Gem lather catchers.

[stvince71]

Are these the old Kampfe Bros. looking razors? I just picked up an old frankenrazor off the bay and it has the Kampfe head with the Damaskeen handle and 2 blades. Do any of my fellow classic SE shavers know how these shave? I haven't been able to find any reviews on them.

[MacDaddy]

There are a bunch of variants. Could you post a photo?

[bowlturner]

I use a GEM Jr. 1901, which is similar to your Kampfe, and it is a nice razor. I would not use old blades, even if never used. Get some new GEM or Treet blades, then give it a try.

[stvince71]

Here's the one I won http://www.ebay.ca/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110809915953&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:CA:1123 . There is another that I am looking at that is the same as yours bowlturner. These seem to be turning up on the bay at reasonable prices. I hope to eventually build a nice usable Kampfe Bros. set for my self. (I know, I'm a SE slut.)

[MacDaddy]

That's a perfectly correct No.1 set that you've got there, not a frankenrazor at all. Here's an ad from 1912:

http://books.google.com/books?id=QOJLAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA48&img=1&zoom=3&hl=en&sig=ACfU3U1i955FXrhquuTadfRxPRNy7cxl7A&ci=166%2C708%2C736%2C674&edge=0 (http://books.google.com/books?id=QOJLAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA48&ci=166%2C708%2C736%2C674&source=bookclip)

That type will work fine with modern blades, but it's not my favorite. Of all the lather catchers I've tried I prefer the Gem Junior Bar type like the one bowlturner mentioned. In fact, I've got a Star version in my rotation right now. It's a very nimble, intuitive shaver. The older "New Model" Star is a little bit clunky feeling in comparison.

[HoosierTrooper]

I've owned three of the Star No. 1 sets and like Porter I didn't particularly enjoy using them, so I sold them. They are pretty though.

[stvince71]

Really!?!?:ohmy: I had never seen one like that before. It makes me really happy to hear that it isn't a frankenrazor. I have a bid on one like bowlturners too.

BONUS!!:thumbup:

It's good to know that I can use modern blades with them too.

[Chester]

Are these the old Kampfe Bros. looking razors? I just picked up an old frankenrazor off the bay and it has the Kampfe head with the Damaskeen handle and 2 blades. Do any of my fellow classic SE shavers know how these shave? I haven't been able to find any reviews on them.

This was one of my "Back-of-the-Rack" selections awhile ago:
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/263607-rough-start-with-the-lather-catcher
-- Chet

[stvince71]

I read your thread Chester and I thank you for your review. It sounds like I'm the opposite of you when it comes to the SE vs DE shaves. I have found the SEs to shave me better than DEs.

YMMV strikes again!

I'll still give it a shot though. I'm not going to use it until my Robert's 009 scuttle arrives. It also seems that I might have to invest in a strope. Hmm, SWMBO might not be happy...of course she does like my shaves.