I recently purchased a, excellant condition, 1912, GEM travel razor (short handled) in a ivory case. I did not need it because I already have one that I have been shaving with the past week, but it was in such great condition (the price was right) I couldn't pass it by. It is either nickel or chrome plated. Is there a way to tell what the plating is?
1912, GEM travel razor, Chrome or nickel plated?
- Thread starter dcrosso
- Start date
I think you will find that, most of the vintage razors, both Gillette and Gem as well as many others, which were plated with a "silver" colored plating were nickel rather than chrome. There were, of course, razors with actual silver plating as well as many gold plated specimens.
If you put the razor along side of an article which you know to be chrome plated, you will likely find that the plating on the razor appears a slight bit on the "yellowish" side as opposed to the somewhat "blueish" tinge to the chrome plated article. This slightly yellow cast is characteristic of nickel. Some modern razors such as the Merkurs do have chrome plating.
Regards,
Tom
If you put the razor along side of an article which you know to be chrome plated, you will likely find that the plating on the razor appears a slight bit on the "yellowish" side as opposed to the somewhat "blueish" tinge to the chrome plated article. This slightly yellow cast is characteristic of nickel. Some modern razors such as the Merkurs do have chrome plating.
Regards,
Tom
- Thread starter
- #3
Glad you got your question answered, Doug.
Now, the next thing you may find is, with a good blade such as the coated stainless "Gem by Personna" blades sold at Walgreens and some other stores, your new Gem has the ability to outperform your Merkur hands down.
It may take a little "getting used to" since an SE requires a little different angle than a DE, but if you listen for the sound of the blade cutting the whiskers, you should soon be able to know when you have the optimum angle. Those 1912's can provide some of the best and most comfortable shaves of any safety razor made before or since.
Regards,
Tom
Now, the next thing you may find is, with a good blade such as the coated stainless "Gem by Personna" blades sold at Walgreens and some other stores, your new Gem has the ability to outperform your Merkur hands down.
It may take a little "getting used to" since an SE requires a little different angle than a DE, but if you listen for the sound of the blade cutting the whiskers, you should soon be able to know when you have the optimum angle. Those 1912's can provide some of the best and most comfortable shaves of any safety razor made before or since.
Regards,
Tom
What he said. I have a 1912 travel and a Micromatic and they both give consistently fantastic shaves. BBS to the extreme. I could get away with shaving every other day if I only used my Gems. But where's the fun in only shaving every other day?
I've been told they're the next best thing to a straight. I've also been told they're as smooth as a straight.
I know they give me a BBS shave that lasts all day.
I've been told they're the next best thing to a straight. I've also been told they're as smooth as a straight.
I know they give me a BBS shave that lasts all day.
Glad you got your question answered, Doug.
Now, the next thing you may find is, with a good blade such as the coated stainless "Gem by Personna" blades sold at Walgreens and some other stores, your new Gem has the ability to outperform your Merkur hands down.
It may take a little "getting used to" since an SE requires a little different angle than a DE, but if you listen for the sound of the blade cutting the whiskers, you should soon be able to know when you have the optimum angle. Those 1912's can provide some of the best and most comfortable shaves of any safety razor made before or since.
Regards,
Tom
+1 . . . You better believe it!!!
- Thread starter
- #7
I have been using Walgreens, GEM blades, in a well worn, GEM 1912 Travel razor (short handle) for about a week now. I have received the best shaves of my life. So far I have shaved 6 times with the same blade. It feels like it is starting to drag a little, but still acceptable this morning. I am going to try for the 7th. shave on Sun. I just ordered 400, #121-3 coated blades from TedPella.com ($35.00 per 200, $15.00 shipping). They are supposed to be the best coated, SE blade available. They seem to have the best prices, although their shipping is a little high. They did not list their shipping charges when I placed the order, so I phoned them and spoke to a very helpful lady. She informed me that the shipping charges are higher because they only ship FEDEX with a signature required. They prefer to ship to a business. It does not make sense to me because they could ship the 400 blades for around $6 or $7 by US Mail.
I know! I know! 400 blades at 6 shaves per blade, equals 2400 shaves. Six or seven years of shaves. Don't worry, I am shareing them with a friend. It's cheaper to split the high shipping costs.
I know! I know! 400 blades at 6 shaves per blade, equals 2400 shaves. Six or seven years of shaves. Don't worry, I am shareing them with a friend. It's cheaper to split the high shipping costs.
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