Micromatic Monday

[Theodore]

GEMonday today - a new PTFE in my english 1912.

I’m settling into a rhythm with how I use my two GEMs. First two shaves on a PTFE are in my 1912 - it tames the intensity just enough. Then, I transfer the blade to my MMOC to run out the rest of the blade’s life.

I have been using a couple of Yaqi synthetics recently - a timberwolf and a plisson. I think they’ve inoculated me against BAD - they’re so good, and they’re cheap as chips.

 

[Flintstone65]

GEMonday today - a new PTFE in my english 1912.

I’m settling into a rhythm with how I use my two GEMs. First two shaves on a PTFE are in my 1912 - it tames the intensity just enough. Then, I transfer the blade to my MMOC to run out the rest of the blade’s life.

I have been using a couple of Yaqi synthetics recently - a timberwolf and a plisson. I think they’ve inoculated me against BAD - they’re so good, and they’re cheap as chips.

Congrats on finding a rhythm that works for you. Many of us have also adopted that strategy of "breaking in" a new PTFE blade in a milder/gentler razor -- for me it's the GEM Feather Weight as the blade-tamer. And I couldn't agree more about the Yaqi's. I only use synthetics, and I have a Plissoft and Timberwolf, along with a faux-horse and mew-brown....every Yaqi I try, I fall in love with.

 

[Theodore]

Congrats on finding a rhythm that works for you. Many of us have also adopted that strategy of "breaking in" a new PTFE blade in a milder/gentler razor -- for me it's the GEM Feather Weight as the blade-tamer. And I couldn't agree more about the Yaqi's. I only use synthetics, and I have a Plissoft and Timberwolf, along with a faux-horse and mew-brown....every Yaqi I try, I fall in love with.

Yes, a brand new PTFE in an MMOC is a wild animal, isn’t it. You can tame it with very steady hands and patience, but the risk you’ll get bitten is just a bit high for my liking.

 

[Flintstone65]

It would be cool to have the first and last style Gems I believe the first would be the Gem Zinn what would be the last.

The last would be the Contour 2....I believe last produced in 1979 (according to the this excellent chart) American Safety Razor Dating Chart - Gem, Ever Ready, Kampfe Star

 

[Flintstone65]

View attachment 982042 View attachment 982043 View attachment 982041 I just won a "bumpless" MMOC. These were the early models View attachment 982041 if I remember where the two sided blades were employed.

Congratulations!!! I've got a Gold "bumpless" MMOC and it is an awesome shaver -- can't really tell the difference between it and the "newer" MMOC, but I'm happy to have every version I can get my hands on when it comes to this excellent razor!!!

 

[Twelvefret]

Congratulations!!! I've got a Gold "bumpless" MMOC and it is an awesome shaver -- can't really tell the difference between it and the "newer" MMOC, but I'm happy to have every version I can get my hands on when it comes to this excellent razor!!!

Having the early version, circa 1930 according to the excellent timeline our fellow GEM users put together for us, was my reason for bidding.

 

[Steve_in_CT]

Yes, a brand new PTFE in an MMOC is a wild animal, isn’t it. You can tame it with very steady hands and patience, but the risk you’ll get bitten is just a bit high for my liking.

I’ve only had an MMOC for a month or so, and I’ve yet to have any mishaps with the PTFE blades or the carbon blades - new or otherwise. I don’t find it to be difficult to tame at all. I find the Fatip OC’s to be much more likely to bite.

 

[jmudrick]

The last would be the Contour 2....I believe last produced in 1979 (according to the this excellent chart) American Safety Razor Dating Chart - Gem, Ever Ready, Kampfe Star

Since ASR didn't use date codes or serial numbers all the dates are based on whatever advertising or catalogs we've been able to find,,,and therefore subject to revision. Just for the record.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

 

[McKinneys]

Had a nice close shave with my Micromatic Bullet Tip with Guiding Eye and a GEM PFTE blade (2 flipped). Two passes with a little bit of touchup resulted in an irritation-free BBS.

 

[Twelvefret]

Good Micromatic Monday all!! MMOC for the second pass and was as smooth as silk.

