Open Comb Micromatic

treewhale · Jul 11, 2016

I bought four of these as a lot off of a prominent auction site that rhymes with Re-Spray, on the assumption that when buying sight-unseen TTO razors from an estate auction re-seller "as is", four razors might give me one that is usable. (Also, being me, why buy one razor when you could buy four?) Now I have four very usable OCMM - three chrome and one brass. People aren't kidding when they say these things are built like tanks. The mechanisms are somewhere between 75 and 100 years old, and still in perfect working order. The only issue is some perfectly expected plating loss here and there.

What really gets me about the thing is that I was expecting an aggressive monster of a razor, and while I can certainly feel blade on my face, I haven't had so much as a single weeper from it yet, never mind nicks and cuts. I'm sure it is coming, but when compared to some of my more aggressive DE razors, this thing is a pussycat. I can't get over how easy it is to get a really close shave with these razors even when I have never used a SE before.

You LOSERS have been keeping secrets here. Gotta stop. :biggrin1:

gvw755 · Jul 11, 2016

No secrets, just folks willing to listen when it's their time. The MMOC is my favorite of the SE razors and definitely ranks in the top 5 of all my razors. Stick around, you might learn more.

Mick · Jul 11, 2016

SE razors give a close comfortable shave when handled properly.

I am surprised that there are not more men using them.

Sourcing blades is a bit harder.

I bought 10 boxes (1,000 blades) of PTFE coated SE blades from a medical supply house so I am all set

Mick

santamariasteve · Jul 11, 2016

gvw755 said:
No secrets, just folks willing to listen when it's their time. The MMOC is my favorite of the SE razors and definitely ranks in the top 5 of all my razors. Stick around, you might learn more.

I agree re: the OCMM. It's a treasure!

Out of curiosity what would your top 5 be?

Also the picture above shows Hold Flat Against Face on the head. None of my 5 or 6 MM's have that imprint. Is there a story about that???

Haggises · Jul 11, 2016

treewhale said:
You LOSERS have been keeping secrets here. Gotta stop.

If we told everyone how good SEs are, everyone would want one.

I love SE, but not the Micromatics. I much prefer the 1914 and 1924 and the 1912 and Damaskeene variants. So there you go, another rabbit hole to treewhale your way down!

treewhale · Jul 11, 2016

santamariasteve said:
Out of curiosity what would your top 5 be?

I know that wasn't directed at me, but I think I will answer anyway.

I have avoided a lot of RAD despite my purchase-y tendencies, so I have a somewhat limited view of Razors.

1. RR Stealth Slant (Pre-Release Model)

2. Merkur 37C (Old Model) (Piffed this one and bought a new 39c which I don't like nearly as much)

3. 1963 Gillette Travel Tech head on a Razorock Jaws handle.

4. OCMM (Lord help me, it is a pretty nice razor)

5. Razorock Old Type - I would have to try to cut myself with this it is so mild. Perfect for days when you are considering backsliding into cartridge razors.

xxvaleria · Jul 11, 2016

I had been aware of the many reports about how aggressive the MMOC was, and was apprehensive of getting one. I had shaved with a Clog-Pruf, but only found the shave to be so-so. Finally, I saw an very nice-looking MMOC for a reasonable price, and got it. The shave was a revelation--it did not seem any more aggressive than most of my other DEs, SEs, and Injectors, and it gave a great shave. I believe the secret is in the shave angle. You must keep the blade angle as shallow as possible. The only down-side is that it seems to go through blades faster than my other SEs.

treewhale · Jul 11, 2016

I don't think my angle is all that shallow, it certainly isn't the cap sitting against my face. I am just using the audible feedback to tell me when I am at a steep enough angle to cut whisker, and that is working a treat. Loud razors rule.

BSAGuy · Jul 11, 2016

Glad you like the MMOC. Enjoy.

eastomjac · Jul 11, 2016

lets not forget the bullet tip,clog prufe,g bar,push button for a few more in an effort at full disclosure :thumbup:

Deelyte · Jul 11, 2016

Welcome to the club of LOSERS my friend. I haven't had the opportunity as of yet to shave with a OCMM but have used a ClogPruf and I enjoy the shaves I get with it tremendously. I must say my favorite though is my Damaskeene loaded with a NOS Gem Double Life Blade
a close second would be the G Bar

LOSERS KEEP SHAVING :thumbup1:

bazemk · Jul 11, 2016

yup, small razor but by its heft you cant tell they didn't cheapen out when they produced it. I do like my Gem razor even though I had only 6-7 shaves with it

Inari7 · Jul 11, 2016

treewhale said:
People aren't kidding when they say these things are built like tanks. The mechanisms are somewhere between 75 and 100 years old, and still in perfect working order. The only issue is some perfectly expected plating loss here and there.

