Thread: Antique Store Gems

Originally Posted by stove

If it's a TTO I assume it is a nickel plated Micromatic Open Comb. I believe GEM only made the one open comb version of the Micromatic. But considering your on the other side of the world, it could be something completely differnet .

It looks like this:

That is a GEM G-Bar.

Originally Posted by stove

That is a GEM G-Bar.

Thanks, at least now I can research the thing

The angle is way different, more like a straight than a safety razor. You can shave with the head flat on the face. Tipped out just a bit worked for me. Cheers!

Originally Posted by stove

The angle is way different, more like a straight than a safety razor. You can shave with the head flat on the face. Tipped out just a bit worked for me. Cheers!

from my one experience that is what I thought too, it seemed to work pretty well with the head almost flat on my face. not too bad a shave closeness wise but a fairly unforgiving razor

I got two excellent shaves with mine, but the open comb Gem gave me reason to pause. I was probably more careful with it than I am with a Straight these days. They definitely could bite.

I had shave #2 with the G-bar last night and it was actually a decent shave with almost no irritation, I am almost tempted to say that I like it over my D/E's - shave #2 with a D/E was not as good.

I love my GBar. To me it is a fairly mild but efficient razor. Never had a problem with it. I use darn near the same angle as my straights, just pulled away from my face a tiny bit more.
I suspect if you play around with the angle a bit, you will fall in love with the thing.

I'm at the point where I was wondering why DEs even exist. Then I imagine a teenage in 1930 having their first shave with one, ouch!

i imagine DE blades would have been cheaper too both in production (compared to 2 SE blades) and at retail - you get twice the number of shaves per blade.