Was there ever such a thing as a 1941 gold Gillette Ranger Tech? That would be a Milord would it not?
Hi, it's my understanding that some few 1940/41 Gillette Ranger Techs used both nickel and gold plated parts. Gillette had a long history of using up parts that were left over from one model run, on a different model run. Just as some early 1947 Super Speeds have Ranger Tech heads, some Ranger Techs have Milord heads, and vice versa. Some Aristocrats of 1946/47 also have Leftover Ranger Tech heads that were plated in gold for the Aristocrat line. Like the chicken man said- "Parts is Parts!!"
They made a Ranger Tech but I believe production was canceled due to WW2. I believe they were almost identical to the Super Speeds, with the difference mainly being that they didnt have end caps on the head.
For some reason, I just had this image of a couple of Gillette's engineers sitting around a drafting board in 1944 and saying, "You know what we should do when this war is over and we can make Rangers again?" "What?" "We should put some little caps on the ends to hide the door mechanism."
Hi Andrew, yes, I know. After the onset of WWII, all new production of civilian models was halted. They used up what parts and pieces that were left until even that process was halted for war production. After the war, the remaining pieces and parts were then used up in the inventory.
As always as far as Gillette is concerned, the case of any razor set indicates the name of the razor set. So, if for example Jayuruh's razor came in a Ranger Tech case, it was a Ranger Tech. But if it would have been in a Milord case, it would have been sold as, and called a Milord.
I totally agree with you, Alan. My thinking is though, if its all gold, it was probably a Milord. But as you said, without the case, who knows.
Yep, that's a '41. Another indicator is the patent information stamped in the band above the TTO knob. The later models had no stamping in the band.
Speaking of frankenrazors; I have a 46 Milord (has Pat Nos On Package on the top side of the head) that has both a creased lifter on one side and the newer single piece lifter on the other. I'm not sure if it was repaired this way or one of those recycled parts razors Gillette would put out. Both lifters are nickel plated on one side and gold plated on the other. I think it is a case of the plating is worn off because the butterfly doors are showing signs of the same on one side but not on the other. It would also be a good manufacturing decision to have the whole production line done in nickel first then gold wash / plate whatever pieces afterwards they wanted to sell as Milords so I am going with a Gillette factory produced frankenrazor as this ones pedigree.
I already posted this picture, but this seems to be the appropriate thread. To join my Milord Tech, is this just-acquired Ranger Tech. (seller's pic) Glamour shots forthcoming upon receipt.
Gillette often gold plated their razors. In the early years, (1905-1940ish) the gold was applied in a 24k gold wash directly over the brass base of the razor. The gold wash was protected by a layer of lacquer. After the 1940's, the gold wash was applied over a nickel plating, then lacquered. The gold coating is much more durable on razors plated this way. It's fairly easy to tell if a razor (sold as NOS) has been replated, as the clear lacquer has turned orange on the earlier razors. The later razors will have an iridescent rainbow appearance on the head, something not seen nowadays. I suspect that it has something to do with the later lacquer formula.