Gem Gurus

[blackfoot]

I am working on the SE section of the Wiki. I started with Gems. As most of you may know, there is not a lot of information out there about these beauty's. I have spent a lot of time trying to find info and am coming up mostly empty. So, I thought I would turn to you guys. I figured if everyone puts there head together and adds what they have, maybe we can fill in a few puzzle pieces. I am thinking of putting one razor at a time on the block for discussion. After we all add what we can, I will post it in the Wiki. If this works for you guys, please jump in.

The first one I thought I would throw out there is the Contour II. Like many of them, I was not able to really find much of anything on this. So, what do you guys think?

 

[82R100]

So, last SE Gem razor made, I think. Brushed stainless design similar to the Contour, but with a tab on the blade cover to flip it open and closed (instead of pushbutton operation).

I've seen pictures, never owned one.

Do you need a picture?

- Chris

 

[blackfoot]

So, last SE Gem razor made, I think. Brushed stainless design similar to the Contour, but with a tab on the blade cover to flip it open and closed (instead of pushbutton operation).

I've seen pictures, never owned one.

Do you need a picture?

- Chris

I may have been confused. I thought the Contour II was the one with the push button, which I have. I don't have one without the button.

 

[T Rick]

Maybe we could start with some pictures and names? I know a few, but some (like your push button, I also have one of those) I have no clue. I also have an all metal one, similar in size, I think it's a G Bar. Shaved with it today, nice and mild (shaving with single edges, probably GEM's, all week).

 

[blackfoot]

Here is the one I was referring to. I thought this was the Contour II.

 

[82R100]

Far left in the lineup is a Contour II.

These instructions would imply that the pushbutton model is the "Contour":

- Chris

 

[Above The Tie]

Just got the most recent edition of Caswell-Massey Apothecary catalog in the mail. This catalog has a sizable mens shaving section. On page sixty they are advertising a Caswell-Massey safety razor. I comes with a black or ivory handle. You can go on line a caswellmassey.com an view their selection of razors including the new safety razor! This catalog is kinda high end, so be prepared for some stiff pricing. Has anyone tried any of their shaving products? If so what did you think? Lastly, can any one tell by looking at the head who may be producing these?

 

[82R100]

All I'm finding in their on-line catalog are [expensive] Mach 3 and Fusion head handles.

You can check the reviews section of the forum; I don't believe their soaps and creams have a very loyal following here.

- Chris

 

[tom myers]

To my knowledge, this razor was simply called the "Gem Push-Button Razor" but I know there were varients within this push button "family" and perhaps some of them did have "model names" under which they were sold. I believe all of these varients were sold in the 1950's.

Another problem is that some of the names we know these razors by never were really names given to them at the time by ASR. For instance the so called "G-Bar" razor, I believe you will find was never sold under that name. It is just a name we collectors have hung on it due to the "G" that is die-cast into the sides of the handle. This same razor, by the way, without the "G", was also sold under the Star tradename.

Please don't feel that I am attempting to dissuade you from trying to bring some clarity to this subject and get some useful information on them into the wiki, but I simply would caution you that there are some ambiguities that may need to be dealt with in order to make sense out of the subject of the newer ASR models.

Regards,
Tom

 

[82R100]

To my knowledge, this razor was simply called the "Gem Push-Button Razor" but I know there were varients within this push button "family" and perhaps some of them did have "model names" under which they were sold. I believe all of these varients were sold in the 1950's.

Ah, but the posted instructions call it the Contour.

The others standing in the group shot I've seen advertised simply as Pushbuttons.

 

[D.Irving79]

tom is obviously confused. there were 3 or 4 different contour II models. the first 2 had differences in where the handle connected to the head in the back. the third and fourth had the same head style as the second but with a different handle.

 

[82R100]

...and now so am I.

 

[blackfoot]

...and now so am I.

Me too.

 

[blackfoot]

I finally saw where I went wrong about the Contour/Contour II thing. I will correct that in the Wiki. Any ideas on dates of manufacture?

 

[VolpeVerde]

Glad I saw this thread. I have what appears to be a Contour II like the model in the above pictures, but the handle on mine is completely plastic, all the way up to and including the flange where it rivets to the underside of the head. The head itself is almost identical to the G Bar's head with the flip-up top and no buttons. On the back of the handle is a bright metallic insert which has a crosshatch pattern and runs the length of the handle. It's a very light razor and seems to shave a little milder than the G-bar.

I'll try to get some photos posted.

 

[spinyeel]

This be the one.

 

[blackfoot]

This be the one.

Cool! I will have to get one of those now, too. Doesn't look like we have too much information on these though. You would think there would be better record of this.

 

[RichGem]

I finally saw where I went wrong about the Contour/Contour II thing. I will correct that in the Wiki. Any ideas on dates of manufacture?

So, where is this page, O You who are so knowledgeable in this new learning?

(btw, that whole sheep bladder thing is a bunch of BS).

 

[blackfoot]

So, where is this page, O You who are so knowledgeable in this new learning?

(btw, that whole sheep bladder thing is a bunch of BS).

Right here.