Random Find

So I ran across these razors a week or so back when I picked up a straight. I knew nothing about DE's then, and still very little now, but I was back by that shop in running errands today and picked up another straight and these three.

The first two I think are Fat Boy's but I don't understand what the numbered collar is supposed to do. They open up beautifully and one even had an old blade in it. The first one's handle is smaller in diameter, maybe a ladies version? IDK.

The other is a Gem Micromatic with a different style of twist open top. The thing about it is, I can't figure out how the blade is supposed to fit in it. I picked up some of these wilkinson blades at the pharmacy and they fit in the Gillette's but they're too wide to fit in this Gem and they don't fit over the posts either. I'm sure there's a REALLY stupid answer to this, but I don't know what it is yet. If you guys don't tell me and make me look stupid you're wasting a great opportunity.

Thanks!

It uses these

Gem Super Stainless Blades Size: 10 02-0213

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rodb

It uses these

Gem Super Stainless Blades Size: 10 02-0213

---

So are those any different than the sleeve of them I use for paint scraping?

So I just used the Fatboy razor to shave. First DE shave and I figured out what the numbered collar does. Have to have a blade in it to figure that out. I also figured out that over tightening the butterfly closure basically eliminates the razor's shaving abilities.

I did NOT use the Marlin High Speed blade to shave.

Those are the same size as the paint scraper ones but much sharper.
Don't use the paint scraper ones!! I know from personal experience. lol

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BigJim

So I just used the Fatboy razor to shave. First DE shave and I figured out what the numbered collar does. Have to have a blade in it to figure that out. I also figured out that over tightening the butterfly closure basically eliminates the razor's shaving abilities.

---

For now stick with a middle of the road setting, like 4, 5 or 6 until you have a few shaves under your belt. The Fat Boy can be as mild or aggressive as you want, an she does bite at the top settings.

I am curious what happened when you "over-tightened" the doors that affected its shaving ability? With the old gillettes its usually just a slight twist, maybe an 1/8 of a turn, before it firms up. You shouldn't have to reef on it. I suspect the mechanism may be a bit loose.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ryan82

. I suspect the mechanism may be a bit loose.

---

May be. Tightening it down pulled the edges toward the bar, effectively doing the same thing as running the collar up to 9. Any tips on how to tune her up to work like she's supposed to would be great. I woke up this morning to NO razor burn (shaved on #1 with the butterfly just to the closed position without being loose). So I pitched the Hydro for good. Once my straights get back I plan on using them primarily, but I'll keep this fat boy as a better experience shaving with better results (and much cheaper replacement blades!).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rodb

Those are the same size as the paint scraper ones but much sharper.
Don't use the paint scraper ones!! I know from personal experience. lol

---

Any idea on a common store that might stock those blades? I had a great experience with the Fatboy and just want to try the Gem out. I'd hate to buy a giant sleeve of blades for it and pay postage only to find out I don't like it as much as I'm currently digging the Gillette. I got the Wilkinson blades from Wally-World, but don't remember seeing any SE blades there (will have to double check).

Thanks!

CVS and Walgreens here in MN still have those.

In bulk I get these
Dissection Tools, Scissors, Blades, Forceps, Scalpels, Spatulas

PM me with you address and I'll send you a few

The Gem SE razors are closer in feel to a Straight, as the blades are stiffer, but the DE will be more forgiving

Grabbed up the Fat Boy over lunch today and noticed it rather squeaky, and it felt like metal rubbing metal. Would you guys recommend 3 in 1 machine oil to keep it operating smoothly? Or is a sqeaky action just a part of DE razors/Fatboy razors?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BigJim

Grabbed up the Fat Boy over lunch today and noticed it rather squeaky, and it felt like metal rubbing metal. Would you guys recommend 3 in 1 machine oil to keep it operating smoothly? Or is a sqeaky action just a part of DE razors/Fatboy razors?

---

Just a small drop of that or sewing machine oil will help

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rodb

Just a small drop of that or sewing machine oil will help

---

Thanks Rod, you're the man!

So far as I'm aware 3 in 1 IS sewing machine oil...it's what my wife uses anyway. I use it to keep spray guns clean and corrosion free for storage between painting runs.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BigJim

May be. Tightening it down pulled the edges toward the bar, effectively doing the same thing as running the collar up to 9. Any tips on how to tune her up to work like she's supposed to would be great. I woke up this morning to NO razor burn (shaved on #1 with the butterfly just to the closed position without being loose). So I pitched the Hydro for good. Once my straights get back I plan on using them primarily, but I'll keep this fat boy as a better experience shaving with better results (and much cheaper replacement blades!).

---

Sorry BigJim, I'm not much of a razor restoration guy so I'm not a lot of help there. If it is a looseness issue I'm not sure that oil will help, but perhaps some of the experienced DE repairmen will chime in.

Glad to hear you're liking the DE shaving so far.

