So now here those I am unsure about and need help with the dating

[Bereheath]

This thread

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/327536-De-Lurking-and-Asking-for-Help

contained the three razors I was relatively sure of the dates (ABC PE 1911 Flowers, Gillette PE 1920 Basket Weave and Khaki Set 1918), though anyone who wants to check and correct me on those please do so by all means! I'm not the expert here!

Here however I'll now add those I am not certain about at all. The first one is a gold-plated 3-piece boxed set of "The New", made in England. I'm quite enamoured with it, it's small, heavy and almost mint, though it was used for at least a while. No serial numbers, though around the handle close to the neck it says "PATENT 133963 - OTHER PATENTS PENDING". The comb part is heavy (also gold-plated brass?), the box feels like a metal tin laminated with expensive paper/carton emulating elephant skin. It's as wide as the Pocket Editions but 2/3rd of an inch shorter. So, I'd be happy if anyone can put a date to this one!

 

[Bereheath]

And a last close-up.

 

[HoosierTrooper]

Looks like an Empire set from the 30's according to the mr-razor site as seen HERE.

 

[Bereheath]

Ooooh yes! Is there any information about it available? E.g. how much it cost?

 

[Bereheath]

I haven't found anything about this one so far. The box looks and feels like a Gillette PE box (a lot like the 1911 PE I have), but it is obviously none. I've so far not come across that logo anywhere either. The comb's underside says it is "British Made" twice, the logo is an H inside an upended rectangle.The whole razor is very heavy, I believe it's massive brass underneath, nickel or silver plated, but that has been abraded. The razor looks as if it was used regularly for many many years, possibly consecutively by two people. The Wilkinson blade came with the razor, but I doubt it was original. If it was my guess I'd say 1930 or older. But as before, I'm certainly no expert.

So, anyone here ever met something like this one? A date would be great, a make as well

 

[Bereheath]

More photos...

 

[mblakele]

Ooooh yes! Is there any information about it available? E.g. how much it cost?

Based on http://mr-razor.com/Werbung/C 1934 Criterion, No77, No88 England.jpg I would guess the Empire set was 3-4 shillings, old money. It seems comparable to the #77 set, maybe a bit cheaper. Someone else might have a more exact figure.

That H-logo "British Made" definitely is not a Gillette. There were a number of UK safety razor companies: Monarch, Darwin, and Rolls come to mind. I am struggling to think of one that starts with an "H", but someone else may think of it.

This thread shows a razor with a strikingly similar head design: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/90572-British-Old-Type-identification - but it went unidentified. http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/320430-Sucked-in-by-another-cool-handle seems to be the same general design, although the plate is somewhat different. The "AB" in that thread and the "H" in your photos might suggest two companies copying designs, or one company changing names.

 

[Bereheath]

Yes indeed, the comb is very similar, as is the typeface. I added here a close-up photo of that. What sort of truly boggles my mind is the amount of use this razor has seen. There's no other I have, not even the 102 years old one, which has such marks of consistent daily use, and it's not as if a razor was an axe or something subjected to great force. Look at the nearly oval slot-holes and the way the handle had been grinded again and again into the head to leave such a distinct mark. It might even be an early copy of the first Gillettes. What would speak for that is also the fact that the inside of the box has the same colouring.

 

[Bereheath]

So here is the next one I haven't been able to date properly yet. It's a 3-piece Gillette Tech made in England in a dark brown tortoise bakelite case. The comb and possibly also the handle are aluminium, the head cover and the blade case are definitely something else, brass or something plated with nickel maybe. The head cover features a printed or etched on Gillette logo, inside the comb it says "Made in England", that and again the Gillette lozenge are inside the box lid as well. It's a sweet little razor which has seen some very careful use, but was kept neat and nice by the owner. Any help at finding a date closer than between 1938 and 1979 would be much appreciated!

 

[Bereheath]

And more close-up photos.

 

[HoosierTrooper]

If you go to www.mr-razor.com and click on "razors" you can find a lot of the info you're asking for.

 

[BBrad]

Your bakelite-cased Tech has the Gillette logo etched on the top cap. That cap didn't appear until the early 1950s, and was used on some Tech models until the mid '60s when it was re-designed.

 

[Bereheath]

Heh, I checked there, but none of those seem to truly fit.

E.g. the case looks like that French one, but it clearly is marked "Made in England" all over. The razor weighs 25-30 grams, but has a different head than this one: http://www.mr-razor.com/Rasierer/Tech/1940s ball end handle Tech England or Germany.JPG . Closest looking is this one: http://www.mr-razor.com/Rasierer/Tech/1951 British Tech Set No32.jpg, but then there are a whole lot more, e.g. that German No.5 which still says "Made in England"....



The mind boggles I'm actually hoping for someone else very knowledgeable jumping up and down in front of their screen and saying "Ha, Watson my dearest fellow, THIS is a Gilette Tech No. 123 such as the one you trod on last year with your then new boots in Kensington Garden!" Well, or something to the same effect. Seriously, the enormous amount of similar looking razors there has me stumped entirely.

 

[Bereheath]

Thanks Brad! That does narrow it down somewhat

 

[Bereheath]

This is the last one of the DEs. I suspect it is an "Old Type Set 1921-1928", the box doesn't seem to say more than "Gillette" in the lower left corner. But shouldn't it have a serial number? Bought in England and another one which was well-used, but also well-kept.

 

[Bereheath]

More photos.

 

[amishmotorboat]

No that wouldn't have a serial number. With the expiration of their patent in 1921, Gillette discontinued serial numbers on the old types and started over with a new series of numbers for their New Improved razors.
http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/US_Gillette_Dating_Information

 

[Bereheath]

No that wouldn't have a serial number. With the expiration of their patent in 1921, Gillette discontinued serial numbers on the old types and started over with a new series of numbers for their New Improved razors.
http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/US_Gillette_Dating_Information

Thanks! So I'd say this last one is solved !

 

[elmerwood]

I had a Tech just like yours and sold it last month. The only difference between our razors was mine had a "D" stamped into the base plate. The base plate was also aluminum like the handle it was a very light razor.

 

[alex2363]

Heh, I checked there, but none of those seem to truly fit.

E.g. the case looks like that French one, but it clearly is marked "Made in England" all over. The razor weighs 25-30 grams, but has a different head than this one: http://www.mr-razor.com/Rasierer/Tech/1940s%20ball%20end%20handle%20Tech%20England%20or%20Germany.JPG . Closest looking is this one: http://www.mr-razor.com/Rasierer/Tech/1951 British Tech Set No32.jpg, but then there are a whole lot more, e.g. that German No.5 which still says "Made in England"....



The mind boggles I'm actually hoping for someone else very knowledgeable jumping up and down in front of their screen and saying "Ha, Watson my dearest fellow, THIS is a Gilette Tech No. 123 such as the one you trod on last year with your then new boots in Kensington Garden!" Well, or something to the same effect. Seriously, the enormous amount of similar looking razors there has me stumped entirely.