Can anyone elaborate (or point me to a source) on how the solid guard bar, as opposed to an open comb bar, was first marketed? Interested to know what claims were made with regard to the change in design.
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solid bar marketing question
- Thread starter Hercule
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A most interesting question.
- Thread starter
- #3
Thank you, and I came up with it all by myself too!
In the course of learning all I can from the cognoscenti who frequent B&B, it has been suggested that open comb razors tend to give closer shaves. So I was wondering why the change in design - too close shaves perhaps, unless in experienced hands? It would be interesting to know how the solod bar feature was marketed.
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Phillip Krumholtz, in his book The Complete Gillette Collector's Handbook notes some interesting facts surrounding Gillette's conversion to solid-bar versus open-comb razors.
When the Tech was introduced in 1939, it was intended to have an opening price point of 49 cents. This was a market-driven opening price point, and was where the Gillette NEW was selling for. The solid bar base plate was easier to stamp and required lower-cost tooling than the open comb NEW. This resulted in cost savings, which at the .49 retail price was essential to help assure profitability.
Gillette intended the three-piece Tech to be their "standard" razor, with a new line of "One-Piece Tech" razors to fill the premium end of the market. We saw, just before WWII, the introduction of the Ranger Tech and Milord solid-bar TTO models in 1941.
The advertising listed four technological points that made the Tech razors superior: Rigid blade support for faster shaves; Non-skid tread protects face; Cleans quickly - never clogs; Solid bar guard assures comfort.
With the advent of WWII, Gillette's only razor production was of three-piece Tech sets for government contracts. Many young men went off to serve in the war, shaving with the Tech razor issued to them. For them, once returned to civilian life, shaving with a solid bar razor was not a foreign concept.
The low-cost manufacturing methods employed by Gillette for the NEW razors left many in need (or want) of something new by the time the war was over and products were again available for retail consumption.
While the true technological advances can be argued, we had a market that was thirsty for new things along with Gillette's need to streamline production and control costs.
Amazingly, the simple three-piece Tech is still popular today for those who prefer a milder shave.
When the Tech was introduced in 1939, it was intended to have an opening price point of 49 cents. This was a market-driven opening price point, and was where the Gillette NEW was selling for. The solid bar base plate was easier to stamp and required lower-cost tooling than the open comb NEW. This resulted in cost savings, which at the .49 retail price was essential to help assure profitability.
Gillette intended the three-piece Tech to be their "standard" razor, with a new line of "One-Piece Tech" razors to fill the premium end of the market. We saw, just before WWII, the introduction of the Ranger Tech and Milord solid-bar TTO models in 1941.
The advertising listed four technological points that made the Tech razors superior: Rigid blade support for faster shaves; Non-skid tread protects face; Cleans quickly - never clogs; Solid bar guard assures comfort.
With the advent of WWII, Gillette's only razor production was of three-piece Tech sets for government contracts. Many young men went off to serve in the war, shaving with the Tech razor issued to them. For them, once returned to civilian life, shaving with a solid bar razor was not a foreign concept.
The low-cost manufacturing methods employed by Gillette for the NEW razors left many in need (or want) of something new by the time the war was over and products were again available for retail consumption.
While the true technological advances can be argued, we had a market that was thirsty for new things along with Gillette's need to streamline production and control costs.
Amazingly, the simple three-piece Tech is still popular today for those who prefer a milder shave.
Wow, a very thorough answer! 
Interesting question. I don't know the answer but a couple of possibilities that occur to me are; Less aggressive- in the intervening 30 years, the buyers went from straight razor converts to new shavers -less prone to damage in that there are no teeth to bend.
(sorry- I see someone posted a much more informed answer during the time it took to post mine. Good job Brad!)
(sorry- I see someone posted a much more informed answer during the time it took to post mine. Good job Brad!)
- Thread starter
- #7
Thank you. Sounds like I need to get a hold of that book.
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So it was a combination of New and Improved and Here is your razor soldier, now go over there to get your helmet and boots. 
I have learned a lot from it . . . Mr. Krumholtz still has a few copies left for sale. (Razorman2 on eBay)
So it was a combination of New and Improved and Here is your razor soldier, now go over there to get your helmet and boots.
Yeah, pretty much!!
blackfoot and mdevine . . . thanks for the complement. I do, however, tend to babble from time to time . . .
- Thread starter
- #10
Please continue...
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btw when I was a kid in CT in the early 70s we used to go camping at White Lake SP. Yes, dad would wet shave while camping.
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