First GEM Micromatic "Open Comb" shave

**vitaman** · 06-05-2009, 12:13 AM

So today, I figured what the heck, I am going to check out some antique shops. I swaggered into one of my local shops w/ a,"I'll see what I can find" attitude and BAM the first display I looked at had this beautiful GEM micromatic Open comb looking straight at me! So I picked it up, on my way home picked up some Scrubbing Bubbles, and off to do some restoration. Only an hour or so, I was looking at a beautifully restored GEM, so I rolled on down to my local Walgreens and picked up some GEM SE blades by Personna and had to give this baby a try.

I whipped up some Taylor's Avocado and put this thing to the test...AND WOW!! that is a very technical, fun, exciting, sort of nerve racking, but rewarding shave!! all in all the experience was...really cool!! and as my wife would say...your obsessed!! AND?

**highball** · 06-05-2009, 12:19 AM

Nice job, your hooked now

**highball** · 06-05-2009, 12:23 AM

Great story, was that the only razor you found there

**vitaman** · 06-05-2009, 12:36 AM

Yea, there were some str8s and a travel tech, but I am going to wait it out another week or two and see what they get in. Actually another store had a Valet Autostrop w/ a nice case for $28, and I wasen't sure that was such a good deal? The razor was in good, to excellent cond. What do you think?

**highball** · 06-05-2009, 12:43 AM

Well, how many razors do you need. If your like me you will be back in the morning

**spinyeel** · 06-05-2009, 01:47 AM

You've earned your stripes son.

Well done on achieving a good shave with the razor that girly men fear the most.Outstanding effort.

**PaulX608** · 06-05-2009, 02:43 AM

I used my open comb Micromatic yesterday. Outstanding shave as usual! Welcome to the club.

**jakespoppy** · 06-05-2009, 04:35 AM

I've been doing a little "exploring", too. Tried a Shick injector yesterday, and a GEM G Bar two days before. Holy moly, those give nice, close shaves! I wish the blades were a little easier to get. I got the GEM Personnas from Walgreens, and ordered the Schick injector blades online through Amazon, and yes, they were made in China which I understand are the "good" ones (even though the online description said "made in Germany").

So, nice story, and thanks for sharing. Perhaps others will be inspired to venture out a little further in exploring "the other" vintage razors.

**MrGuy** · 06-05-2009, 06:09 AM

Few razors can match the results, and just plain bad a** look of the open comb Micromatic. It's nice to see we have another guy ~~stupi~~ brave enough to master the open comb

Maybe we need to start a BMF group. Samuel L. Jackson could be our mascot

**Suzuki** · 06-05-2009, 06:41 AM

The GEMs are a lot of fun - I have an open comb micromatic, flip top and a NOS EverReady lather catcher that I keep debating whether to try.

The open comb micromatic is quit an aggressive razor and I think the closed comb or a flip top are better gateway models.

Yes, getting blades is a pain, the best I've tried are the SS, PTFE-coated ones sold by Ted Pella. The only problem is that the minimum quantity is 200 for around $35 plus shipping - so around $40 all in or $.20 per blade. Its pretty easy to flog any you don't want in the BST, as there are usually people interested in picking up smaller quantities. If you do order the GEMs from Pella, consider adding a couple of the 20-packs of injector blades, they're excellent blades and a great deal at around $5 per pack.

**jakespoppy** · 06-05-2009, 09:13 AM

Originally Posted by Suzuki

The GEMs are a lot of fun - I have an open comb micromatic, flip top and a NOS EverReady lather catcher that I keep debating whether to try.

The open comb micromatic is quit an aggressive razor and I think the closed comb or a flip top are better gateway models.

Yes, getting blades is a pain, the best I've tried are the SS, PTFE-coated ones sold by Ted Pella. The only problem is that the minimum quantity is 200 for around $35 plus shipping - so around $40 all in or $.20 per blade. Its pretty easy to flog any you don't want in the BST, as there are usually people interested in picking up smaller quantities. If you do order the GEMs from Pella, consider adding a couple of the 20-packs of injector blades, they're excellent blades and a great deal at around $5 per pack.

Good advice. I'll have to try the Ted Pellas for both SE and injector, now that I know I like both razors. I was reluctant to order 200 blades not knowing if I would even want to keep the razors, but they are both keepers.

**Dustinl** · 06-05-2009, 09:15 AM

Congratulations on your find, vitamin! The MicroMatic gives excellent shaves!

DL

rainman · 06-05-2009, 06:21 PM

Originally Posted by spinyeel

You've earned your stripes son.

Well done on achieving a good shave with the razor that girly men fear the most.Outstanding effort.

I'm still in the girly man category. I also fear the blade cost since I think 10 cent DE blades work great.

**spinyeel** · 06-05-2009, 06:32 PM

S/E guys don't consider cost.

It's all about the quality of the shave.

ASR's avoid 5/0 Clock shadow campaign was the only truthfull advertising I've ever seen.

**1OldGI** · 06-05-2009, 07:54 PM

Originally Posted by rainman

I'm still in the girly man category. I also fear the blade cost since I think 10 cent DE blades work great.

Come on Brother, Don't be skeered!

**1OldGI** · 06-05-2009, 07:56 PM

Originally Posted by Suzuki

The GEMs are a lot of fun - I have an open comb micromatic, flip top and a NOS EverReady lather catcher that I keep debating whether to try.

I'm currently on a lather catcher RAD plague. If you ever fancy sending the lather catcher somewhere it can get some loving, please let me know. As for the Micromatic, it was my starter razor and just when I thought a better shave was virtually impossible I stumbled into the Gem Juniors. The Juniors currently dominate my rotation but a couple times a week I pick up my Micromatic open combs. I'll never use anything else on my face but a SE. IMHO, Micromatics and Gem Juniors are both head and shoulders above any shaving implement I've ever used.

rainman · 06-05-2009, 08:02 PM

Originally Posted by 1OldGI

Come on Brother, Don't be skeered!

I guess your right. I shouldn't get skeered.

Spinyeel, I see your point of quality of shave outweighing the cost.

**MrGuy** · 06-05-2009, 08:05 PM

Don't forget that you can likely double the number of shaves per blade with SE.

**vitaman** · 06-05-2009, 09:04 PM

Originally Posted by 1OldGI

I'm currently on a lather catcher RAD plague. If you ever fancy sending the lather catcher somewhere it can get some loving, please let me know. As for the Micromatic, it was my starter razor and just when I thought a better shave was virtually impossible I stumbled into the Gem Juniors. The Juniors currently dominate my rotation but a couple times a week I pick up my Micromatic open combs. I'll never use anything else on my face but a SE. IMHO, Micromatics and Gem Juniors are both head and shoulders above any shaving implement I've ever used.

I am thinking I might not want to go back to DE!! Well, another chapter of RAD begins.

**vitaman** · 06-05-2009, 09:42 PM

Originally Posted by vitaman

So today, I figured what the heck, I am going to check out some antique shops. I swaggered into one of my local shops w/ a,"I'll see what I can find" attitude and BAM the first display I looked at had this beautiful GEM micromatic Open comb looking straight at me! So I picked it up, on my way home picked up some Scrubbing Bubbles, and off to do some restoration. Only an hour or so, I was looking at a beautifully restored GEM, so I rolled on down to my local Walgreens and picked up some GEM SE blades by Personna and had to give this baby a try.

I whipped up some Taylor's Avocado and put this thing to the test...AND WOW!! that is a very technical, fun, exciting, sort of nerve racking, but rewarding shave!! all in all the experience was...really cool!! and as my wife would say...your obsessed!! AND?

Here's a pic. of my GEM...