 

[Flintstone65]

So far, so good on our GEMonday / Micromatic Monday -- I may be shaving later in the day (versus earlier), but it'll happen and I'll be back to share!!!

 

[Ron R]

Good morning this GEMonday here in sunny Alberta Canada. Had to take my JEM(ER)Streamline jewel out for a spin and it gave a close shave. It has been one of the hardest Gem razors to master and the Alum block indicated some irritation but no weepers. CCS>DFS>BBS results IMO = reasonable shave.
Razor: GEM (ER) streamline
Blade : GEM Personna SS PTFE (7)
Soap: Italian barber Amici
Brush: Razorock 24 mm Plissoft (nice brush)
Pre shave: wet the face+warm wet wash cloth X 2 for 40 seconds + Aloe Vera gel
Post shave: Alum + cold water rinse
Post shave: Proraso green Aftershave + Nivea balm

Have some great shaves!

 

[Twelvefret]

Good morning this GEMonday here in sunny Alberta Canada. Had to take my JEM(ER)Streamline jewel out for a spin and it gave a close shave. It has been one of the hardest Gem razors to master and the Alum block indicated some irritation but no weepers. CCS>DFS>BBS results IMO = reasonable shave.
Razor: GEM (ER) streamline
Blade : GEM Personna SS PTFE (7)
Soap: Italian barber Amici
Brush: Razorock 24 mm Plissoft (nice brush)
Pre shave: wet the face+warm wet wash cloth X 2 for 40 seconds + Aloe Vera gel
Post shave: Alum + cold water rinse
Post shave: Proraso green Aftershave + Nivea balm
View attachment 982297
Have some great shaves!

Love that Stream Line!!

 

[GAW9576]

The last would be the Contour 2....I believe last produced in 1979 (according to the this excellent chart) American Safety Razor Dating Chart - Gem, Ever Ready, Kampfe Star

So I'm not far from each end of the spectrum. Some day I would really like a Zinn.
I thought there where 3 versions of the contour.?.

 

[Tanuki]

SOTD GemMonday - PB point blank

A relaxed, and relaxing first outing for my user-grade $5 Pushbutton

1 GEM flipped, I haven’t been counting the shaves. This blade will get another chance in the Shovelhead. If it doesn’t cut it in that fine razor, it’s off to the single edge stash in the shop.
2 Semogue boar
3 Williams Mug

A mild shave, but a little overworked while playing with ‘flat against face’ and then looking to the touchup to reach DFS (didn’t make it there). Too much time on my hands this morning? Or just avoiding the current plumbing project lurking in the basement?

 

[Tanuki]

I grabbed this razor in the wild planning to pass it along and introduce someone to the joys of the best TTO, the Micromatic, in its finest incarnation, the MMOC. This particular user grade razor has a smooth TTO mechanism, fine blade bed and comb, but a little plating loss/light corrosion on one side of the cap.

My current thought is to organize a pass around on this thread, so that those benighted souls without access to the king of the Micromatics could give one a whirl. I don‘t know if there is any B&B policy on pass arounds, but I thought it could work like this:

Any B&Ber interested could PM me. I would collect a few member IDs, randomize the list, and ship the razor to the lucky SE fan at the top of the list, along with the member ID list. The receiver could try the MMOC out, hopefully post their thoughts to this thread, and then PM the next shaver and ship it to that member, along with the list. Once my list is exhausted, it would be up to the member with the razor to figure out what happens next.

Am I supposed to make a vague threat of bad luck to anyone who breaks the chain?

So, unless this is a really dumb idea, I will polish the cap a little, disinfect it, and await some response. I (and this MMOC) are probably both to cheap to ship beyond CONUS. It’s still Monday here in the PNW of the USA, and it’s Monday tomorrow on this thread. If you want to try out an MMOC, let me know.

Just a reminder, this user grade MMOC is available as a pass around if anyone on this thread wants to try out an MMOC without shelling out $$. Shipping beyond CONUS might cost you...

 

[Flintstone65]

By popular demand (or I guess limited suggestion), I used a new-to-me Gem Jr Bar 1910 version and Micromatic Open Comb (post 1930 -- with "bumps"). The soap was a Men's Soap Company Bay Rum and the brush was my RazoRock Plissoft Beehive (28mm), and finished with Krampert's Finest Bay Rum Aftershave.

