This is a handheld shaver , typeGRUNDIG BETA G8234
I would say late 80s vintage, a relative dug it out recently after
about 8 years' nonuse and found it wasn't working.

I plugged it in and the charge light comes on, but the unit would not
react in 'on' mode, even with the mains lead connected. Having opened
it up, the two NiCad cells have deteriorated. I have two questions:

1. is this likely to be JUST a matter of changing the cells? if so,
why did the thing not work off the mains? Is it normal in certain
shavers for the power not to be connected to the motor in any way, but
the motor to be wired via the charging circuit ?

2. Are these cells likely to be 'standard' 1.2v cells? no voltage ref
is visible.

here's hoping....
-B.