Hope everyone's 2025 is off to a great start - mine took a swing for the good with a COMPLETELY unexpected result from a recent fleabay find...
...having found a very clean Gillette NEW Long Comb in a local shop last year and greatly enjoyed it, I'd been looking for a nice Short Comb version in matching look (gold plate, common-bar handle, etc) - and about ten days ago won what appeared to be a very clean example in a Red & Black kit.
Had chatted with the seller about a Tech they also had, but this got snagged by a different bidder at the last moment. Oh well, my primary interest being the SC, I paid and got a message back asking if I'd be interested in "taking" for free an S/E safety that hadn't sold; they just wanted to de-clutter and there would be room in my Gillette's package. Glancing at the message on my phone I basically just said sure, expecting something like a rusted-out 50s job. When I looked at their message more closely and realized they'd called it a Damaskeene, I was a bit surprised, but still expected essentially a small, quaint paperweight.
Imagine my surprise yesterday at receiving the package to find this - which, as you can see, was freshened up and immediately put into service!
Complete case (leather is shot on backing side functionally but presents well visually, button snaps close easily), nice original blade bank, and yes, an actual Damaskeene blade (used) held within from back in the day!
The razor itself presents as very nearly new after a light wipedown, pardon any moisture residue in these pics. Snap-top mechanism works perfectly, teeth are straight and comb is even, and resting points for razor blade are intact and perfect. The head screws apart easily from the threaded handle with no sign of stripping, and tightens easily and gently when ready for use.
I informed the seller what a beautiful and functional collector piece they'd given me, to which they told me they were glad to have the clutter out and with someone who would use it.
...time to order a new deck of GEM blades, I guess! (Shown and used with PAL Blue, just what I have on hand for S/E at present - effective, if a smidge aggressive, IMO)
In use the razor is a delight, offering as close a shave as my later (and considerablly more worn) GEM Micromatic with less blade feel, for my skin. Definitely a keeper for the S/E rotation.
...having found a very clean Gillette NEW Long Comb in a local shop last year and greatly enjoyed it, I'd been looking for a nice Short Comb version in matching look (gold plate, common-bar handle, etc) - and about ten days ago won what appeared to be a very clean example in a Red & Black kit.
Had chatted with the seller about a Tech they also had, but this got snagged by a different bidder at the last moment. Oh well, my primary interest being the SC, I paid and got a message back asking if I'd be interested in "taking" for free an S/E safety that hadn't sold; they just wanted to de-clutter and there would be room in my Gillette's package. Glancing at the message on my phone I basically just said sure, expecting something like a rusted-out 50s job. When I looked at their message more closely and realized they'd called it a Damaskeene, I was a bit surprised, but still expected essentially a small, quaint paperweight.
Imagine my surprise yesterday at receiving the package to find this - which, as you can see, was freshened up and immediately put into service!
Complete case (leather is shot on backing side functionally but presents well visually, button snaps close easily), nice original blade bank, and yes, an actual Damaskeene blade (used) held within from back in the day!
The razor itself presents as very nearly new after a light wipedown, pardon any moisture residue in these pics. Snap-top mechanism works perfectly, teeth are straight and comb is even, and resting points for razor blade are intact and perfect. The head screws apart easily from the threaded handle with no sign of stripping, and tightens easily and gently when ready for use.
I informed the seller what a beautiful and functional collector piece they'd given me, to which they told me they were glad to have the clutter out and with someone who would use it.
...time to order a new deck of GEM blades, I guess! (Shown and used with PAL Blue, just what I have on hand for S/E at present - effective, if a smidge aggressive, IMO)
In use the razor is a delight, offering as close a shave as my later (and considerablly more worn) GEM Micromatic with less blade feel, for my skin. Definitely a keeper for the S/E rotation.
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