After reading enthusiastic endorsements of Gillette Techs, I decided to add one to my collection. One seller on ebay seemed to have a several different techs, so I bid modest amounts on fat handle pre-1951 models. Several times I was outbid at the last minute. My patience was rewarded this week. I was the only bidder and secured a tech for $8.99. It arrived today and I immediately cleaned it up and applied a light polish with Maas. It would not win a beauty pageant, but it looked functional. I couldn't wait to try it so I loaded a new Feather, lathered with Proraso and set to work on a day and a half's beard growth. To paraphrase an old Monkees tune, "I shaved my face, and I'm a believer." Gentle, like a hot knife through butter, yet a BBS shave without irritation. I have a new favorite razor. To everyone who loves their Techs, I now know why. With your permission, I join your contingent.
I only have limited experience with my own Techs. It's interesting, though, how there are still 3 piece razors being made that emulate the Tech design, Lords, for example. That's a pretty good recommendation right there.
I recently acquired a '58 Tech Ball End that a friend found in an antique shop in S Carolina, Scrub, sanitize, and polish, paired with a 7 o'clock PermaSharp makes for a nice, smooth shave free of nicks or burn. A very nimble razor, congrats on getting it.
The Tech is indeed an odd beast. I have only one (a 3 piece NDC with a bakelite handle). Being a Gemocrat by nature, I picked this one up as a target of opportunity for $5 or so at a local antique store. The first few shaves with this razor were well...just OK. It seemed almost laughably meek and almost the exact polar opposite of my Gems. I stuck with it though and today I would say I like my Tech very much. It's not my most aggressive razor by a long shot but does seem to deliver consistently comfortable and close shaves. The proof is in the pudding and the Tech certainly does deliver.