Newbie goes vintage: My first vintage Gillette experience

[Alum Ladd]

2 '30s era Techs, 1 '20s era NLC and 1 NSC.

Just a friendly clarification which may help your historical appreciation of these wonderful pieces.

The Tech was first introduced to market in late 1938 I believe. They continue to be made to this day under Chinese and Indian Gillette guises. Longish plastic black handles and very economic, but the heads are classic Tech design.

The New was introduced about 1930-1. They were made as various models with the common bar handle gradually predomiating until 1941 in the US and slightly post-war in the UK. I believe the last New derivered Gillette England products were marketed in 1946-7. The UK handles were often of a different design.

The official issue British army razor was a New LC variant introduced in 1937.

Gillette issued the Service Set for commercial sale which is pretty much a copy, but with probably all brass parts.

Notice that the UK News were of a slightly different design. Gillette England always seemed to be autonomous in unique design, and here we see almost a hybrid family of Tech and New, which resulted in the English Solid Bar Flat Bottom Tech of 1947. They were being made as early as 1940 for the South American market according to Mr.Razor's site.

It's a weird and wonderful world, English Gillette designs!

 

[EdHeart]

Just a friendly clarification which may help your historical appreciation of these wonderful pieces.

The Tech was first introduced to market in late 1938 I believe. They continue to be made to this day under Chinese and Indian Gillette guises. Longish plastic black handles and very economic, but the heads are classic Tech design.

The New was introduced about 1930-1. They were made as various models with the common bar handle gradually predomiating until 1941 in the US and slightly post-war in the UK. I believe the last New derivered Gillette England products were marketed in 1946-7. The UK handles were often of a different design.

The official issue British army razor was a New LC variant introduced in 1937.
View attachment 1954281

Gillette issued the Service Set for commercial sale which is pretty much a copy, but with probably all brass parts.

Notice that the UK News were of a slightly different design. Gillette England always seemed to be autonomous in unique design, and here we see almost a hybrid family of Tech and New, which resulted in the English Solid Bar Flat Bottom Tech of 1947. They were being made as early as 1940 for the South American market according to Mr.Razor's site.

It's a weird and wonderful world, English Gillette designs!

Truth always comes to the fore! I'm crap with remembering dates. Will have to go back and look at the receipts for purchase. Very much appreciate the assist.

Indeed it is a "...a weird and wonderful world, English Gillette designs!"

 

[Gecko45]

Welcome to Vintage Land!

Beware, it's addictive. I've been DE shaving for a number of years, but I only got my first vintage Gillettes last year (a pair of Techs). Now I've got over 30. Yikes!

Wait till you get to the prewar Gillettes like the Old Type, NEW, and open-comb TTOs (Aristocrat gen 1, Senator, Sheraton). Those are a whole other world: mid-aggressive but still so smooth. My 1934 Aristocrat is probably the best razor I own.

Almost any vintage Gillette model can be found relatively cheap if you can live with no display case and a worn finish. I prefer the patina, myself. A razor's life well-lived.

The only exceptions are a few of the rarer ones like the Toggle and Red Dot variants of the Fatboy adjustable, as well as the very first Gillette, the 1903-05 Double Ring. Those often go for over $1000.

not true, i have a special offer from a person selling a near mint double ring travel set with mint condition shave stick and brush tubes and a razor that i would put at 90% condition finish wise for 150$.. canadian.

 

[Dave himself]

not true, i have a special offer from a person selling a near mint double ring travel set with mint condition shave stick and brush tubes and a razor that i would put at 90% condition finish wise for 150$.. canadian.

Man what are you waiting on, go get that puppy.

 

[Gecko45]

its tempting, but unfortunately im a tad

Man what are you waiting on, go get that puppy.

over extended on razors. And that era of gillette is nothing more then a microtome for me.

 

[DE7]

My first vintage Gillette was a Super Speed. I used it for a while then gave it to my father, but I inherited it back when he passed away. Next I got a Slim adjustable and a ball-handle Tech. The Slim is my favorite of the three, but they're all good razors.

 

[Blood donor]

I picked up a great condition 1919 single ring at a flea market in Glasgow last month for £5. Shaves like a dream!