Open comb Tech?

Does anyone know of a Gillette No. 44 that is an open comb design? I wonder if someone mixed this up -- even though it looks like it was never used. Will get some better photos tomorrow to show it more clearly. But what's up with this? Did I miss something in my research or discover something unique?




I never saw a fat handled Tech with an OC head before.


Will get a couple more in-focus photos tomorrow to display this oddity.

Hi Jake, You always come up with the most beautiful razors. It seems like some of the elements of your set is shared with these. Achim has said in passing that he seems to find a fair number of sets mixed from the 30s and 40s.

I have a similar New with Tech handle that came from France. Here are some quick phone pics of the razor.



I use to own the fat handled Tech New shown below. It came in a lot that I purchased, but I always thought it was a mismatch.

or this one:

xillion said:

I have a similar New with Tech handle that came from France. Here are some quick phone pics of the razor.

I use to own the fat handled Tech New shown below. It came in a lot that I purchased, but I always thought it was a mismatch.

Click to expand...

those are phone pics?
You are fooling with us, no?

amishmotorboat said:

those are phone pics?
You are fooling with us, no?

Click to expand...

The first set I shot with my Nexus One when I read the OP.

I shot Fat Handle set with a DSLR last year some time.

Metadata from the last shot of the first set.

Thanks for your comments and additional photos and insights. A different bottom of the head than the 1941 Tech displayed by Achim, the one in the brown bakelite case, but pretty similar.

Here are a few more photos of my open comb tech razor -- that was apparently made in England. The handle of the OC version is smaller diameter and shorter than the usual fat-handle tech. And the fat handled razor is a never been out of the wrapper razor, which is why the head has the cellophane around it.

Interesting variation on a theme. Nice razor too. And a surprise to me since I had not really noticed the open comb design until just the other day.










The fun and challenges of reconstructing the history of the Gillette razors...

It's a very nice razor. Just in time for OC March.

Given the consistancy of the "Mismatched" sets I wonder if maybe they where done on purpose at various times. Having worked in retail for a long time almost every manufacturer/distributor will have "Special Buys" or some such. Often these are items either outdated, overruns, or retailer/distibutor specified packages. Is it reasonable to think maybe during holidays a/o certain times of year Gillette may have taken overrun parts and assembled razors to be sold at a cheaper price as promos? We know this was done with the goodwills to be sold at a lower price to intro tthe new blade style. It also would not be suprising that these would not be listed in any catalog as they would have been pushed just by their sales people. It seems to me to be a reasonable explanation to some of the new in box/mintish "Frankenrazors" we see. Just my thoughts.

Jay

Thread Necromancy.

I did a Rube Goldberg version of this using a 'flat bottom' English Tech cap & handle with a New SC base plate. IMO shaved just like the New. YMMV.

The baseplate on your razor Jake, seems more closely related to that of an English New, rather than that of an OC Tech. I'll post a photo in a few minutes to show what I mean.

In the first photo, the English Tech is on the left, note the corner teeth.
The next photo is the Tech,

And here's the English New,

I hope this helps.

Jake strikes again. Congrats and thanks for the photos and information.

It looks like an English NEW head on a thin Tech handle. Definitely one of those neat mixed sets.

I have a couple of the Open Comb Tech razors:

Gosh, I never even knew there were OC Techs. They sound right up my alley, as I love open comb razors, and I find my SB Tech too mild. Are there many of these about, or are they great rarities?

prairie-dad said:

Gosh, I never even knew there were OC Techs. They sound right up my alley, as I love open comb razors, and I find my SB Tech too mild. Are there many of these about, or are they great rarities?

Click to expand...

I've heard they shave just like regular Techs.

These are not very common though, good luck finding one.

Bump. What vintage this one?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/252282903858

Feather-man said:

Bump. What vintage this one?

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Most likely the 60's. Yours looks to be the same design as the French market models shown in the thread below.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/312371

See another design variation below:

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...te-sales-display-NOS-19?p=5700070#post5700070

xillion said:

Most likely the 60's. Yours looks to be the same design as the French market models shown in the thread below.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/312371

See another design variation below:

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...te-sales-display-NOS-19?p=5700070#post5700070

Click to expand...

I remember that thread

Feather-man said:

Bump. What vintage this one?

View attachment 637304View attachment 637305

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I have one of these headed my way. As a fan of The Tech and Mild Razors, I couldn't pass it up. Top Cap is the same as the one on the Left in post 14.

Here's hoping it cleans up as nice as fhe one in the pic.