Everready find

[Fen]

I recently found out that an antique store site that I have been browsing for months had an Everready for sale. I have never tried any razor that uses a GEM blade. Since I'm using injectors. So of course I'm a little intrigued. I was hoping for some help from others here with experience with these kind of razors.

Here are some pictures the site has up of the razor:

The store says it is a travel set.

Anyway I was wondering if based on these pictures if anybody could tell exactly what model it is. Since I'm curious how far of a difference the different models are to each other in terms of being aggressive and so on. Only info I got is that it is a US made one.

Personally I must say that the condition alone makes it tempting to just buy it.

 

[Flintstone65]

That is an Ever-Ready 1914 (also known as the "Little Lather Catcher"). It will most likely have a patent date underneath the head of March 24, 1914. Great shaver. Easily takes modern Gem Stainless Steel or Carbon blades (I'd recommend the GEM SS PTFE-coated blades). I have that same travel set -- it's very nice...not rare or difficult to find, but for those of us who enjoy the Gem/Ever-Ready razors, it's a very nice find.

Ask questions if you'd like....but I won't be able to help you with cost/pricing, as you undoubtedly know, value assessment isn't something we can help with.

 

[Flintstone65]

I recently found out that an antique store site that I have been browsing for months had an Everready for sale. I have never tried any razor that uses a GEM blade. Since I'm using injectors. So of course I'm a little intrigued. I was hoping for some help from others here with experience with these kind of razors.

Here are some pictures the site has up of the razor:

View attachment 1120794 View attachment 1120795

The store says it is a travel set.

Anyway I was wondering if based on these pictures if anybody could tell exactly what model it is. Since I'm curious how far of a difference the different models are to each other in terms of being aggressive and so on. Only info I got is that it is a US made one.

Personally I must say that the condition alone makes it tempting to just buy it.

I realize I didn't comment on the shave relative to an injector (which I also regularly use and collect). I find Injectors a bit smoother to use than Gem blades, but this razor does a good job of holding the blade in tight....in fact, I would wager that the spring holding that top cap down is like an crocodile's jaw....snaps close VERY tightly. I've had a couple 1914's and they both hold the blade nice and tightly, so the end result is a relatively smooth shave....probably akin to a Type G Schick....that's my opinion.

 

[Ron R]

^^^^^^^^^
Agree with Fred @Flintstone65 , Good call.
Some more information on that great razor if interested.

Everready 1914 razor VS Everready 1924 razor

As I built up my razor collection I have come across these two razors at reasonable prices, yet they are hardly mentioned on the forums it seems. Who still uses these two razors? I have recently purchase a ER 1914 (Little lather catcher) almost like new, I also have a ER1924 (Shovel head)...

www.badgerandblade.com

Have some great shaves!

 

[Tanuki]

I have exactly that set. I believe the case is the "Peerless". Mine has a user written date inside. 1924

Check this thread:

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

After weeks browsing through period paper ads, catalogs, consulting private collectors, even digging through the pages of the Library of Congress, here's the long-overdue updated version of this humble work of passion. If Gillette razors are easy to date because of their serial numbers and date...

www.badgerandblade.com

 

[Tanuki]

Now, why there is a Gillette DE blade in the blade box in the seller's photo? You've got me.

 

[Tanuki]

A few more images of mine:

 

[MyOldKentuckyHome]

I recently got the same set minus the blade bank. Lovely shave

 

[ajkel64]

It is a nice looking razor. SE and I do not get on but I do own several SE razors. Members here who use them seem to love them.

 

[Salty O'Rourke]

The ER 1914 Little Lather Catcher is in my top 2 or 3 SE razors of any type, and the example you are pondering looks to be in top condition. The handle might be a little slippery when wet, but touching a piece of alum will take care of that.

 

[Old Hippie]

The LLC is probably my favourite among the vintage Gem and other ASR products I've tried. It feels more aggressive to me than a Gem 1912, and gives me closer shaves with less work and irritation.

I find that I really like to use one of the 8-24 to 10-32 thread adaptors, and put a RazoRock HD handle on it. I also have a homemade copper handle that I use with it.

Good shaves, for sure!

O.H.

 

[pjgh]

Sport Set ... top right.

 

[Tanuki]

@pjgh , thanks for that catalog page! I will post it to the ASR model thread with credit to you.

The contrast in model naming between the Gem sets (competitive) and the Ever-Ready sets (lifestyle, automotive) is startling. I see myself as more Sporty than Triumphant, so I lucked out in finding my wild Ever-Ready Sport.

