. (I ask because I have neither alcohol nor chemical cleaners in my home, and don't want to use either if at all possible.)
You people are a terrible influence.
Sorry no reference. I'm a research chemist IRL. I've used Ni(OAc)[sub]2[/sub] in the lab. It's the product of the reaction between Ni and acetic acid.
- Thread starter
- #16
Well damn. I'd been using it to keep hard water deposits off my Parker, too. Guess I should stop doing that. Thanks, guys.
ETA: She's a keeper! Even with the original wee handle, it feels much more secure than my TTO. Nice close shave, too.
ETA: She's a keeper! Even with the original wee handle, it feels much more secure than my TTO. Nice close shave, too.
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Glad you like it. I adore my ball end.
- Thread starter
- #18
I got the prewar tech I ordered today! I mostly got it for the handle, so I don't particularly care how pretty it is. I do want to clean it up a bit, though. It seems to be solid brass (all 3 pieces), with a few tiny bits of gold plating left. It has significant oxidation, especially on the handle. My thought is to use Brasso on it, since there's not enough plating to salvage anyway. Is that a phenomenally stupid idea? Can anyone confirm whether or not the American-made prewar techs were indeed solid brass?
- Thread starter
- #19
The rough-looking tech:
The outer side of the top piece is a solid coppery color, like the narrow band on the handle.
ETA: And after some additional research, it seems that the top plate might be solid copper. It's certainly closer to copper in color.
The outer side of the top piece is a solid coppery color, like the narrow band on the handle.
ETA: And after some additional research, it seems that the top plate might be solid copper. It's certainly closer to copper in color.
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It may be red brass (I've seen that posted several times). For polish, my understanding is that Brasso is incredibly abrasive, and that Maas or Flitz would polish it up while retaining more of the detail.
Or you could PM Krona Kruiser for a chrome replated pre-war Tech.
Or you could PM Krona Kruiser for a chrome replated pre-war Tech.
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