A Gem of a Friend

[hsamuels]

Last night a friend gave me his grandfather's GEM 1912 razor. Can you help me figure out what year it was made?

It seems that there isn't much of a choice around for single-edge blades. What are the current favorites?

243367

243366

243369

[Cicatero]

The lining of these Triumph set cases is often deteriorated badly. You and I got lucky.

243373


When I posted a pic of my great-grandfather's set for the first time HossierTrooper said it was probably from the mid 20s.

There basically three kinds of blades to choose from: Gem/Personna stainless, Gem PTFE-coated industrial stainless and the variously branded Gem carbon steel blades (Gem Blue Star, CVS, Treet). Try the three types and you've tried them all, pretty much.

[Jbum]

Man that is pretty!!!

[mftoms59]

Anything stamped on the underside of the Razor Head or where the handle inserts?

[hsamuels]

Anything stamped on the underside of the Razor Head or where the handle inserts?

Yes. It says 'PAT'D 1912' going around the screw hole in a semicircle.

[HoosierTrooper]

Another nice Triumph set. Here's an ad from a 1923 catalog showing the various cases that the 1912 Gem came in during the mid 20's. On the right side is the 1914 Ever-Ready sets.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c150/farrarfan1/1923gem.jpg

[MacDaddy]

The earliest references I can find of the GEM De Luxe sets, like the Triumph, are from 1922. Here's an ad spread from the March 1922 issue of McClure's Magazine:

http://books.google.com/books?id=TPksKEjg7f8C&pg=PA2&img=1&zoom=3&hl=en&sig=ACfU3U1k_bWEeQay_ZFIDLUT8CiE4GGoHw&ci=29%2C23%2C952%2C1369&edge=0 (http://books.google.com/books?id=TPksKEjg7f8C&pg=PA2&ci=29%2C23%2C952%2C1369&source=bookclip)

And the Triumph was on the cover of the May 1922 issue of The American Cutler:

http://books.google.com/books?id=m3kiAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA4-PA1&img=1&zoom=3&hl=en&sig=ACfU3U32Agns1C0irtJkds7T3QPskuqcuA&ci=9%2C24%2C912%2C1434&edge=0 (http://books.google.com/books?id=m3kiAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA4-PA1&ci=9%2C24%2C912%2C1434&source=bookclip)

[dpmtherrien]

Looks good. Have you used it? How does it shave?

[HoosierTrooper]

I really like this version, they have the round top plate like the early Damaskeene, a round handle and the frame is slightly smaller. I do believe I'll break this one out for tomorrow morning.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c150/farrarfan1/001-32.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c150/farrarfan1/002-33.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c150/farrarfan1/003-24.jpg

[hsamuels]

Tom, I think your pictures are of the exact razor I received.

Did you notice that the prices in the 1923 hardware store catalog are for a dozen razors? Were they selling them to consumers, or perhaps to local drug stores for retail sale?

I haven't tried the razor yet; I'm hoping somebody can recommend some blades. To complicate matters, my Tradere is supposed to be delivered tomorrow!

[Cicatero]

Did you notice that the prices in the 1923 hardware store catalog are for a dozen razors? Were they selling them to consumers, or perhaps to local drug stores for retail sale?


Shapleigh was a company that supplied hardware stores with their stock items, they had the reputation of selling quality stuff.

Interesting that they charged their customers $1.40 for razors that retailed for $1, they HAD to have provided some kind of kick-back or rebate.

[alex2363]

Tom, I think your pictures are of the exact razor I received.

Did you notice that the prices in the 1923 hardware store catalog are for a dozen razors? Were they selling them to consumers, or perhaps to local drug stores for retail sale?

I haven't tried the razor yet; I'm hoping somebody can recommend some blades. To complicate matters, my Tradere is supposed to be delivered tomorrow!

Walgreens has Gem blades or CVS. I get them there sometimes, not bad.

[alex2363]

Tom, I think your pictures are of the exact razor I received.

Did you notice that the prices in the 1923 hardware store catalog are for a dozen razors? Were they selling them to consumers, or perhaps to local drug stores for retail sale?

I haven't tried the razor yet; I'm hoping somebody can recommend some blades. To complicate matters, my Tradere is supposed to be delivered tomorrow!

I wouldnt mind being in your predicament, Richard/natchez has a great razor The Tradere, let us know how it shaves .

[hsamuels]

Yeah, that isn't a bad problem to have! I'll stop by the local pharmacy and pick up some Gem blades.

[themba]

The Triumph is the only Pat. 1912 model I like to shave with.

[HoosierTrooper]

The Triumph is the only Pat. 1912 model I like to shave with.

Still a 1924 ER fan I assume?

[Sledgehammer39]

Nice looking razor!

[jbradley]

Still a 1924 ER fan I assume?

Never could reach an understanding with the 1924. The 1912 is ok, really like the OCMM. Gotta try my G-Bar. But the 1924 and I just didn't get along.

[hsamuels]

I wouldnt mind being in your predicament, Richard/natchez has a great razor The Tradere, let us know how it shaves .

As promised: http://badgerandblade.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=211106&title=tradere-oc-open-comb-razor&cat=44

Tonight I loaded up the Gem with a CVS blade. I thought there was a wiki about using single-edged razors. Can somebody point me there tonight?

[hsamuels]

Uh-oh, I may be turning into a LOSER! My first single-edge shave went great. The large head, un-curved blade, and shallow angle puts a lot of metal in contact with the skin, trailing the blade. So good lather is really important. And I have to rearrange my shaving order slightly, so that I'm always working towards lathered areas.

The forced shallow angle left me with a superb shave, with just a couple of spots that need some thought about how best to take care of them. And I think I can learn from the razor and carry it over to my double-edged shaves.

[themba]

I really like this version, they have the round top plate like the early Damaskeene, a round handle and the frame is slightly smaller. I do believe I'll break this one out for tomorrow morning.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c150/farrarfan1/001-32.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c150/farrarfan1/002-33.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c150/farrarfan1/003-24.jpg


The Triumph is the only pat. 1912 I like to shave with. Do you notice a difference in the shave between this pat.1912 and the others?



Still a 1924 ER fan I assume?

Yep, the ER pat. 1924 is my main razor.:001_cool: