My wife picked this up at an estate sale and although I've seen many of these, this is the first one I've seen with the sales rack hanger.
NOS
-jim
NOS
-jim
Lady's Travel Tech
- Thread starter gearchow
- Start date
I sold a mint one last year and it did not have the hanger.....is she going to use it?
I too have seen many of those, but I've never seen one with the hanger. Frankly, I always thought they were male travel techs, but apparently I was wrong.
Definitely a great score.
As an aside, I've always found at odd that Gillette marketed razors "especially" for women with short (e.g., Milady) and long handles (e.g., Lady Gillette).
Definitely a great score.
As an aside, I've always found at odd that Gillette marketed razors "especially" for women with short (e.g., Milady) and long handles (e.g., Lady Gillette).
The R and D department most likely came to a conclusion that the short handle was more of a secure function for shaving ( better control) and the longer handle was better for securing and not dropping the razor, and for reaching the legs for better shave results.
- Thread starter
- #5
No, she prefers her disposables.
It is kind of odd, but shaving the underarms and legs are different tasks then shaving a face or at least it seems that way to me.
-jim
so you are keeping it as collectors piece?
They are, what are you referring to? The different functions of the razor or their designs?
- Thread starter
- #7
Of course.
yes, I was thinking the different handle lengths for a different task, but you know, it's probably just marketing.
-jim
Well, Gillette did an extra ordinary amount of research and design before the final design was accepted and manufactured. They hired world class personnel in every department and R&D (research and development) was a main area of interest in hiring. They did many test markets too and i am sure that the design of the small razors for ladies had something to do function far more than marketing. Even the longer handle lady Gillette is more of a functional feature for the ladies to prevent nicks as they reach to shave the legs, and it is easier to keep a hold of so they wont drop the razors too.
The initial introduction of a special "ladies" razor took place in the early 20th century when the design and marketing were more geared toward form rather than function. It was generally believed (and accepted) that women could not handle the same tools that a man used - they needed to be smaller and lighter. Since a smaller head would require a different blade, they made the handle short to meet the "smaller and lighter" specification.
By mid-century, the lessons of Rosie the Riveter and our post-war acceptance of women working alongside men made the form argument moot. By the 1960s it was recognized that women needed a longer handle (and not necessarily a lighter tool) than men did, so the functional aspect was finally addressed with the Lady Gillette.
In the case of the Travel Tech, it was designed for compactness and portability and not for a specific gender. The razor components were purchased from Gillette in bulk, and used to build various travel kits ranging from a simple razor-only offering to full grooming sets, with cases made from simple vinyl all the way up to hand-stitched leather. Given as gifts, many have spent the years completely unused.
I've seen this rather feminine case before, but never the cardboard hang tag! A very nice find, and one that deserves to remain as a collector piece. Common Travel Techs are easily found if someone really wants to shave with one!
By mid-century, the lessons of Rosie the Riveter and our post-war acceptance of women working alongside men made the form argument moot. By the 1960s it was recognized that women needed a longer handle (and not necessarily a lighter tool) than men did, so the functional aspect was finally addressed with the Lady Gillette.
In the case of the Travel Tech, it was designed for compactness and portability and not for a specific gender. The razor components were purchased from Gillette in bulk, and used to build various travel kits ranging from a simple razor-only offering to full grooming sets, with cases made from simple vinyl all the way up to hand-stitched leather. Given as gifts, many have spent the years completely unused.
I've seen this rather feminine case before, but never the cardboard hang tag! A very nice find, and one that deserves to remain as a collector piece. Common Travel Techs are easily found if someone really wants to shave with one!
- Thread starter
- #10
good info!
-jim
-jim
I´ve the same set. My Tech is from 1968 (N2). What´s your date code?
Very true Brad, i was pointing to the razor design as an essential element of the Gillette innovation progress. Gillette made many designs for men and as they saw the female movement as a somewhat competitive market they adjusted their designs. The traveler sets did come in many forms and it was not possible to accommodate the full design into a compact set since it was not cost viable. But the progress of Gillette did include the female population which at that time was not covered in a mass market.
The OP's hang tag was printed before 1963 since the address shown on it is for "Bronx 60, NY," an address form used before five-digit Zip Codes were introduced beginning July, 1963. Now I'm curious about the address on Achim's hang tag and if by 1968 they were still using the "old" post office designation?
my tag says "Bronx 60, NY" too.
.So the form was used before July/1963 the Zip Code introduction, maybe it came out in Nov/1963?
Maybe they used display old tags to save money. Gillette was making razors at a fast pace and it required that they make advertising displays too, so they may have made too many and as the new zip code format took place in 1963 they had a surplus of old address adverts hang displays.
It is always nice to see pristine untouched examples emerge from the wild.
thanks for posting the pic and take good care of it for future generations.
thanks for posting the pic and take good care of it for future generations.
Jim said that his wife wont use it, so its going to be his collectible.
thats pretty cool , i picked a mint one up without tag for my daughter who will start shaving her legs soon ..lol
My wife uses a Parker 29L which is a copy of the "Lady Gillette" for her legs and armpits. She originally thought the long handle would be necessary but found that she chokes up on it to get better control. She hasn't tried my Tech yet, she has a fear of used razors which is ridiculous but if I could find her NOS like you have that would be perfect for her. Nice razor!
The travel techs are good shavers. I have one I use for travel. I got my first one in 1967, but I lost it somewhere. To me it was a novelty, but now I really do use my latest travel tech.
