vintage safety razors

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11-04-2009, 07:01 PM
BAMARACING8

vintage safety razors

picked up on ebay for 13$ excluding shipping
3 gillete and 2 gem

gillete super speed from 1940-1950
gillete flared super speed from 1954-1968
gillete good will from 1931-1932

both gems are from 1940-1955 time frame
one is metal with a plastic grip wraped around it
the other is brass

i cleaned them up best i could and had to try it out
they work very well blades are crazy cheap
go figure i cut myself with a safety razor before i cut myself with a straight

here are some links:
http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/index...Goodwill_1.jpg
http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/index...te_Super_Speed
11-05-2009, 01:29 AM
nun2sharp

where are the pics of the GEMs? LOL! you cut yourself with the safety razor.
11-05-2009, 07:02 AM
BAMARACING8

when i find some pics of the gems ill put them up yea i dont know how i managed to cut myself with a saftey razor but i have not cut myself with a straight razor yet..thats just my bad luck i guess
11-05-2009, 07:39 AM
BAMARACING8

http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/2/6/4...92751093_o.jpg
silver with black handle can anyone date this

the bottom one here
http://straightrazorpalace.com/attac...-05210001a.jpg
and again whats the dates for these i can find out anywhere!
11-08-2009, 04:04 AM
mbwhoosh

Quote:

Originally Posted by BAMARACING8

http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/2/6/4...92751093_o.jpg
silver with black handle can anyone date this

the bottom one here
http://straightrazorpalace.com/attac...-05210001a.jpg
and again whats the dates for these i can find out anywhere!

The first razor appears to be a Gem "G-bar" I believe they were in production around the 1950's

the second one is a Gem Micromatic but I don't know about the time period it is from.

Very nice razors pick up a pack of Gem personna blades from wallgreens and give them a shave see how you like them.

You should check out The Original Safety it is a wetshaving forum dedicated to SE (single edge) razors they would be able to answer any questions you might have about SE razors.
11-17-2009, 07:29 PM
BAMARACING8

thanks ill check it out
11-17-2009, 11:10 PM
Clockguy

1 Attachment(s)

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
11-17-2009, 11:33 PM
mbwhoosh

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clockguy

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

The one on the left looks to be a Gem Micromatic "clog proof" though I can't see if the knob on the handle is flat or extended (if it extended it is a "buulet" model). The one on the right is a Gem Micromatic open comb.

The clog proof and bullet are said to be more mild shavers while the open comb is known to be aggressive.

I believe most Gem Micromatics were made in the 1930's however the best person to help you is Dave Irving who is a SE razor enthusiast.

he has a SE forum here: THE ORIGINAL SAFETY - Home
11-18-2009, 03:15 AM
BAMARACING8

the us patent web site you can type in the patent number and it should get you pretty close
11-24-2009, 10:23 PM
Disburden

Awesome find on both the Gillettes and the GEMs. I have a few Gillette SS and Goodwills and they're awesome razors, especially the good wills.

The GEM micromatics aren't THAT mild actually, you can rake your face pretty bad with one, more so than a Super Speed Gillette actually, I just used one today, awesome shave.

I really suggest exploring the GEM would of shaves, they're phenomenal!!
11-25-2009, 11:08 AM
MisterA

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? :D 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?

http://i48.tinypic.com/rvdf9z.jpg
11-26-2009, 07:27 PM
Disburden

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!
11-26-2009, 08:49 PM
BAMARACING8

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
11-28-2009, 07:15 AM
spinyeel

If you used the old blades in the picture,I can see why you had problems. They would have oxidized badly over the years.
11-28-2009, 05:45 PM
AxelH

The Precious Crappomatic!

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?:confused:
11-28-2009, 07:12 PM
spinyeel

Quote:

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?:confused:

You must have put the blade in backwards.:confused: S/E razor's shave as close as any other type when the correct technique is used.
04-05-2010, 03:16 PM
acupido

Quote:

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! acupido1234@gmail.com
04-30-2010, 04:56 PM
Clockguy

2 Attachment(s)

Its a GEM Junior: :)
05-01-2010, 08:31 PM
mbwhoosh

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