I would have really been surprised if any of them would not have worked. They are almost solid brass sticks that hold razors.

Kreator82 · Jul 11, 2016

I love my Gems. I have a Micromatic open comb, and a 1912. Both excellent.

Roderick · Jul 24, 2016

treewhale said:
I bought four of these as a lot off of a prominent auction site that rhymes with Re-Spray, on the assumption that when buying sight-unseen TTO razors from an estate auction re-seller "as is", four razors might give me one that is usable. (Also, being me, why buy one razor when you could buy four?) Now I have four very usable OCMM - three chrome and one brass. People aren't kidding when they say these things are built like tanks. The mechanisms are somewhere between 75 and 100 years old, and still in perfect working order. The only issue is some perfectly expected plating loss here and there.

What really gets me about the thing is that I was expecting an aggressive monster of a razor, and while I can certainly feel blade on my face, I haven't had so much as a single weeper from it yet, never mind nicks and cuts. I'm sure it is coming, but when compared to some of my more aggressive DE razors, this thing is a pussycat. I can't get over how easy it is to get a really close shave with these razors even when I have never used a SE before.

You LOSERS have been keeping secrets here. Gotta stop.

There are no photos of these mystery razors! 😬

ciderguy · Jul 24, 2016

treewhale said:
What really gets me about the thing is that I was expecting an aggressive monster of a razor, and while I can certainly feel blade on my face, I haven't had so much as a single weeper from it yet, never mind nicks and cuts. I'm sure it is coming, but when compared to some of my more aggressive DE razors, this thing is a pussycat. I can't get over how easy it is to get a really close shave with these razors even when I have never used a SE before.

You LOSERS have been keeping secrets here. Gotta stop.

They are excellent razors. I actually think the blade feel is what helps to prevent weepers and cuts. The SE Razor that I had the most trouble learning how to use was a G-Bar. It is the most mild SE I own, and has very little blade feel.

What blades are you using?

treewhale · Jul 25, 2016

ciderguy said:
They are excellent razors. I actually think the blade feel is what helps to prevent weepers and cuts. The SE Razor that I had the most trouble learning how to use was a G-Bar. It is the most mild SE I own, and has very little blade feel.

What blades are you using?

Gem PTFE stainless. I have used this razor about 11 times now, and it has rapidly displaced a lot of others, to the point that it may well become my daily driver. It shaves extremely close and I have yet to have a nick, cut or weeper. The auditory feedback makes it exceedingly easy to get the blade angle right.

ciderguy · Jul 25, 2016

treewhale said:
Gem PTFE stainless.

I've tried nearly every SE blade marketed for shaving, and the Gem PTFE is my clear favorite. Welcome to consistent & wonderful SE shaving.

Radium · Jul 25, 2016

I`ve been using my OCMM for one year (July 2015) of almost daily shaving now and I am so glad to be using it! Touch wood I have not had any weepers or nicks as of yet of about one years worth of shaves. No real secret about them but I do regret saving this one as a last SE razor to be used due to its notoriety as being an aggressive but it isn`t for me but what it is ..is it shaves really good and close and therefore I don`t need to do as many passes or touch ups. Glad you like your OCMM and do enjoy!

jmudrick · Mar 16, 2019

santamariasteve said:
I agree re: the OCMM. It's a treasure!

Out of curiosity what would your top 5 be?

Also the picture above shows Hold Flat Against Face on the head. None of my 5 or 6 MM's have that imprint. Is there a story about that???

Old thread but since you asked, it appears to be a pretty rare 1932 variant issued with some Colgate-Palmoiive sets such as this one I just landed. My other C-P set has no engraving, nor is it pictured in promotional material I've found.

Search

Open Comb Micromatic

treewhale

gvw755

Mick

santamariasteve

Haggises

treewhale

xxvaleria

treewhale

BSAGuy

eastomjac

Deelyte

bazemk

Inari7

Kreator82

Roderick

ciderguy

treewhale

ciderguy

Radium

jmudrick

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