Learn me somethin' 'bout Old Types...

[kingfisher]

My 13-year-old son visited an antique store yesterday and came home with what I think is a Frankenrazor he bought for me there (nice kid).

The handle looks like it came from a ball-end Tech, and is gold in color. The head looks like an Old Type. Several of the teeth are bent.

Here are my questions:

1) Would a ball-end Tech handle fit the Old Type head?
2) Is it safe to shave with it even though several teeth are bent?
3) From looking at it, it would seem that when a blade is inserted, there will be no blade gap. Is that the case with all open-comb razors?
4) Aside from the three holes, there is nothing to hold the blade straight. Is it possible to put a blade in there slightly crooked and get a nasty, rough shave?

Sorry for all the stupid questions, but the oldest razor I've ever used was an NDC Tech.

 

[Bertilak]

My 13-year-old son visited an antique store yesterday and came home with what I think is a Frankenrazor he bought for me there (nice kid).

The handle looks like it came from a ball-end Tech, and is gold in color. The head looks like an Old Type. Several of the teeth are bent.

Here are my questions:

1) Would a ball-end Tech handle fit the Old Type head?
2) Is it safe to shave with it even though several teeth are bent?
3) From looking at it, it would seem that when a blade is inserted, there will be no blade gap. Is that the case with all open-comb razors?
4) Aside from the three holes, there is nothing to hold the blade straight. Is it possible to put a blade in there slightly crooked and get a nasty, rough shave?

Sorry for all the stupid questions, but the oldest razor I've ever used was an NDC Tech.

1) I'm pretty sure "yes", assuming same country of manufacture. (I have vague memory of "foreign" razors having different threads but this is pretty vague.)

2) As long as they don't stick out towards your face, I would say yes.

3) True of old types. The story/theory is that in days of yore blades were thicker and stiffer, allowing for somewhat adjustable blade gap by changing tightness of handle. The "new" type open combs have a definite blade gap. Personally, I find the old types to be hard to shave with and the new types to be very good shavers. I am surprised that Merkur's open combs mimic the old style.

4) I think this is true. Perhaps the older blades were a tighter fit. I was always careful when tightening up the blade to maintain an even alignment. I think some upward tension on the blade by lifting up on the blade ends during the installation process helps.

 

[GreekGuy]

1) I'm not sure about this, but I think it should fit

2) The bent teeth are mainly cosmetic. My understanding is that the teeth help cut through a long beard, as back in the day men didn't necessarily shave every day, or at least the ones many barbers saw. So yes, it should be safe.

3) Many open combs don't have much blade gap, thats why they are more aggressive. Keep in mind, however, that modern blades don't stick out as much as the old ones did, so its not that big of an issue for me and can definitely be used with modern blades.

4) The blade will fit fine. I wondered the same thing but don't worry, it won't go in crooked.

 

[norton]

There were ball-end Olds and News made. The handles were similar, but not exactly like a ball-end tech. The ball-end tech handles, to my knowledge, also do not split.

Old types (and New types) are excellent shavers. Watch your blade exposure on either side after loading and you'll get the hang of it.

 

[bradyarz]

if the teeth are bent laterally, and not away from or toward your face, my guess would be you can shave with it. i love me my old type. it's the only de i kept around when i sold the rest off to fund my straights.

 

[HokieGeek]

My 13-year-old son visited an antique store yesterday and came home with what I think is a Frankenrazor he bought for me there (nice kid).

The handle looks like it came from a ball-end Tech, and is gold in color. The head looks like an Old Type. Several of the teeth are bent.

Here are my questions:

1) Would a ball-end Tech handle fit the Old Type head?
2) Is it safe to shave with it even though several teeth are bent?
3) From looking at it, it would seem that when a blade is inserted, there will be no blade gap. Is that the case with all open-comb razors?
4) Aside from the three holes, there is nothing to hold the blade straight. Is it possible to put a blade in there slightly crooked and get a nasty, rough shave?

Sorry for all the stupid questions, but the oldest razor I've ever used was an NDC Tech.

4) Actually, first time I put a blade in my old type, it went on crooked. Very crooked. So yeah, just pay attention to how you put it in and how it's oriented when you tighten it.

 

[Pioneer]

1) My understanding is that the teeth help cut through a long beard, as back in the day men didn't necessarily shave every day, or at least the ones many barbers saw.

Is this true? I always thought it had something to do with shaving cream and blade and/or skin exposure. Surely there were men who shaved every day; this wasn't, after all, the wild west (I'm thinking America in the 1920s and 30s). I'd think men owned their own razors and used them every day around this period. Then it was less expensive to mass produce bar guards so, like everything else, combs went away. That's why some believe the pinnacle of Gillette's output was the New. But of course I could have this all wrong ...

 

[GreekGuy]

Is this true? I always thought it had something to do with shaving cream and blade and/or skin exposure. Surely there were men who shaved every day; this wasn't, after all, the wild west (I'm thinking America in the 1920s and 30s). I'd think men owned their own razors and used them every day around this period. Then it was less expensive to mass produce bar guards so, like everything else, combs went away. That's why some believe the pinnacle of Gillette's output was the New. But of course I could have this all wrong ...

IMO, its more aggressive, so the bar may have been a more "user friendly" development. I prefer open combs, and I personally have to be a little more careful than when using my bar style gillettes. There were definitely men who shaved everyday, but keep in mind that the blades they used 100, or even 50 years are probably weren't as sharp and definitely weren't anywhere near as smooth as we have to today

 

[sandmountainslim]

I have never had a problem with the blade going crooked on my Old Type, It fits just perfect and the blade gap has never been an issue to me.
As for the bent teeth...I dunno.
Wp

 

[Ruck]

I've got an Old Type with a handle that is very similar to a ball handle tech. It's not quite the same, but similar. Post a picture of it and we'll tell you for sure!