Gillette English TV or Traveller query

[phb10186]

Hi all, and thank you for a great knowledgebase here. I've read an awful lot and been reading a significant amount of history - all fascinating. I have been building a small collection of user grade razors over the last year after being given a red tip SS and one of these rhodium rockets.

Like many, inquisition tends to lead me to punt here and there if I see anything interesting.

The main question here is: I would say that both here have a rhodium handle, one has a nickel head, the other almost unequivocally, has a rhodium head. Both marked 'II' medium, but the heads are clearly from different stampings and runs... can anyone shed any light here, as these are not the same razor... to my surprise.

 

[Somerled]

I have one that I've had for a few years.

After buying it I did a bit of digging around and as far as I was led to believe, only the handle is Rhodium. The head is Chromed.
They were only made for one year, 1958 - my birth year.

Sorry that's all I know about them. The one I have is a nice mild shaver.

 

[phb10186]

Thanks for that. So, to my understanding from what I have read is that Gillette used nickel, gold and rhodium electroplating - ive not heard of a UK gillette in chrome yet, but I am frequently surprised with what is said on this forum. However, where one head is clearly nickel, the other plating looks identical to the rhodium i understand is on the handle... exactly the same plating. That may be me, but the slight brassing on the corners of the head also tells me this could be a harder plating... and the plate lacks that yellow tinge of nickel too. To me it is silver blue, like chromium or rhodium, but having two different heads here seems like part of a story that I cant complete with forum content yet...

 

[romsitsa]

Hello, some are rhodium, others part rhodium. Seemingly there is no logic behind.

 

[CaerMooman]

The one does appear to have the glossy finish of rhodium. From what I understand there was quite a bit of deviations within the English factory making them .. they likely popped the whole thing in the tank when playing it.

A dremmel will buff a shine on that dull looking one too.

 

[BigJ]

Hello, some are rhodium, others part rhodium. Seemingly there is no logic behind.

The clearest explanation for some of these variants!!

 

[phb10186]

Thanks for the replies... undocumented variation... fuel for continued debate.

I've always been surprised that this stuff wasn't documented better at the time...

 

[preidy]

Both the British Flair Tip razors are the same but came in two different sets. 1) "Travellers Deluxe Set" and Brit Set #80 (aka Brit TV Special).

The handle is Rhodium and rest Nickel.