Just in case you can't decide between a 1941 Ranger Tech and a 1941 Milord Tech you can always try one of these. The lighting is not very good as it is lousy weather right now, but the handle is nice and shiny nickel plateall the way to the neck. The retaining screw in the handle hollow is brass.
What are the differences between the pre-WWII twist to open razors and the post-WWII twist to open razors?
Was that a factory malfunction? The Milord is either a gold rnager tech or later gold superspeed, yes?
This last one keeps getting brought up but that is likely an Aristocrat mismatched from the factory with a Regent Tech box. The Regent Tech is also the same thing as the later Senator--it all depends on the box assuming one still has the box and it isn't mismatched.
This is a widely held belief that stems from misinformation in the Krumholz book. I have seen 3 other sets just like mine (including the one below that belongs to a fairly knowledgeable collector in Germany), and they all have the exact same razor. I don't know about you, but I would have a real hard time believing that 4 sets like this were mismatched the exact same way right down to having the silver blade cases switched with gold ones. Krumholz is the one who got this wrong, but people just don't want to accept that fact. Image courtesy of Mr Razor
Rick is correct. Krumholz while providing a valuable reference book also made plenty of errors. Perhaps the most glaring is the President razor in the Executive case on page 249. The non end capped Regent Tech/Aristocrat would seem to be another.
If they all came from the same factory it could have happened that way. I also thought Achim had literature showing a picture of an open combed razor with the words Regent Tech on the front which looked suspiciously like the later Senator. That was how all of this got started if I recall. That literature dated from around the time the Aristocrat of the vintage in your photo was out. Gillette was famous for chaotic marketing but I find it highly unlikely that even they would have the same razor out under two different names at the same time. This one may be competition for the tan tip argument!
Speaking of the tan tip I shared a few PM's with Phillip when I got my book from him on eBay and he claims the tan tip is real. When I PM'd him back and asked if he's actually seen one in person I didn't get a response.
Seems like someone else in another thread on another forum said the same thing when they pressed him on the point. Another thing I've noticed is that he never seems to respond to your second email only the first.
They did this all the time with the New Improved and NEW models. But here's what's going to make my head explode. These are picture of instructions from a One-Piece Tech Aristocrat model, and you can clearly see that the razor is the same one I have. HOWEVER, the Senator just doesn't look right in that case, nor does it fit properly. Also, if this razor is an early 40's Aristocrat, what case does it go in? It is very possible that this razor was marketed as both an Aristocrat and a Regent Tech. This is really is starting to get strange, but unlike the 'Tan Tip', at least we've actually seen these.
Yes but the New and New Improved were virtually indistinguishable apart from the fine details on the head if I recall correctly. According to those instructions the Aristocrat was--at one point at least--considered part of the Tech line. The case for the Aristocrat in your picture would have been a rather nondescript leather clamshell type case with the silk lining. Gillette definitely gets hte award for marketing inconsistency. We could BOTH be right. I wonder how they kept it straight for the sake of inventory? Perhaps they gave up after K.C. shuffled off the mortal coil. As for the fit I have seen several Gillettes that literally have to be shoehorned into their cases which was one of the major factors--particularly with the gold plates--that contributed to centre bar wear. So don't let your head explode dude! Take a deep breath and say, "It's Gillette!"
Okay, let me throw some logic into the mix (a dangerous concept, I know) and point out a few things. First off, I have never seen a one-piece Tech model with an open comb, so repackaging the Senator as such doesn't fit any better than the razor itself does in the Regent Tech case. Secondly, why is it easier to believe that the Regent Tech was a repackaged Senator rather than a repackaged Aristocrat? Thirdly, as I said earlier, I have seen 4 sets exactly like this (including mine) and, IMHO, that's a little too much mismatching to be mere coincidence. It all comes back to the Krumholz book that several people have already said has some errors in it.
Just got outbid (didn't win) on a '40 Milord. I wanna try one 'cause a few guys here have said they shave differently and that's always stuck with me. It just didn't work out this time. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Gil...198?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a7421c856
I paid $125 plus shipping for a NOS 1947 Milord Christmas gift set. Jody has a 1946 Christmas gift set that was only used once. Those are rare birds indeed. The fit and constuction on old Milords is extraordinary compared to later Super Speeds. I've been told that they are slightly more aggressive shavers than super speeds. Milords are not very collectible, at this time, so can be had for reasonable prices. Part of the reason, I am sure is because the Milords don't have date codes. The '41, '46 & 47 are slightly different and can be told apart, but the '48-'51 are the same build. the '41 Ranger Tech and the '46-'51 Regent Techs (Milords) are the original Super Speeds. The first true Super Speeds were nickle plated Milords.
Wow, so many things wrong with that picture. 1946 DE Gillette Milord. 1960's era case...and a five pack of SINGLE edge blades. After all that, to have the seller describe the razor as a "slim adjustable type" is just icing on the cake. Under $17 for a shave grade milord isn't too bad though. 9.00 for shipping is highway robbery, though.
They do. As much as I love to quantify things, I still can't put my finger on exactly what it is, so now I just enjoy it.