Just finished my second shave with the same razor (and blade). Not as happy tonight as I was last night. Don't know if it's because I had higher expectations, the quality of blade used, or the fact that I seemed to keep bumping the twist knob and loosening the silo doors. Face doesn't feel as good as it did last night, but we'll see if razor burn develops.

Hey Jim! Be careful with the GEM. That is one of the aggresive GEM razors. As advised before, don't use paint scraper blades in it. The SE razors are really nice to use once you learn how to handle them and I find the shave lasts significantly longer than the shave from a DE razor.

For what it's worth, I did not wake up with any serious razor burn after my second shave. There were a few reddish spots, but no burn feeling; nothing like the razor burn I remember from way back the last time I had it. (Years ago).

Tonight I shaved for the third time with the fatboy, with side two of the Wilkinson blade and it felt better than last night's shave. Definitely glad I discovered these razors.

Update: Got the SE blades Rod sent me today and tried them out on the GEM. From the look of it I didn't think I was putting the blade in properly as there was a lot of comb sticking out, but at the proper angle this think cuts through the whiskers like nothing's there. Definitely a cool razor and one I'll play around with more until I can get a straight in order (and then probably afterward just because I think they're pretty cool pieces of engineering).

Thanks for the input and help fellas.

Peace,

My Gem Micromatic has a bar instead of the comb, but shaves really well. They can be very non-forgiving if the angle is wrong.

Gem and EverReady razors (same thing) are pretty easy to find, the flip top model is really nice

Here's one

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/j...2Ornate001.jpg

That's a nice looking razor. I didn't show mine well in the photo, but mine's got a reverse fluted handle. Yours is a lot fancier, but I think they're pretty neat, especially for their age.

Rodb -

That's not a Gem Micromatic. It's a '1912' model.

That's a really good razor, and it's probably the most loved of the SE models. It's a lot less aggressive than the open comb micromatic the OP has.

BigJim -

Nice pickup on the Slim, Fatmoy and the Micromatic. They're all good razors.

I use a bullet-tip micromatic a lot. Amazingly nice shave.

Yes, I've got a bunch of those 1912's, they are really nice. I've also got one of the "lather catcher" ones from aprox 1908, those are pretty cool as well

BigJim -

I couldn't see any other post that had mentioned this:

Razor 1 is a GIllette Slim adjustable
Razor 2 is a Fatboy Adjustable
Razor 3 is a Gem Micromatic

I guess you figured some of this out already, but I thought it couldn't hurt to make sure.

The adjustables change the blade exposure from 1 to 9 (9 being the most aggressive). Choice of blade will make a pretty big difference with these razors. Your best bet would be to get a sampler pack from West Coast Shaving or another vendor.

The OC MM is a pretty aggressive shaver. You need decent blades (Ted Pellas, or Gem Blue Star blades), but given that it will shave excellently. I love SE razors.

Yep, I love the Lather Catchers too. Light razors, but still a nice shave.

The best of the SE razors for me was the EverReady Streamline. It has a nice heft to it, and the build quality is excellent. Shaves wonderfully.

EDIT: I misread your previous post - I thought you were calling that razor a MM, but you were not - sorry about that. I also like the safety bar MM's.

No problem, I write too fast for my own good sometimes!

The safety bar MM is a really great razor, before I started with straights, SE razors were (and still are) favorites (Gem, EverReady and injectors)

Thanks for the extra info on the razors guys. I did discover the adjuster function on the Gillettes, as well as the fact that the slim is a slim and not a Fatboy...though there are several slims listed on the bay as fatboys.

I got some nice shaves with the Fatboy (haven't used the slim yet) and a couple with the GEM thanks to Rod hooking me up with some of his SE blades. But then my straights came back from honing, so for the last two days I've used one of them. Now I have too many razors (HA) and can't grow facial hair fast enough! I will definitely keep the DE's and SE around for a while as it is nice to have a razor I can just drop a blade in and go. Some guys might keep their old Mach 3 or Hydro around, but after using these razors the shave is significantly better and the irritation has gone down well below the Hydro's performance (and I liked it a WHOLE lot better than the Mach 3).

I'd like to see some pics of a "lather catcher." I did run into an issue with gunk build up (soap and stubble) under the DE blade on the Gillette. Any tips on preventing that? When it dries it's hard like the soap puck...effectively clogging the razor and requiring a new blade.

Thanks fellas,

BigJim, I don't know what blades you're using but I discovered today that my local Walmart stocks Wilkinson Sword blades. 10 for $1.76. I shave a lot with a Shavette so I'm always on the lookout for blades to try. I've mostly been using the Israeli Personna blades from Sally (or CVS/Rite Aid but cheaper at Sally). The Wilkinson sword blades definitely gave me a different shave. I got a few more weepers than usual but less irritation.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bharner

BigJim, I don't know what blades you're using but I discovered today that my local Walmart stocks Wilkinson Sword blades. 10 for $1.76. I shave a lot with a Shavette so I'm always on the lookout for blades to try. I've mostly been using the Israeli Personna blades from Sally (or CVS/Rite Aid but cheaper at Sally). The Wilkinson sword blades definitely gave me a different shave. I got a few more weepers than usual but less irritation.

