Got a GEM 1912 from the BST and have a question

[ScYcS]

When i insert the blade and start shaving, the blade is all over the place and moves inside the razor a LOT. This makes the shave really almost impossible. Am i missing something profound here to make the blade secure?

I open the head, insert blade and close the head. I thought the spring loading mechanism is supposed to hold that blade in place but it move vertically but worse, it moves horizontally as well, so i have half of the razor blade almost completely "under" the head and the other half is sitting up to the lather catcher safety bar. It looks almost like a slant after on single stroke.....is this normal???

 

[BBrad]

There should be two little "nubs" to hold the corners of the blade edge secure. Make sure that your blade is behind these before closing the top.

I have seen the occasional razor who's nubs are damaged, and the blade doesn't hold firm . . . but would not expect to find that to be the case on a BST razor from a forum member.

Can you take a picture of the blade "in action" for us to look at?

 

[Dennis]

Absolutely not. There should be two catches near the safety bar near each edge - those the are the notches the razor blade slides/catches in and the bar closes on top of the blade after that. Should be very secure with no blade movement at all.

 

[ScYcS]

Hahaha, it was my own fault. The two "nubs" are there, that wasn't the problem, rather the problem was that the blade was sliding INSIDE of the razor. Well, i did not know that on the top of the head was this little "lock" that can be moved to hold the blade securely. Once i engaged the little "lock" mechanism, the blade was then held very firm.

What the heck is this for anyways? Why would one have it "unlocked" ever?

 

[BBrad]

Glad the razor isn't to blame . . .

I just grabbed a 1912 to take a look-see . . . and I don't see!!!

I seem to remember some type of inside latch on an earlier Gem Junior that I had once. If I recall correctly the razor dated to 1908 . . .

Give a shout to T Rick or DIrving79 . . . they both have great Gem knowledge!

 

[ScYcS]

It's the one pictured here:

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showpost.php?p=2357894&postcount=2

On top of the razor head in the middle you can slightly see the latch i'm talking about.

 

[MichaelG]

but I don't think those have any locking mechanism or latch. I think yours may have a weak spring. As far as I know, the lid part should snap soundly shut against the blade, holding it firmly in place against the little stops someone else referred to.

It's the one pictured here:

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showpost.php?p=2357894&postcount=2

On top of the razor head in the middle you can slightly see the latch i'm talking about.

 

[HoosierTrooper]

The 1912 doesn't have any kind of locking mechanism, at least the half dozen or so that I have don't. The old lather catcher styles have one, but on the model like you pictured the blade is held by the nubs and the tension of the "lid" closing on it. This is interesting.

 

[ScYcS]

Well, what can i say, i'm not imagining things, i can definately move that latch on the top there and once i "unlock" it, the blade slides back and forth and when i "lock" it, it's secure....not sure what else to say.

 

[shecky]

On the 1912s I've seen, there is no real latch. The top cover is tensioned by flat springs under the head, in cam action near each pivot, designed to hold the cover in either open or closed postion. There is also a small metal tab that is tensioned by a flat spring on the underside of the razor head. This tab can be seen through the small rectangular hole in the top cover, near the thumb tab. This sprung tab, which should only slightly protrude above the top cover, if at all, holds the blade in place via spring tension, but only when the top cover is in the closed position. The top cover doesn't actually hold the blade. It only releases the tab when opened.

If that tab can be "unlocked" while the top is closed, which would lead to the problem you desctibed, then you've got me stumped. I didn't think any were designed that way. I think that might have been possible on the older Juniors with the bar instead of the flat top cover. But AFAIK, the solid flat top cover eliminated the need.

 

[BBrad]

On the 1912s I've seen, there is no real latch. The top cover is tensioned by flat springs under the head, in cam action near each pivot, designed to hold the cover in either open or closed postion. There is also a small metal tab that is tensioned by a flat spring on the underside of the razor head. This tab can be seen through the small rectangular hole in the top cover, near the thumb tab. This sprung tab, which should only slightly protrude above the top cover, if at all, holds the blade in place via spring tension, but only when the top cover is in the closed position. The top cover doesn't actually hold the blade. It only releases the tab when opened.

If that tab can be "unlocked" while the top is closed, which would lead to the problem you desctibed, then you've got me stumped. I didn't think any were designed that way. I think that might have been possible on the older Juniors with the bar instead of the flat top cover. But AFAIK, the solid flat top cover eliminated the need.

That's exactly what I was thinking!

Is it possible that the spring tab is bent or broken?

 

[VolpeVerde]

It's the one pictured here:

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showpost.php?p=2357894&postcount=2

On top of the razor head in the middle you can slightly see the latch i'm talking about.

That's not a latch, that is the spring for the lid. When the lid is tilted up, it maintains pressure on the lid so it does'nt flop back and forth. When the lid closes, the spring bends slightly forward to apply pressure to the blade and hold it firmly against the skin guard protrusions. It's not meant to be manually adjusted, just open the lid, install the blade and snap the lid shut.

 

[ScYcS]

hmmm....the spring tab was somehow locked in the open position. I adjusted it and now it's closing properly.

 

[BBrad]

hmmm....the spring tab was somehow locked in the open position. I adjusted it and now it's closing properly.

Shared knowledge saves another great razor! This is good news!!

Hope you continue to enjoy your 1912 - it happens to be my favorite SE!!