Lazy Sunday morning in the garage sales

[sensei_]

Picked up another two razors at the local garage sale that I need some help identifying. Cost wasn't an awful lot ~AU$10 for the both, so I thought, I'll give it a gamble.

To me this looks like a normal entry level gillette. English made, and quite a good weight to it. Not in the best of shape and the coating is quite worn. The head of the razor reminds me of my english made tech with a different handle.

Now this one is a funny one. It reminds me of my aristocrat that i bought earlier this year. But the looks is where it ends. The weight is nothing like it, feels very light (aluminium maybe?)

As I was cleaning her up, I tried to turn the bottom knob, and she wouldn't move one bit. Then I held onto the top and this happened. To me, it seems the bottom was seized shut, and someone had turned the top off the base plate of the razor.

Sorry in advance for the poor pictures. I can try and get better snaps if need be.

 

[MacDaddy]

The first is a post-WWII thick-handled Tech. It wouldn't be date coded since it's from England, so the best you'd be able to narrow it down would probably be late '40s to '50s.

The second razor is -- or rather was an LD or HD Rocket. The body of the handle is supposed to be fixed on the guard plate. I would bet that you're right -- the TTO knob was probably seized up and someone, not knowing any better, thought that maybe the head was supposed to unscrew from the handle.

 

[mblakele]

Shame about the Rocket. http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/159869-Rocket-HD-disassembly might interest you: from a quick read, the prospects for repair depend on whether or not the collar is salvageable. If you do get it back together, an overnight soak in hot water and washing up liquid may free up the mechanism.

 

[Mick]

Nice Tech. Shame about the Rocket. I have an HD rocket and they are very nice tools

 

[alex2363]

Shame about the Rocket. http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/159869-Rocket-HD-disassembly might interest you: from a quick read, the prospects for repair depend on whether or not the collar is salvageable. If you do get it back together, an overnight soak in hot water and washing up liquid may free up the mechanism.

Great link as always M

 

[alex2363]

Here is another link http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/51001-How-to-take-apart-old-TTOs?p=4395007#post4395007

 

[sensei_]

How would one rejoin the head to the shaft? Using a miniature weld/soldering of some sort?

 

[amishmotorboat]

I wouldn't count that rocket out just yet.
Some sort of flaring punch ought to do the trick.

 

[Maxime D.]

I read somewhere (Well, the odds say I read there here) that the rocket weakness was the base place, something about the punching method used.

 

[sensei_]

My first DE razor repair. I have managed to twist the bottom bit off with nothing more than a bench vice, and a pair of pliers, with some mentholated spirits/wd-40 to clean out the insides.

I will be looking to use either epoxy/solder to whack the base plate back onto the stem.

 

[Mark1966]

A common problem with the Rockets!

You can see the first one I broke here. Since then I've had pretty good luck soaking the handle in penetrating oil to loosen it up then re-crimping the baseplate onto the handle and re-assembling. It is fiddly but not impossible.

By the weight you had a LD or Paperclip Rocket - nice razor weighing about 34g

 

[sensei_]

How did you recrimp the base plate to the handle?

I am somehow thinking of using a tapered steel bar to "mushroom" the flange back onto the base plate.

 

[Mark1966]

How did you recrimp the base plate to the handle?

I am somehow thinking of using a tapered steel bar to "mushroom" the flange back onto the base plate.

yep, something like that. I've used a Phillips head screwdriver too - don't tell anybody though ..