Help identifying a GEM SE Razor

**onefallinghope** · 04-23-2012, 01:40 PM

My wonderful girlfriend picked up this razor for me at an antique store on Friday, but I haven't been able to figure out what it is (apart from being a GEM). I will say that it is my first SE and it gave me a FANTASTIC shave!

Any help on a name / approximate date would be awesome! Thanks friends!

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**onefallinghope** · 04-23-2012, 01:41 PM

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I have figured out that the box is not the right box for the razor, because this isnt a micromatic.

**Klopstick** · 04-23-2012, 02:24 PM

Looks like a nice 1912 to me. Probably from the mid 1920's to 1940's. One of my favorites. Check the blade forum for a bulk buy on the good blades for those. You can stock up for cheap!

**Oscroft** · 04-23-2012, 02:31 PM

Looks like one of the 1912 models to me too - does it say anything around the hole where the handle screws into the head?

**onefallinghope** · 04-23-2012, 02:34 PM

Originally Posted by Oscroft

Looks like one of the 1912 models to me too - does it say anything around the hole where the handle screws into the head?

Just unscrewed the handle and it says "PAT'D 1912"!!!

Thanks for the info, it looks such good shape though, I feel it has to be newer than 1912....

**HoosierTrooper** · 04-23-2012, 03:27 PM

Yep, a 1912. That handle started showing up in the mid 20's as part of several different sets. The frame on that model is a bit more compact than on some of the other one, the area were the word GEM is stamped on the back is a bit shorter. Might've been so it could fit in the smaller cases. Nice razor!

**ERVARGASNY** · 04-23-2012, 03:46 PM

Yeah nice one, the head looks smaller, which i like cause its easier to get under tue nose.

**Cicatero** · 04-23-2012, 04:48 PM

A 1912 in a Micromatic box, go figure.

**onefallinghope** · 04-23-2012, 05:33 PM

Originally Posted by Cicatero

A 1912 in a Micromatic box, go figure.

the box and the razor were seperate at the antique store, my girlfriend put them together. she saw a GEM razor and a GEM box and just figured that they went together.

**MacDaddy** · 04-23-2012, 06:38 PM

I'm fairly certain that particular box would have come with the open-comb Micromatic (OCMM) originally, in case you're interested in tracking down a match for it.

**Cicatero** · 04-23-2012, 08:39 PM

Originally Posted by MacDaddy

I'm fairly certain that particular box would have come with the open-comb Micromatic (OCMM) originally, in case you're interested in tracking down a match for it.

From the ads I've seen from the early '30s, if you bought your OCMM at a store for $1.00, you got the nice marblised bakelite box with new and used blade compartments. While if you mailed Gem 25 cents, you got the OCMM in a cardboard box with two blades so you could try out the razor for very little money.

**onefallinghope** · 04-23-2012, 08:45 PM

This box has two original sealed GEM blades in it as well.

**Cicatero** · 04-23-2012, 09:40 PM

The OCMM of mine that came in the box like yours had two of the Reversible (double edged) Micromatic blades. One was in the wrapper, one was in the razor with just one of the edges rusted. I surmise that someone sent his two-bits in and receiving this rather aggressive razor, tried it once or twice then threw it in a drawer and forgot about it.

Maybe that's why so many of these thing come to our hands in such nice condition, many people just couldn't use them.