The almost sort of Comprehensive Guide to the Gillette Tech

Hello, early ABC pockets had the first stamped bases, not the Tech.
The British factory didn't use SC plates, only LC-s.
The transparent base plate/barber pole handle, although pictures are gone, will be a rebranded Rotbart.

Adam

 

Flat bottom Techs don't appear anywhere before 1946, when they are advertised as "genuine post-war Gillette razor", so I'm skeptical with the service set. Most likely England couldn't switch to safety bar/stamped heads as the war broke out.

Adam

 

I'm pretty sure there were no safety bar razors produced in England before 1946. Three pieces (not called Tech in England) appeared in 1946, TTO-s in 1947.
The hybrid / No 40 was only advertised in 1947, given it's price it shouldn't have been a best seller. Also I suspect it was made from remaining New base plates, as it's a bit narrower than flat bottom Techs.

Adam

 

would be cool to make a 2 piece version of the #40 hybrid using an rfb handle assembly..

 

It's pretty straightforward, but irreversible.

Adam

 

Iirc the hybrid and rfb were similar, while the flat bottom Tech was a tad wider (bottom left in your pic).

Adam

 

very cool...

 

i do have a later unmarked handle/creased cap rfb 2 piece and a decent creased cap hybrid head..the rfb has the patents stamped on the head.is this one of the last ones?just thinking of the 1945 thin handle black cased #77 set .was a 2 piece brit razor produced post war if the hybrid was 1947?.both the late 2 piece and 3 piece have the creased cap as well with patents on the baseplate..

 

I think two piece News didn't continue after the war. I guess remaining stock was sold (if there were any left) but ads start with the three piece safety bar designs in 1946 and safety bar tto-s in 1947. I'm almost sure oc Aristocrats were sold after the war.
There is a two piece rfb in a baby blue (like the Popular) No 77 case with a hollow ball end inner tube. My gut feeling tells me it's a very late or maybe the last variant, but can't tell when it was made.

Adam

 

very cool .is the #77 black bakelite cased thin handled 3 piece rfb correct for 1945?

 

Maybe yes The Standard blade was produced during 1945, but it was still available in 1946.
Most ads from 1946 show a three piece safety bar No 77, but a few show the New rfb head version.
It would be nice to know when the "Tech" cap was first available. The Tech cap has two flats on the inside, meeting at an angle, while the New has a smooth curve.

Adam

 

1954 z-4 canadian tech .one of the last canadian techs produced.canada would see british made techs in the near future..

 

that's a shame..

 

some of the early brit flat bottom new razors had cornerless caps ,but are the same cap otherwise.one could grind off the corner tabs with a dremel.future project..

 

The only thing which makes this set 1943 are the blades. On the other hand there is not a single ad for a British safety bar before 1946. The first Tech ads list them as post war razor.
Australian ads from 1946 carry the headline "for the first time in 5 years give him a Gillette".
It also shouldn't be an issue razor as it has no government markings.

Adam

 

so why call it a service set..the forces wouldn't advertise their razor sets..