American Safety Razor Dating Chart - Gem, Ever Ready, Kampfe Star

[BBS-1]

Here is the very last Gem razor the Contour II. Pictures of multiple variants which one is the earlier and which is the later I don't know. But based on the Contour handle the one labeled Variant I is most likely the earlier version and Variant II being the later.

Variant I


Variant II

 

[BBS-1]

Here is a Gem Contour the main functioning difference between this and the Contour II is this one is a push button and the Contour II is has the old style thumb flip lever on the cap.

 

[BBS-1]

Gem Push Button including advert

 

[jmudrick]

A couple of minor variants.

The etched cap MMOC.

.

And the nickel plated (rather than chrome) Guiding Eye

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[BBS-1]

Here is a G-bar, they are easy to spot by the handle style.

 

[BBS-1]

Gem Jr Parade set with baton handle and an example of the slim bakelite handle Gem Jr.

 

[BBS-1]

Another example of a Featherweight in retail packaging and a Contour in it's case with instructions.

 

[Tanuki]

A couple of minor variants.

The etched cap MMOC.

.View attachment 980276

And the nickel plated (rather than chrome) Guiding Eye

View attachment 980278

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You guys! The density of SE awesomeness in this thread has gone off the charts. Thanks!

Bonus for me - confirmation that my MM guiding eye is nickel plate!

 

[jmudrick]

You guys! The density of SE awesomeness in this thread has gone off the charts. Thanks![emoji106][emoji106]

Bonus for me - confirmation that my MM guiding eye is nickel plate!

Yep they definitely came in both nickel and chrome, have had both.

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[BBS-1]

Here is the Star Jr razor the handle came in black or red and razors heads in silver color (not sure the plating type) and gold.



Here is an anomaly either this variation is missing on the chart or this is just a mismatch or a Star or Star Jr head with a slimmer bakelite handle you normally would see on Star DE razors.

 

[BBS-1]

Catalog ad from 1927 showing the Gem Peerless and Triumph sets.

 

[mata_66]

No razors, just some historic documents.

The historic 1919 ASR Consolidation on paper (9/25/1919):


The American Safety Razor Corporation Headquarters, Jay and Johnson Street, Brooklyn, New York (1923):


An ASR Stock dating 1927:


ASR workers committee on strike asking a wage increase (1950):

 

[Tanuki]

Posted this wild-caught vintage virgin guiding eye gold-plated Micromatic set in the SE acquisition thread, but the photo belongs here as well.

 

[mata_66]

Ever-Ready Streamline (1936 First version)



What it could have been called the Gem Streamline

 

[mata_66]

Posted this wild-caught vintage virgin guiding eye gold-plated Micromatic set in the SE acquisition thread, but the photo belongs here as well.

Excellent!

 

[Ron R]

No razors, just some historic documents.

The historic 1919 ASR Consolidation on paper (9/25/1919):
View attachment 981464

The American Safety Razor Corporation Headquarters, Jay and Johnson Street, Brooklyn, New York (1923):
View attachment 981457

An ASR Stock dating 1927:
View attachment 981458

ASR workers committee on strike asking a wage increase (1950):
View attachment 981463

Interesting information, I did not know that Gem(A.S.R) had a blade plant in Canada. It seems that the big 3 razor company's Gillette, Schick & Gem had plants in Canada to make a foot hold for the future.

 

[mata_66]

Some Ever-Ready 1924 variants (click for a much bigger image):

 

[mata_66]

Here is an anomaly either this variation is missing on the chart or this is just a mismatch or a Star or Star Jr head with a slimmer bakelite handle you normally would see on Star DE razors.

View attachment 980347 View attachment 980348 View attachment 980349

Not an anomaly, those are pretty common, it was omitted from the chart by mistake. The Star "slim" handle is different from Gem's. It's the same handle used by Star on their DE model, adapted to fit the SE head:

 

[mata_66]

Interesting information, I did not know that Gem(A.S.R) had a blade plant in Canada. It seems that the big 3 razor company's Gillette, Schick & Gem had plants in Canada to make a foot hold for the future.

I don't know whether Gem had a plant in Canada. Star surely had one by 1921:

 

[Ron R]

I don't know whether Gem had a plant in Canada. Star surely had one by 1921:
View attachment 981866

It seems they they had a blade MFG plant in Toronto.(Maybe the old star plant.)