GEM connoisseurs attention please

[GentsInstinct]

I recently acquired, what I've seen called, a GEM Bullet tip SE razor in a yellow art deco plastic case as part of a lot. It's in the bottom right of the below picture. I like it and it's heavy.

The only thing close to it in Waits is a gold GEM "Flying Wing" with Guiding Eye, which is an indention in the middle of the flap on the outside. My GEM looks exactly like this except it's silver and without the Guiding Eye. I also think the case is mis-matched.

So is this silver one without the Guiding Eye, also a "Flying Wing"? What say you?

 

[Danricgro]

I got a Gem Micromatic off of eBay in the exact same yellow case recently. I was wondering if it was mismatched because yellow was not one of the case colors listed on the Micromatic section of the Wiki.

 

[GentsInstinct]

I got a Gem Micromatic off of eBay in the exact same yellow case recently. I was wondering if it was mismatched because yellow was not one of the case colors listed on the Micromatic section of the Wiki.

There's an exact case in Waits but it's brown, not yellow and it has a Micromatic in it. It's from 1939.

 

[garyg]

Looks faintly like it has the Guiding Eye on it? I have that round clamshell Micromatic case in Maroon and in the Yellow, with a Green one somewhere in the mail. Two came with Open Comb MMs, one with the closed comb bullet tip as shown in the OP. See the picture ..

 

[GentsInstinct]

Looks faintly like it has the Guiding Eye on it? I have that round clamshell Micromatic case in Maroon and in the Yellow, with a Green one somewhere in the mail. Two came with Open Comb MMs, one with the closed comb bullet tip as shown in the OP. See the picture ..

Yeah, oddly, that's just a smudge where the Guiding Eye indention would be. There's nothing on the flap of the one I have.

But I see clarification in your post on the case. It should have had an open comb "Micromatic" in it instead of the no-Guiding-Eye "Flying Wing" that came in it. I'm on the hunt for a "Micromatic" open comb so at least I'll already have the case for it.

Now to still find out if my no-Guiding-Eye "Flying Wing" is actually a "Flying Wing" since it doesn't have the Guiding Eye. All confusing.

 

[garyg]

Yeah, oddly, that's just a smudge where the Guiding Eye indention would be. There's nothing on the flap of the one I have.

But I see clarification in your post on the case. It should have had an open comb "Micromatic" in it instead of the no-Guiding-Eye "Flying Wing" that came in it. I'm on the hunt for a "Micromatic" open comb so at least I'll already have the case for it.

Now to still find out if my no-Guiding-Eye "Flying Wing" is actually a "Flying Wing" since it doesn't have the Guiding Eye. All confusing.

Well, the Green cased one arrived today - same type razor as you posted originally, bullet TTO knob, closed comb, no "Guiding Eye". But I noticed for the first time that the clamshell type cases have "Guiding Eyes" molded in where the head and the "foot" of the razor rest. The work of the Illuminati no doubt.

So now I have seen four (5) different Micromatic Types in silver, not sure how many came in Gold tone as well ..
1) The Open Comb antenna handle
2) Closed Comb antenna handle no Magic Eye
3) Closed Comb bullet handle no Magic Eye
4) Closed Comb bullet handle with Magic Eye
5) Clog-Pruf

 

[GentsInstinct]

Well, the Green cased one arrived today - same type razor as you posted originally, bullet TTO knob, closed comb, no "Guiding Eye". But I noticed for the first time that the clamshell type cases have "Guiding Eyes" molded in where the head and the "foot" of the razor rest. The work of the Illuminati no doubt.

So now I have seen four (5) different Micromatic Types in silver, not sure how many came in Gold tone as well ..
1) The Open Comb antenna handle
2) Closed Comb antenna handle no Magic Eye
3) Closed Comb bullet handle no Magic Eye
4) Closed Comb bullet handle with Magic Eye
5) Clog-Pruf

Keep it up, you'll have the rainbow in your collection. I used my no-Guiding-Eye "Flying Wing" last night and it's a wonderful shaver. The heaviness of it helps out a lot if you're sort of new to SE shaving.

 

[Danricgro]

The one I got in the yellow case is a open comb micromatic. So if I am reading this right that is the right case for it? The razor and case are in immaculate condition. Looks like it was barely used.

 

[K.T.]

What is the purpose of the Guiding Eye, anyway? I've never, ever seen an explanation of what it does.

It sounds vaguely Masonic.

 

[GentsInstinct]

What is the purpose of the Guiding Eye, anyway? I've never, ever seen an explanation of what it does.

It sounds vaguely Masonic.

It's just an indention in the center of the flap to remind you to hold it flat against your face.

 

[GentsInstinct]

The one I got in the yellow case is a open comb micromatic. So if I am reading this right that is the right case for it? The razor and case are in immaculate condition. Looks like it was barely used.

That would be correct.

 

[HoosierTrooper]

Here's one of my Bullets with the Guiding Eye. I like the razor a lot, but I can't feel the Eye on my face when I use it. It's almost flush with the surface of the door.

 

[MrGuy]

The bullet tip also came in a version w/o the eye and with an ivory colored plastic tip.

 

[theperfectstorm]

I was wondering if it was mismatched because yellow was not one of the case colors listed on the Micromatic section of the Wiki.

Sorry, haven;t totally finished that one yet. Yes, there are maroon, white, yellow and pale green clam-shell cases.

 

[Danricgro]

Sorry, haven;t totally finished that one yet. Yes, there are maroon, white, yellow and pale green clam-shell cases.

No reason to apologise, I truly appreciate all of the work you and others put into the Wiki. It has supplied me with alot of answers.

 

[Sydney Guy]

Hi GentsInstinct, nice collection. Slightly offtopic, but what's that open-comb 3-piece DE razor at the top centre of your photo? The one with the hexagonal handle and the cardboard box labelled "Double-Edge Safety Razor". There was a guy selling those on Ebay a while back but there didn't seem to be a maker ID except "Made in USA" so I passed.

 

[GentsInstinct]

Hi GentsInstinct, nice collection. Slightly offtopic, but what's that open-comb 3-piece DE razor at the top centre of your photo? The one with the hexagonal handle and the cardboard box labelled "Double-Edge Safety Razor". There was a guy selling those on Ebay a while back but there didn't seem to be a maker ID except "Made in USA" so I passed.

There's no manufacturer imprints on it anywhere or on the box. As I understand it, these were what you'd buy in a vending machine at airports, Greyhound and Trailways bus stations, etc. for whatever reason while traveling you needed a razor.

 

[Sydney Guy]

Sorta like the disposable of its day. Have you tried shaving with it?

 

[GentsInstinct]

Sorta like the disposable of its day. Have you tried shaving with it?

No, I haven't given it a shave. Hoping to soon though as I always try every razor I get, at least once. I've been enjoying shaves with a GEM Contour SE lately and haven't been able to pry myself away from it.