1940s Super Speed and WWII restrictions

Discussion in 'Safety Razors' started by jbcohen, Dec 5, 2007.

  1. jbcohen

    jbcohen New Member

    It is my understanding during the 40s (I was not born yet), there were restrictions on certain raw materiels such as metal and rubber. I have a great razor that was made during that time period. The question:

    If there were restrictions on metal in the 40s how did Gillette manage to get a ahold of metal to make the wonderful Super Speed I have?
     
  2. Will

    Will Nevermind

    WWII ended 1945; I Think Superspeeds were made after that.

    As for other razors made during the war, I do not know, they may had the metal or used other materials.
     
  3. Bronco

    Bronco Mac Daddy

    Right Will. The Ranger Tech (Grandfather of the SS) was made in 1941. Almost all production was stopped except for wartime use. Mostly Techs were made with black bakelight handles and blacked out tops, part of a camo kit. In other words, alternate materials. The SS came out in 47-48.
     
  4. jbcohen

    jbcohen New Member

    What sorts of materiels were used during the war?
     
  5. Scorpio

    Scorpio Big Hitter


    read the post above yours

    Raf
     
  6. jbcohen

    jbcohen New Member

    Bronco uses the term "blacked out tops" what sort of materiel is this plastic, aluminimum?
     
  7. Bronco

    Bronco Mac Daddy

    Don't know for sure, seems like pot metal with a coating. I know you can copper and nickel plate pot metal but there might be another chemical process to get the black color. It does wear off after time and is gray underneath. Someone with more knowledge about metals may have an idea or know for sure.
     
  8. jbcohen

    jbcohen New Member

    Makes sense Bronco. What is pot metal? How is it used?
     
  9. jbcohen

    jbcohen New Member

    Saw the answer on Wikipedia, its a type of metal with a low melting point, I guess Pot Metal would not be one of the materiels restricted during WWII so it would make sense that Gillette would make razors out of pot metal. I would not imagine that this would effect the effecitiveness of the shave. All of this makes a lot of sense glad y'all know so much about wet shaving.
     
  10. jbcohen

    jbcohen New Member

    Can anyone attach a picture of a razor which was made during the WWII restrictions? This thread has got my curiosity going a mile a minute.
     
  11. Bronco

    Bronco Mac Daddy

    In the rear, the 41 Tanger Tech, In the middle a Gillette with a pressed (thin) metal blade bar with a pot metal (?) top and in the front an all plastic Simplex military razor.



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  12. Sejanus

    Sejanus New Member

    Nice pic Steve, you can really tell which it is. That bar looks wafer thin!
     
  13. jbcohen

    jbcohen New Member

    Since 40's era super speeds have no date code how do you know what the date of manufacter is?
     
  14. Bronco

    Bronco Mac Daddy

    I use my reference books, remember?
     
  15. jbcohen

    jbcohen New Member

    Oh, did not think about that and I do recall the thread on the reference books. I have been doubting the need for one, but I guess that I should lookup one at my local book shop.
     

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