 

[pjgh]

Print out and tick 'em off as you get them ... I'm missing a Victor and a Winner. Maybe if I swing by the Shapleigh Hardware & Company in St Louis, I can pick them up.

Please do! I found that on the web somewhere rather than scanned it; it's not mine. I like to use old adverts to get specific dates to razors and build a picture of the retail environment at the time. Blade catalogues are useful, too.

The Speedster is a nice set. It's wood, so a more of a common man thing than the plush Marbelite (not pictured) set. My Speedster came with an engraved cap, "Compliments of Sears & Roebuck".

The Sears & Roebuck catalogue was apparently a big deal in its day. The Ever-Ready 1924 model was launched in that catalogue, so it's a nice touch and a nice model to have. Not all Speedsters were engraved and so it does make me think that a good number of razors that were sold out of that catalogue were and would have been in all manner of sets.

 

[Tanuki]

Print out and tick 'em off as you get them ... I'm missing a Victor and a Winner. Maybe if I swing by the Shapleigh Hardware & Company in St Louis, I can pick them up.

Please do! I found that on the web somewhere rather than scanned it; it's not mine. I like to use old adverts to get specific dates to razors and build a picture of the retail environment at the time. Blade catalogues are useful, too.

The Speedster is a nice set. It's wood, so a more of a common man thing than the plush Marbelite (not pictured) set. My Speedster came with an engraved cap, "Compliments of Sears & Roebuck".

The Sears & Roebuck catalogue was apparently a big deal in its day. The Ever-Ready 1924 model was launched in that catalogue, so it's a nice touch and a nice model to have. Not all Speedsters were engraved and so it does make me think that a good number of razors that were sold out of that catalogue were and would have been in all manner of sets.

Sears, Roebuck and their catalog were a big deal even in my day. Also a big deal in Chicago (Sears Tower, WLS radio), where I grew up in the western suburbs. 'Sears and Sawbuck' and 'Monkey Wards' were important suppliers to my small town and country farming grandparents, as well as a competitor with my grandad's hardware store. Among other important roles, the catalogs were the source of toilet paper in the outhouses back before sewers and city water.

I didn't know that Sears launched the E-R 1924 Shovelhead, one of my favorite Gem blade razors. I wonder whether our family hardware store sold razors in its heyday. Or Shapleigh Diamond Edge products. The store was winding down by the time I knew it, not much stock at all.

 

[Flintstone65]

Sears, Roebuck and their catalog were a big deal even in my day. Also a big deal in Chicago (Sears Tower, WLS radio), where I grew up in the western suburbs. 'Sears and Sawbuck' and 'Monkey Wards' were important suppliers to my small town and country farming grandparents, as well as a competitor with my grandad's hardware store. Among other important roles, the catalogs were the source of toilet paper in the outhouses back before sewers and city water.

I didn't know that Sears launched the E-R 1924 Shovelhead, one of my favorite Gem blade razors. I wonder whether our family hardware store sold razors in its heyday. Or Shapleigh Diamond Edge products. The store was winding down by the time I knew it, not much stock at all.

+1, albeit somewhat of a different environment. As a military family, I remember waiting and then pouring over -- page by page -- the Sears Wishbook (I remember it as one word, but it may have been spelled properly as two words). The first one I remember seeing was when I was 4 years old and we were stationed in Tehran. I don't really remember if Sears shipped stuff that far, but man I loved looking at that catalog. Monkey Wards was a close 2nd in our family, and if we bought anything, it was going to be from one of those two stores, or from the base exchange.

 

[Fen]

Thanks for the info guys. Always fun to get a glimpse of elements of history. After a lot of thinking I broke down and bought the razor. Looking forward to getting it.

 

[salish]

The ER 1914 Little Lather Catcher is in my top 2 or 3 SE razors of any type, and the example you are pondering looks to be in top condition. The handle might be a little slippery when wet, but touching a piece of alum will take care of that.

Hello, I hope you don't mind me horning in here. Are you referring to wiping the razor handle with shaving alum, or aluminum foil? Sorry if that's a stupid question. I lover my ER 1914 razor, but I see the handle as a downside, especially when slick. Thanks.

 

[Gryffindor]

Hello, I hope you don't mind me horning in here. Are you referring to wiping the razor handle with shaving alum, or aluminum foil? Sorry if that's a stupid question. I lover my ER 1914 razor, but I see the handle as a downside, especially when slick. Thanks.

They meant alum. Rub your fingers on an alum block, which will improve the grippiness of your fingers.

 

[salish]

Thank you.