Gem in the wild.

So, I got a call from up at the cottage that a tree had fallen on my boat during the ice storm the other day up here.
Took the time to hit all the little shops along the way.
Not a single straight to be had anywhere.
Got to Bobcageon, and the boats ok it seems. Big branch but no damage to the old girl!
Found these in a shop heading home.
Attachment 232900
And never been used lil gem
Attachment 232901Attachment 232902Attachment 232903Attachment 232904
$30 for both. Always wanted one of those hand trimmers for the dogs backsides,, :)
Keep the back door clear of hair between cuts.
Anyway, a bit of chainsaw work and the boat is cleared, these lil finds made the drive worthwhile as well.
Cheers.

Nice way to turn a bad day into a good good one :<0)

Mike, the little GEM is a winner. ""Talk about blade exposure""
Plastic coated GEM blades from razorblades and more or the Ted Pella are about two years of good shaves!
~Richard

Mike, nice snag man. Both look very, very clean. The trimmers look great. I've seen many on my antique store journeys, but none as nice as this one.

I do have a comment about the GEM....
How certain are you that those are the right blades? If I had to say, I'd say they're not..... But, I'm not that knowledgeable with GEMs, I just don't want you bleeding to death on your bathroom floor.

Who's the GEM master here on SRP???

The gem are a SE blade. Geezers post will get you on the right track.

Attachment 232905Attachment 232906

Sorry, these pics will be sideways.

The only blade I have for my gems that has a label on it. It's a labeled Gem blade with a single edge. The blade edge is up above the comb part of the razor......
I don't know.... I could be totally wrong here.

Yes, thanks Andrew. those double edges while in the case. were not for that razor, I just stuck it in for the pic. Would be a lethal shave with lots of blade flex,,,
Going to order some single edges just to try but will keep this in its case as from what I can gather its pretty old. Saw a similar one in the same case that said 1912 on it, so am delighted to find one in the wild still in such condition.

Ahhhhh, very good Mike. Ya that would've been an interesting shave! You find any good places to get blades? I've done some searching and have only found one store.

Checking out razorbladesandmore.com as Richard suggested. Not a lot on eBay for them.

Mike--You will find that the hair clipper probably won't cut your dog's hair but give it a try anyway. I bought one at a flea market for animal grooming and it didn't work at all on the house cat. This winter I took it apart, sharpened the cutter on my hard Arkansas, oiled it, and now it makes a wonderful clipper for my bushy eyebrows and side burns.

Ya, I could have sent you a reft of those...free! :D

BTW, Mike is BADASS!

http://straightrazorpalace.com/attac...wild-image.jpg

The Gem is called a 1912 pattern and is one of the best safeties ever made. Obviously, most of the examples you find in the field are much newer than that. I have no idea when they stopped making the 1912 but I suspect the 1930s at the latest. Some later Gem SEs had plastic handles and don't have the same feel in the hand.

Mike

Nice finds but that Gem will be an eye opener when you get around to shaving with it.

These are the blades to use in that GEM GEM by Personna Stainless Coated Single Edge Razor Blades . The Personna GEM stainless steel PTFE coated blades are the, and I hate to use the word, best blades I have used in my English GEM. Put one of those in her and you'll get a smooth close shave to rival what a straight razor can give you. You are in for a treat.

Bob

As an after though, the blades resemble the scraper blades sold in hardware stores but do not under any circumstances use those. They are definitely not made for shaving. Also when you do try that Gem the shaving angle is completely different to that of a DE. The Gem top cap should be almost flat to you face with very little gap, just like using a straight razor with a spine width gap. It is kind of like shaving with an Adze. I sent you a PM.

Bob

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MikeB52

Checking out razorbladesandmore.com as Richard suggested. Not a lot on eBay for them.

---

Around here, you can get Gem Stainless Steel single edge blades on the shaving aisle at Walgreens. If I recall correctly, they are about $5 for a dispenser of ten blades. They are not PTFE coated but are serviceable in a pinch. If you want to try the Gems out without making an order, this might be a good alternative.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Demetrius

Around here, you can get Gem Stainless Steel single edge blades on the shaving aisle at Walgreens. If I recall correctly, they are about $5 for a dispenser of ten blades. They are not PTFE coated but are serviceable in a pinch. If you want to try the Gems out without making an order, this might be a good alternative.

---

I have tried them. The ones I bought, though stainless, had rust in the dispenser. Really bad blades!
Maybe QC has improved over a couple years. Try them and return them if they are crappy!
YMMV~Richard

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Demetrius

Around here, you can get Gem Stainless Steel single edge blades on the shaving aisle at Walgreens. If I recall correctly, they are about $5 for a dispenser of ten blades. They are not PTFE coated but are serviceable in a pinch. If you want to try the Gems out without making an order, this might be a good alternative.

---

I have not been able to walk into a store in Canada and find SE shaving blades but lots for scrapers at the hardware store. You basically have to order the SE blades in or you are sol.

Bob

Connaught Shaving in the UK is a very reliable source for quality SE blades. We can't buy them at all in Australia so are obliged to order them over the internet.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Maladroit

Connaught Shaving in the UK is a very reliable source for quality SE blades. We can't buy them at all in Australia so are obliged to order them over the internet.

---

Glad to see we are not the only Colonials that have that problem in getting SE blades. At least we are in good company. :angel:;)

Bob