Frankenrazor?

[rth97601]

Interesting find on the bay ...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370277256154

It arrived today, and it looks like a 1920s old type head matched with a 1940s tech handle. No date codes, and the handle doesn't quite fill the corresponding indentation on the comb plate. It screws on tight, but the post slides most of the way into the barrel before the threads catch. Any thoughts?

It's kind of neat, in its way, and I wonder ... how common is this sort of thing?

Thanks,

Ryan

 

[Groundhog]

I think you're exactly right....Old Type head on a Tech handle. Mismatches like that are pretty common. Old Types had a tendency toward splits in the barrel; some guy who preferred the shave of his Old Type may have put the head of his trusty friend on a Tech handle.

 

[SpartanFan]

I have not had that type of 'surprise' myself but it probably happens fairly often. I have had experience with people selling razors with the wrong cases. The good news is that it should not effect the shave for you.

 

[rth97601]

Thanks gentlemen,

It wasn't misrepresented or anything, and was well worth the $3 price tag. I actually think it's pretty cool (exactly the sort of thing I might do ...). I just didn't know how common a practice it was. Can't wait to shine it up and see how it shaves ...

 

[cooncatbob]

I think you're exactly right....Old Type head on a Tech handle. Mismatches like that are pretty common. Old Types had a tendency toward splits in the barrel; some guy who preferred the shave of his Old Type may have put the head of his trusty friend on a Tech handle.

That's likely, they original owner might have been shaving when the split finally caused the top spindle to come loose from the barrel.
He took the handle off the Tech which he didn't like shaving with put in on his favorite and kept shaving.

 

[michiganlover]

Old Types had a tendency toward splits in the barrel; some guy who preferred the shave of his Old Type may have put the head of his trusty friend on a Tech handle.

It was more than a tendency, just about all of the ball end handles split over time.

Even NOS ones that have never been used have these cracks.

The ball end, and the top piece were both press fitted into the barrel of the handle. The barrel was made of much too thin material, and it developed stress cracks over time.

It wasn't just Old types that suffered from this flaw; there were "New" models that had this exact same handle.

Anyway, to sum it up, it is quite common to find an Old, or New head on a Gillette Tech handle.

 

[taffy]

I have a mixed match razor i bought from the bay a while ago, a tech head but with a long open ended handle but it shaves fine and in my rotationthe photos sometimes on e bay are so small its hard to tell when bidding, think i would be annoyed if i paid a high price but mine cost £2.99 and came in the wrong case which in fact was a case for a aristocrat which was great as i now have a home for my aristocrat.