Rhodium Tech?

[onotoman]

hi Guys,

Some of you may remember a post that I submitted a while ago with my experience with regards which models and parts of those models were Rhodium or Nickel plated - such as:

English #21 - Rhodium Handle, Nickel Head and Doors
English #66 - Rhodium Handle, Nickel Head and Dooss
Early Aristocrats - All Rhodium
etc..

Well, I recently came across an English Tech in a Leather travel case. Although it looked fantastic, I suspected that the razor may not have been nickel. I was so sure that in the interests of research I dropped it in the nickel stripping tank.

If it was indeed nickel it would have started turning black after about 1 hour - after 2 days, it came out as mint as it went in. SO - this Tech is either Chrome or Rhodium plated. As I am not aware of any Gillette being chrome plated (especially a 1940s model like this one) I could only come to the conclusion that it is Rhodium plated.

Strange that a lesser model such as this one would be anything other than nickel plated.

I have never come across anything like this before - has anyone else? Here are some images:

 

[johnmrson]

I've got one of them and yes it is very shiny. There's been one for sale on the bay with a buy it now of something like $70 or $80. I thought the seller was crazy but maybe not.

 

[bradyarz]

are you sure it's not a post production re-plate?

 

[cfriend]

Nickel doors on the #66? I was under the impression they were rhodium throughout.

 

[johnmrson]

The other thing is that the head base plate is different to any other Tech I've got. It's flat, like the UK Aristocrats.

 

[onotoman]

I'd very much doubt it - the leather case, razor and spare blades are too good to be well used and in need of replating. Also, chrome replating tends to show thick on the piece (like modern Merkurs) this isn't like that and there are a few age marks on the underside of the head that would not be there after a replate.

are you sure it's not a post production re-plate?

 

[onotoman]

Indeed and my other English Techs with similar heads don't have a patent number on them. Curiouser and Curiouser, said Alice...

The other thing is that the head base plate is different to any other Tech I've got. It's flat, like the UK Aristocrats.

 

[onotoman]

No, most 'Rhodium plated razors' including all later closed comb aristocrats were only Rhodium on the handle with bog standard nickel heads and doors.

Some of the guys have sent me broken doors from aristocrats to test by dropping into a nickel stripping tank and they all came out....stripped naked to the brass.

I also stripped a President and again, the head was nickel with handle Rhodium.

Hope this helps

Dave

QUOTE=cfriend;2157671]Nickel doors on the #66? I was under the impression they were rhodium throughout.[/QUOTE]

 

[texbilly]

I agree Rhodium plating would seem odd for a workman-type razor. However, I've had a few "awfully shiny" Techs so chrome doesn't seem impossible. I have a similar base that resembles a NEW base. Nice shaver on a Tech setup.

EDIT: Whoa, it needs a cleaning!

 

[merwtje]

Looks indeed like Rhodium! But mine has no patent number.

 

[brz90]

No, most 'Rhodium plated razors' including all later closed comb aristocrats were only Rhodium on the handle with bog standard nickel heads and doors.

Some of the guys have sent me broken doors from aristocrats to test by dropping into a nickel stripping tank and they all came out....stripped naked to the brass.

I also stripped a President and again, the head was nickel with handle Rhodium.

Hope this helps

Dave

QUOTE=cfriend;2157671]Nickel doors on the #66? I was under the impression they were rhodium throughout.

Call me stubborn but imho my mint 1953 Coronation #66 is rhodium plated throughout. The head looks nothing like its nickel cousins and there is no difference qualitatively between the handle and the head. However I won't be sending you the doors to test them in your tank as I intend to remain blissful in my ignorance. I happily accept that I might well have the only completely rhodium plated #66 Aristocrat ever made. And its not for sale.

 

[cfriend]

Call me stubborn but imho my mint 1953 Coronation #66 is rhodium plated throughout. The head looks nothing like its nickel cousins and there is no difference qualitatively between the handle and the head. However I won't be sending you the doors to test them in your tank as I intend to remain blissful in my ignorance. I happily accept that I might well have the only completely rhodium plated #66 Aristocrat ever made. And its not for sale.

 

[JPDyson]

Great. Another Tech I have to have.

 

[onotoman]

You could possibly have the only complete Rhodium #66 but I've replated around 10 for guys and in all cases the head and doors were nickel. I have a mint one and although the doors are VERY shiny, they are plain old nickel.

There is a lot of fuss over Rhodium IMHO, yes it's harder-wearing and some say it has a prettier sheen to it than nickel but a newly plated nickel item shines like a new pin too and the difference between the two finishes is marginal.

Call me stubborn but imho my mint 1953 Coronation #66 is rhodium plated throughout. The head looks nothing like its nickel cousins and there is no difference qualitatively between the handle and the head. However I won't be sending you the doors to test them in your tank as I intend to remain blissful in my ignorance. I happily accept that I might well have the only completely rhodium plated #66 Aristocrat ever made. And its not for sale.

 

[Lando]

hi Guys,

Some of you may remember a post that I submitted a while ago with my experience with regards which models and parts of those models were Rhodium or Nickel plated - such as:

English #21 - Rhodium Handle, Nickel Head and Doors
English #66 - Rhodium Handle, Nickel Head and Dooss
Early Aristocrats - All Rhodium
etc..

Well, I recently came across an English Tech in a Leather travel case. Although it looked fantastic, I suspected that the razor may not have been nickel. I was so sure that in the interests of research I dropped it in the nickel stripping tank.

If it was indeed nickel it would have started turning black after about 1 hour - after 2 days, it came out as mint as it went in. SO - this Tech is either Chrome or Rhodium plated. As I am not aware of any Gillette being chrome plated (especially a 1940s model like this one) I could only come to the conclusion that it is Rhodium plated.

Strange that a lesser model such as this one would be anything other than nickel plated.

I have never come across anything like this before - has anyone else? Here are some images:

Isn't the #21 one of the earlier Aristocrats? Does that mean only the #15 is entirely plated of rhodium?

 

[moshulu]

are you sure it's not a post production re-plate?

I had my fat-handled Tech plated in silver. It looks fantatstic. Maybe I was not the first one.

 

[amishmotorboat]

I had my fat-handled Tech plated in silver. It looks fantatstic. Maybe I was not the first one.

I find it unlikely. My british tech of the same configuration is also incredibly shiny. So much so that I cannot believe it's nickel. If everyone who has one of these finds the same to be true, I doubt replating was the reason.

 

[onotoman]

Before this Tech - I believed that the only razors fully plated in Rhodium were the Open Comb Aristocrats

Isn't the #21 one of the earlier Aristocrats? Does that mean only the #15 is entirely plated of rhodium?