Comprehensive List of Gem SE Razors

[michiganlover]

Assuming that I wanted a complete collection of Gem SE Razors, what models are available?

Here is what I know about:

Gem Lathercatcher
*Gem 1912
*Gem Micromatic Open Comb
*Gem Micromatic Clogpruf
*Gem Micromatic Bullet Tip
*Gem Featherwieght
*Gem G Bar
Gem Contour
Gem Contour II (with all plastic handle).

* = models I presently own

What am I missing from the list? What were the approximate dates of manufacture?

Can someone post pictures of each?

I noticed the Wiki is sadly missing any information on GEM Razors, and many a newbie stumbles by, with no knowledge whatsoever about these wonderful great shaving razors.

Internet knowledge also seems sparse, and I didn't find a page with any details on the various models.

 

[Fairway Ray]

There is the GEM pat 1918 and various GEM jr.s I have seen on the web.

 

[pablo_h]

Some photos here: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=99043

 

[Bertilak]

More than one kind of Lather Catcher. See some pictures at http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=97347

 

[TSWebster]

Theres also the Push Button and the Ever-Ready variants the 1914 and the 1924.

 

[MrGuy]

There's also the slight differences between same models. The Featherweight comes in "silver" and also a gold plated model. The gold one has a little gold bar thing at the bottom of the handle.
The Clog-Pruf has at least two different patterns of the bumps on the comb.
The bullet tip Micro has the all metal ("gold" and "silver") and a plastic tip variety.
G-Bars, or Heavy Flat Tops as GEM called them, have two handle patterns.
These differences aren't really enough to effect the shave, but are likely to be crucial to accurate dating.

 

[Darjeeling Express]

Rob Paulen's pics are amazing. I've added to all of the threads, Thirdeye's wonderful contribution. http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=69235

But Dave I. more than anyone else brought this SE world alive for me!!

 

[Dennis]

Can we update the Wiki? I can assist, but my wiki knowledge is pretty tiny.

 

[82R100]

You list a Contour and a Contour II. I believe that the leftmost razor is a contour, but the others shown below are Gem pushbuttons. I'm not sure what they'd be called.

- Chris

 

[michiganlover]

You list a Contour and a Contour II. I believe that the leftmost razor is a contour, but the others shown below are Gem pushbuttons. I'm not sure what they'd be called.

I thought the Contour had a push button?

The distinction between Contour, and Contour II was made by another member (shave cat, see thread here: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=103421), as apparently there was a Contour with an all plastic handle, vs. the first model which was plastic/ metal.

 

[82R100]

I thought the Contour had a push button?

Good point. My contour has a pusbutton. This one apparently does not, but the three non-contours do:

Here's a lousy partial view of my razor from its original eBay listing:

 

[D.Irving79]

ive got a pictorial compendium in the works for SE razors.

 

[Shave Cat]

The three non Contour razors shown were introduced in 1958 as the Push Button. I can only guess that the original Contour, which immediately followed the Push Button, also had the push button feature. I have only seen a couple of photos of Contours with flip top heads. I've not seen one in person. I'm assuming that they were manufactured just before the Contour II came out.

-Clarke

 

[Darjeeling Express]

ive got a pictorial compendium in the works for SE razors.

Was the camera recovered?? DI's work should probably be heading for the Wiki as well.

 

[D.Irving79]

Was the camera recovered?? DI's work should probably be heading for the Wiki as well.

NO!

the wiki should follow.

 

[michiganlover]

Here is another one I have never seen before. I got the photos from user "merwtje", and he called it an EverReady "Jewel":

 

[Darjeeling Express]

The "Jewel" is a jewel.

 

[pablo_h]

ahh yes, the stream line models.
http://www.badgerandblade.com/forum/media/14990

 

[Graydog]

Assuming that I wanted a complete collection of Gem SE Razors, what models are available?

Here is what I know about:

Gem Lathercatcher
*Gem 1912
*Gem Micromatic Open Comb
*Gem Micromatic Clogpruf
*Gem Micromatic Bullet Tip
*Gem Featherwieght
*Gem G Bar
Gem Contour
Gem Contour II (with all plastic handle).

* = models I presently own

What am I missing from the list? What were the approximate dates of manufacture?

Can someone post pictures of each?

I noticed the Wiki is sadly missing any information on GEM Razors, and many a newbie stumbles by, with no knowledge whatsoever about these wonderful great shaving razors.

Internet knowledge also seems sparse, and I didn't find a page with any details on the various models.

This was posted back in 2009 .

 

[pjgh]

Zinn Gem - Different blades, although modern injectors do work today ...
New Gem - Clamshell head, akin to the Star
Gem Improved - Lather Catcher
Model Gem - Lather Catcher
Gem Junior - Lather Catcher
Gem Junior Bar - Lather Catcher
Gem Junior Elite - Lather Catcher ... as "Bar" with long slender handle
Gem De Luxe - Open comb of what would become the Damaskeene/1912
Gem Damaskeene Open Comb - pre-Damaskeene/1912 open comb
Gem Damaskeene - Several variants, one with "1902" on the underside of the head
Gem 1912 - Wide Comb/Squat Head (usually short handle)
Gem 1912 - Wide Comb
Gem 1912 - Revised Comb
Gem Junior - Revised Comb (Blank Tab)
Gem Micromatic Open Comb - Nubless Baseplate (usually brass)
Gem Micromatic Open Comb - Nubbed Baseplate
Gem Micromatic Clog Pruf - 13 Tooth
Gem Micromatic Clog Pruf - 17 Tooth
Gem Micromatic Bullet Tip - Gold/Chrome/Plastic Tip
Gem Jewel - Ever Ready Jewel/Streamline/Ambassador equivalent
Gem G Bar
Gem Featherweight - Two cap variants, one like the G Bar and one much lighter
Gem Pushbutton
Gem Pushbutton - GEM handle with Ever Ready on baseplate "You have bought an Ever-Ready Gem ..." leaflet
Gem Contour - Pushbutton
Gem Contour 1.5 - Fliptop & metal handle
Gem Contour II - Plastic handle & plastic inset
Gem Contour 3? - Plastic handle & sparkly plastic inset

Those are the major types with what I would call considerable differences. Beyond that, there is an abundance of model types, market releases and so on which form what I would call minor differences.

... and that's just GEM. There's Ever-Ready, Star, oddities like RADIO, Oxford and even an Eversharp 1912! Yes, as in Eversharp/Schick!