A few words about the Gem Jr Bar: I'm not really sure if it is a 1910 or not -- so if someone knows, please weigh-in. Basically, there is very little writing (no fancy script on the back of the razor), just plain block lettering of GEM Junior Bar (as you can see in the photo). This razor has seen some action, and I would not be surprised to learn if it were taken to the front in WWI and then went back for a stint in WWII....it has plating loss and the swing arm isn't nearly as tight as my earlier model. The blade clip still works, but this is a rough-and-ready user model. The original handle appears to be steel (not brass), and it's on the long-side -- sorry, no photos of the handle but I'll post some one of these days. I used my modern wooden handle which was inspired by older wooden handles.

One more disclaimer....I've been using a Pal Injecto-Matic for the last few shaves, and the angle on that is much different than the SE GEMs. I did a first pass with the Gem Jr Bar and it was not great. I had trouble finding the angle (and I NEVER have trouble finding an angle with any GEM), and the dang swing arm would actually get caught on my face and try to flip open. It was a comically bad pass, but I got through it and with some (not much) growth knocked down. Then I put the MMOC on the job for the rest of the shave (2 pass plus a touch-up) and got a CCS-DFS-BBS shave.

So I'm not drawing any grand conclusions at this point about this model of Gem Jr Bar, but the youngster out-worked the senior on this shave. I'm going to try a shave with a newer blade (this one was a 7+ use GEM SS PTFE), the original handle, and really concentrate on the angle and overall technique I may also do a head-to-head with the 1907'ish GEM Jr Bar vs this one and see if it's really a technique thing, or if my veteran has a war wound that is causing performance issues.

All in all, it was an interesting (and still enjoyable) GEMonday & Micromatic Monday!!!

 

[Flintstone65]

SOTD GemMonday - PB point blank

A relaxed, and relaxing first outing for my user-grade $5 Pushbutton

1 GEM flipped, I haven’t been counting the shaves. This blade will get another chance in the Shovelhead. If it doesn’t cut it in that fine razor, it’s off to the single edge stash in the shop.
2 Semogue boar
3 Williams Mug
View attachment 982351
A mild shave, but a little overworked while playing with ‘flat against face’ and then looking to the touchup to reach DFS (didn’t make it there). Too much time on my hands this morning? Or just avoiding the current plumbing project lurking in the basement?

John -- I'd be interested in hearing how your PB does with a newer blade. I found mine a touch too mild, and had the same "overworking" problem with a final shave being less-than-DFS. The razor is fine when I pair it with a Schick E2, a Feather Weight or pretty much anybody else who can take up the slack, but on it's own I wasn't bowled over.

 

[Flintstone65]

So I'm not far from each end of the spectrum. Some day I would really like a Zinn.
I thought there where 3 versions of the contour.?.

There may be 3 versions, but I've only run across people referencing the Contour and the Contour 2....but goodness knows that I'm far from an expert on these things. As for a Zinn, I've chased a couple, but they always ultimately exceed my budget....I'm hoping to find one in the wild some day -- perhaps being sold by a person without an internet connection or any knowledge of razors.

 

[Flintstone65]

Good morning this GEMonday here in sunny Alberta Canada. Had to take my JEM(ER)Streamline jewel out for a spin and it gave a close shave. It has been one of the hardest Gem razors to master and the Alum block indicated some irritation but no weepers. CCS>DFS>BBS results IMO = reasonable shave.
Razor: GEM (ER) streamline
Blade : GEM Personna SS PTFE (7)
Soap: Italian barber Amici
Brush: Razorock 24 mm Plissoft (nice brush)
Pre shave: wet the face+warm wet wash cloth X 2 for 40 seconds + Aloe Vera gel
Post shave: Alum + cold water rinse
Post shave: Proraso green Aftershave + Nivea balm
View attachment 982297
Have some great shaves!

I've heard the Streamline has a rep for being a bit of a beast unless and until you master the technique. It is an absolute Beauty though, thanks for sharing!!!