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Oh Learned Ones,
I recently acquired a Gem "shovel head" razor. I want to take it for a spin but when I put a blade in it, the blade is easily pushed out of place. My razor internals look just like all the others that I see on flea bay and does not appear broken. A few scrathes and a ding on the top cover. What holds the blade in position beyond the "hooks" on the comb? Certainly, this was not meant to be used with the blade barely held in place...
Do you have a picture? I can pull out mine and compare. I need to look and see if there is any sort of notching system that is supposed to fit with the blade.
A GEM is never as simple as it looks from outside!!
The blade is pushed all the way forward and locked by the curved ribs inside the cover. There is also an angled flat spring inside the rear of the cover to assure the blade goes forward and under the side clips, a blade must have the blade notch on each side and the slotted center hole. If you don't get the blade slots over the clips in the base the blade will not go properly to the hooks. It will ride over the side clips and not seat properly. On a dropped razor the plate may be bent and not allow both side clips to engage. Bend it carefully back to flat. A bent or missing blade clip on a side can also cause a hassle.
Have fun, they are great shavers with teh plastic coated stainless steel blades.
~Richard
Ok I found another (actually an Ever Ready, but exact same design) for not too much and bought it...its in better shape too. Here is the low down. Geezer you are right about the spring "follower." On the first one it doesn't follow. On the 1912 version the locating of the blade is solely done with the sides of the "flip top," the follower spring and the small hooks on the comb. Side notches and center slot on the blade are not required. I have blades on order and will audition this as a "travel" razor along with a Wizard that I got on fleabay. I will post some pics when I get them "show ready."
FYI, Walgreens has dropped the GEM SE blades from their "In Store" inventory. I will buy some online if this works out but for a trial I couldn't see buying 200 blades!
Good show! Yes, at Walgreens and other similar stores, their supplier was sending substandard blades and they were rusting in the blister packs, even the stainless ones. I took two packs I bought back and have not tried retail average quality blades since.
I like Shovelheads!
~Richard