I just hope you didn't get ripped off on this one. Although that Portable is indeed from 40-ish years ago, it is not that rare. The Portable has been widely available until 10 years ago [for as little as $7-9] as a new razor but in another white plastic case and without that FEATHER inscription on the head.
Wouldn't bother with the Portable. The shave isn't something spectacular, neither is the razor. It is just a copy of a Gillette Tech. Don't get me wrong, it is a nice razor, but still, the prices they are currently asking on ebay are ridiculous even if it is NOS from the 70s. I grabbed 3 back in 2008 or 2009 when they were available and dirt cheap, but I find that I reach for my many Techs more often.
Posssibly a post-war Tech or a '40s style Super-Speed.
It is highly subjective.
If you feel comfortable with a R41 then I would look for a nice Tech and an Old Type. On the Techs I would avoid the later aluminium handled ones. For the Old Type don‘t worry about slight cracks in the handle they are common and there are aftermarket handles. Always nice to get a case but for a user not absolutely necessary.
I did have my eye on a few old types, another one I’m curious about is how the new standards. Do those perform well? Or just nice show pieces (especially gold ones)
Wow! Nice score. Thats a keeper for sure.
If you do not like the way it shaves, put a shim in and give it another go. My old types went from use once and put away (no shim) to a spot in my favorites (with a shim)
Great tip thank you! What did you use for the shim in them?
A used double edge blade with the sharp edges trimmed off with scissors. It is a common practice if you want to read up on it some. For me the shim goes under the blade (between blade and comb. On the "handle" side not the "cap" side) to get the blade up off the comb a bit. Did not seem to make the razor any more likely to bite, but made it much more efficient. I think people use them as is and I would try that first as if more parts are not needed, well all the better. I just did not want you to be disappointed with it and not know to try the shim.
I have 2 of them. 1 in original case with blade holder and what not passed down from a great uncle. It is just show and tell. I have another that I found for little of nothing at a flea market that I use more than any of my other DE (which is not often as I am mostly a SR shaver). I enjoy it when I use it. The shave is good. The history makes it more appealing to me. And it was CHEAP! Just like me haha
I use a vintage shim shown below which is 0.7mm thick compared to a standard modern blade which is 0.1mm thick. They certainly liked a large blade gap when they added a shim in the old days.
