Thread: vintage safety razors

I have a very nice looking GEM 1912 (it looks like the micromatic to the left in the picture posted earlier on this thread..) that I bought just because it was so cheap and it came with the box and instructions and blades and everything. And it was already cleaned up and looks great. Only thing is I tried shaving with it yesterday just to see how it worked, but I think I am doing something wrong because it wouldn't shave at all. The razor can't get close enough to my skin to shave off anything.

Anyone have a tip for me? Maybe I should take a picture of it and post here? I imagine I have placed the blade in the wrong position or something..

BTW I usually use straight razors and this was my first attempt with a SE safety razor.. So I am a greenhorn

EDIT: It was a GEM Junior not a 1912. And I still don't get it. How hard do you have to drag it across your face for it to make contact with your beard?

Did you try holding the top of the razor head against your skin and slowly rock the razor down until it makes contact with the facial hair and cuts? Use Ted Pella blades!

since the saftey razors like the one in the picture have enough weight to them you dont need much pressure i really like the gillette super speed i also have a goodwill but i have not used it yet i have nicked myself more with the stupid saftey razors than i have a straight razor i can get DE blades here for $1.50 for a 10 pack they dont have any single edge blades(for shaving) im not about to try and scrape my face with a construction quality edge..so that will have to wait untill i leave here

If you used the old blades in the picture,I can see why you had problems. They would have oxidized badly over the years.

Whaazup, dudez!

I got a Gem Micromatic (microcrapic!) for free, thrown in with an old estate sale find from eBetray (can't recall on the SE that it came with).

Anyway, it is patent no. 17380-1773614, from what I can tell.

Used the day after a REAL man's shave, it wouldn't shave anything off. It's that weak. Maybe good for reducing body hair, in places where the more aggressive cutting action of a razor would cause all sorts of post-shave shave bumps or something. But pretty freakin' worthless as a shaver. And, yes, I did purchase a five-pack of extremely new and unrusted single-edge blades for use within this "gem". Pheh. Please.

P.S. I can't seem to use the bold or italics in the font-modifiers. Whaazupwiddat?

Originally Posted by AxelH

Whaazup, dudez!

I got a Gem Micromatic (microcrapic!) for free, thrown in with an old estate sale find from eBetray (can't recall on the SE that it came with).

Anyway, it is patent no. 17380-1773614, from what I can tell.

Used the day after a REAL man's shave, it wouldn't shave anything off. It's that weak. Maybe good for reducing body hair, in places where the more aggressive cutting action of a razor would cause all sorts of post-shave shave bumps or something. But pretty freakin' worthless as a shaver. And, yes, I did purchase a five-pack of extremely new and unrusted single-edge blades for use within this "gem". Pheh. Please.

P.S. I can't seem to use the bold or italics in the font-modifiers. Whaazupwiddat?

You must have put the blade in backwards. S/E razor's shave as close as any other type when the correct technique is used.

Originally Posted by Clockguy

How does a person date a GEM SE razor? I have two GEM Micromatic, with Pat Nos 1739280 - 173614 and both appear to be different designs. Thanks

My name is Amanda and I'm a segment producer and I'm wanting to feature this image in a tv series. Contact me for more details! [email protected]

Its a GEM Junior:

Very nice Clockguy I still need to try one of those "batton" handles and see how it feels balance wise.

MrGuy did a very nice video of using a a micromatic that may be of use to some of you having trouble.

YouTube - Micromatic Tips