---

B- The Wilk's are exactly what I'm using. I picked up the safeties at a nearby antique shop, and grabbed the first DE blades I found that would work (found one pack that was too wide...not sure what they're for), but found the Wilk's at Wally-World.

I was happy with them...though my face was uncomfortable immediately after the shave (I assume because of needing to adjust from cartridge shaving) the discomfort went away within about an hour. Thanks though.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BigJim

I'd like to see some pics of a "lather catcher." I did run into an issue with gunk build up (soap and stubble) under the DE blade on the Gillette. Any tips on preventing that? When it dries it's hard like the soap puck...effectively clogging the razor and requiring a new blade.

Thanks fellas,

---

http://i44.tinypic.com/e9c7s6.jpg

Here's some pics i found on the net

Wow. Those look like they would eat your face.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BigJim

Wow. Those look like they would eat your face.

---

One must respect the lather catcher!! LOL!!:tameshigiri:

Once you get past the fact that blade is just sitting there on top, it's not that bad. It looks worse than it actually is

They are still safety razors...but they do look menacing! I'll keep my eye out for any in the antique shops around here. So far though, it looks like I picked mine up at the only shop that was selling them at a bargain. The other shops in the area want no less than $15 for their safety razors, some much more...and theirs are in no better, and often worse condition than the ones I bought for much less.

That's not much of a surprise Jim. A vintage DE that's a reputable make/model and is in good condition will often go for well more than $15, in fact it's very common. I know we usually associate DE's as being cheaper than SR's, but they are still a collectable item and therefore can command a wide range of prices on the antique market. It is nice to come across a bargain though...:D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ryan82

That's not much of a surprise Jim. A vintage DE that's a reputable make/model and is in good condition will often go for well more than $15, in fact it's very common. I know we usually associate DE's as being cheaper than SR's, but they are still a collectable item and therefore can command a wide range of prices on the antique market. It is nice to come across a bargain though...:D

---

Yeah, I'm not saying it's outrageous or anything, but the shops I've looked at have been within 20 miles of each other. And for me, <$10 I can pop for a gamble/fun >$10 and I go "eh...is it worth it?" I got my DE's and the GEM for pocket change so $15 up the street for a razor that's showing brass and coated in gunk seems incongruent. Then again, I'm pretty sure the proprietors of said shops don't go checking each other's prices--on safety razors anyway. Were I interested in selling my safety razors (I'm not), I'd be happy to get $15 for them! That'd be a tidy profit!

Peace,

BigJim, both your Fatboy and Slim should give you about another quarter turn or so after they feel closed. This will tighten up the mechanism completely, and then the twist to open knob shouldn't loosen up as you shave. I've used primarily DE razors, with a couple of SEs for about a year now, and with the DEs, I shave with one side of the blade until that side of the razor is fairly full of lather, flip the razor around, and use the other side until I finish that particular pass. Then I rinse the razor, relather, and go again. When you're done with your shave, you should loosen the doors of the razor, and rinse well with running water. This will get all of the whiskers and lather out for your next use. I also dip the razor head (with the blade still in it) in rubbing alcohol. The theory is that this will displace the remaining water, and prevent the blade from rusting if it sits for an extended period until your next shave. It looks like you've found some great razors that will give you decades of service. Nice finds! If you're looking for DE blades, Amazon has tons of great offerings for mere pennies per blade. The different blades will also give you vastly different shaving experiences. Some great, some not so great, and they're different for everyone. Enjoy your safety razors!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by americanarmsdealer

BigJim, both your Fatboy and Slim should give you about another quarter turn or so after they feel closed. This will tighten up the mechanism completely, and then the twist to open knob shouldn't loosen up as you shave. Enjoy your safety razors!!

---

AAD- Thanks for the info. I think I've gotten a feel for them and found a good middle ground. Right now I have to admit that they're sitting in reserve as I finally got my straights back from honing and have been having a lot of fun learning to use those.

That aside, I had the opportunity to check out a couple antique stores today (my day off) and ran across this:
Attachment 66881

(This is exactly how I found it...haven't wiped it off or anything)

Attachment 66883
Attachment 66880
Attachment 66882
I had trouble getting the handle to thread into the razor head and I'm not entirely sure if this razor actually goes with the case, but they were hidden in the back of a display buried behind a bunch of medicine tins, bottles, and other medicine cabinet stuff. For what they were asking I thought the case alone was worth it, but I would like try this razor out if I can get it together. (I know how to tap threads...should I?)

Peace,

Cool razor, wrong box. That's more or less the Gem/EverReady 1912 model. It should work great