TSD Challenge: the humble Travel Tech. Identify production date codes

Discussion in 'Safety Razors' started by PLANofMAN, May 20, 2016.

  1. PLANofMAN

    PLANofMAN Eccentric Razor Collector Staff Member

    Moderator Article Team
    I've read that the older style embossed logo was used on brass caps, and the newer style embossing was done on the zinc caps. I'm not sure if that's actually true or not, which is why that info hasn't made it into my other thread yet.
     
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  2. kfbrady

    kfbrady Well-Known Member

    I could well be wrong - it wouldn't be the first time! - but I thought there were three styles of Travel Techs...

    The first had brass caps and the etched logo as in the photo from @jmaier...

    [​IMG]

    The second and third had the zamak cap with the sloped ends, but with the two different styles of embossed logo, as in the photo from @Spyder with the older logo on the right...

    [​IMG]
     
  3. jimjo1031

    jimjo1031 never bloomed myself

    I don't remember which ones, but I've also read somewhere the same thing about style change when using zinc caps.
     
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  4. jimjo1031

    jimjo1031 never bloomed myself

    These are my travel Techs. Both pictures from left to right, J3 and R2.
    unspecified (13).jpg
    unspecified (14).jpg
     
  5. PLANofMAN

    PLANofMAN Eccentric Razor Collector Staff Member

    Moderator Article Team
    That's the nice thing about travel techs. It's still possible to find NOS sets for under $20. Probably the only Gillette razor a person can still do that with.
    s-l400 (1).jpg
    ^^^ Here is a better picture of the older style embossing.
     
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  6. jimjo1031

    jimjo1031 never bloomed myself

    I agree because I got these a couple of years ago when I first started collecting razors. They were each around $12.00 shipped. But I've noticed that they are slowly creeping up in price from some sellers.
     
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  7. Jayaruh

    Jayaruh The Cackalacky House Pet

    Supporting Vendor
    B1, 1955
    [​IMG]

    H2, 1962
    [​IMG]

    J4, 1964
    [​IMG]

    T3, 1977
    [​IMG]
     
  8. brit

    brit in a box

    the one i sold had the early 50s frosted brass cap.
     
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  9. PLANofMAN

    PLANofMAN Eccentric Razor Collector Staff Member

    Moderator Article Team
    B1? That is a very early date code. Possible frankenrazor, or was it sold in a set?
     
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  10. david of central florida

    david of central florida Rhubarb Rubber

    I've got a
    gold ndc gillette logo etched on cap
    Silver (d1) gillette logo etched on cap
    Black coated so no way to see
    A bitty (t4) bold block letters on cap
     
  11. BigMark83

    BigMark83 [...........] this space intentionally left blank

    SMH, I must of misread a post on another forum. I thought the "frosted" caps we're zamak as well. I thought that was odd so I've avoided them.
     
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  12. americanshamrock

    americanshamrock Let's Make a Deal! Staff Member

    Moderator
    I have my Grimes of New York Shave-Pak logged as 1951 but I no longer recall where I got that date. The razor itself lacks a date code.
    It's a fine little shaver. I've used this kit in many a hotel bathroom (sans the brush using an Omega mighty midget).
    Tech1.jpg Tech 2.jpg Tech3.jpg
     
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  13. Pilotcld

    Pilotcld Well-Known Member

    Reviving an old thread. Looks like I acquired one of these too :). $10 at an antique store.
    Question, it has some pitting on the handle and lower half of the head.
    Any easy way to clean that off? Also, would it be heresy to sand blast and powder coat this? Haha.
    I plan on making a new carrying case for it, since I’m really not fond of the plastic case it came with
     

    Attached Files:

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  14. John Ruschmeyer

    John Ruschmeyer Well-Known Member

    The head on yours is the final revision which was sold from the early '60s into at least the '80s.

    As for heretical thoughts... To be honest, except for a few unusual British Techs such as the Raised Flat Bottom Tech, the 3-piece Tech is common enough that no one is going to fault you for powder coat, cerakote, or any other deviation from plated metal. (Heck, I have two baseplates that I spray painted and nobody even blinked.) One thing to mention, the head of your razor is nickel-plated Zamac (i.e., Zinc). I don't know if that would affect how you go about preparing the razor for powder coating.
     
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  15. Pilotcld

    Pilotcld Well-Known Member

    Thanks! Would that be both halves of the head? Or just the top half? I don’t mind keeping that how it is. I was just researching what Zamac was and google mentioned powder-coating And my dad has a sweet setup for powder-coating :) thanks for the great info!
     
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  16. PLANofMAN

    PLANofMAN Eccentric Razor Collector Staff Member

    Moderator Article Team
    Flitz polish might help smooth out the pitting.

    Absolutely no one in the world is going to care what you do to a tech, let alone a travel tech. Hell, I turn Gillette old types and single rings into slants, and that barely upsets anyone.
     
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