Help identifying an EverReady SE razor I acquired.

[InfernoOrangeSS]

I won this razor in an eBay auction for $22. I was actually trying to get an EverReady brush that was part of the auction,(ER brush, razor, and OS mug). It has arrived, but I do not know anything about ER razors. Can anyone out there who is skilled in these please tell me all they can about it? Is it good, bad, meh? Anyway to tell the age? How do you open them? What razor blades do they take? Is it known as a good shaver? I must confess my ignorance. All my razors are Gillette DE razors. That is where I have spent all my time researching dates, quality, etc.
Any and all information would be greatly appreciated. (Even if it's no more than a link to a resource like Mr-Razor has set up. I am totally in the dark about this razor.)
Pictures:

 

[Mick]

Model 1924 travel razor

Just got that exact one (case and all) myself a few days ago

 

[InfernoOrangeSS]

Model 1924 travel razor

Just got that exact one (case and all) myself a few days ago

Thank you!
I see from other pictures that it opens from the back with a little clip. I will have to look into getting some blades for it and try it out. Inside it says Patent applied for & Brooklyn.

 

[HoosierTrooper]

That's called the 1924 because it wasn't given a formal model name by ER, and 1924 is the first year they started showing up, or that was the year the patent was applied for, I can't remember which. Someone nicknamed it the Shovelhead, which I hate. It was the improved version of the patented 1914 Ever-Ready, which is a great razor, and was replaced in 1930 by the Ever-Ready Improved safety razor, which was the ER version of the 1912.

It came in various cases in the mid to late 20's, and is probably my least favorite SE, kind of awkward to open and close. The 1912 design had it beat hands down. It does have some fans though.

 

[Mick]

You should be able to find Treet carbon or ASR (personna) stainless blades at a local pharmacy (CVS, Walgreens, Rite-aid).

I use PTFE coated stainless blades in all of my SE razors but these are only available in 100 count cartons from medical supply houses.

http://www.emsdiasum.com/microscopy/products/preparation/blades.aspx

Pick up some pharmacy blades first to see if you like using a SE razor as even the house branded ones will be either carbon or stainless ASR blades.

Seeing yours now means I must use mine for today's shave

 

[InfernoOrangeSS]

That's called the 1924 because it wasn't given a formal model name by ER, and 1924 is the first year they started showing up, or that was the year the patent was applied for, I can't remember which. Someone nicknamed it the Shovelhead, which I hate. It was the improved version of the patented 1914 Ever-Ready, which is a great razor, and was replaced in 1930 by the Ever-Ready Improved safety razor, which was the ER version of the 1912.

It came in various cases in the mid to late 20's, and is probably my least favorite SE, kind of awkward to open and close. The 1912 design had it beat hands down. It does have some fans though.

Thank you!
Do you have a picture of a 1912 design? It kind of got me in the mind to buy a few more.

 

[InfernoOrangeSS]

You should be able to find Treet carbon or ASR (personna) stainless blades at a local pharmacy (CVS, Walgreens, Rite-aid).

I use PTFE coated stainless blades in all of my SE razors but these are only available in 100 count cartons from medical supply houses.

http://www.emsdiasum.com/microscopy/products/preparation/blades.aspx

Pick up some pharmacy blades first to see if you like using a SE razor as even the house branded ones will be either carbon or stainless ASR blades.

Seeing yours now means I must use mine for today's shave

Thank you again.
Don't laugh at my ignorance, but do these take the same blades as the window scrapers/box cutter blades I see in hardware depts or are those just the inferior cousins to shave acceptable SE razors?

 

[HoosierTrooper]

Thank you!
Do you have a picture of a 1912 design? It kind of got me in the mind to buy a few more.

One can be seen HERE

 

[InfernoOrangeSS]

One can be seen HERE

Many thanks! If I am correct, I just purchased 2 that are in their case with blade banks. I may wait to shave with one of those. I would rather start off with one that will give me the best chance at a good shave.

 

[HoosierTrooper]

Look at the area where the frame attaches to the handle and you should see Pat'd 1912 on the 1912's.

 

[Mick]

Thank you again.
Don't laugh at my ignorance, but do these take the same blades as the window scrapers/box cutter blades I see in hardware depts or are those just the inferior cousins to shave acceptable SE razors?

NO... window scraper blades are ground to provide long life under hard/adverse usage and shaving blades are ground for a sharp edge.

You can put a window scraper blade in but you will take it out very quickly. I used one just to see for myself. It is like taking a broken bottle to your face by comparison.

Get a pharmacy blade as those are "shaving" blades and steer clear of box cutters

 

[dcobranchi]

Funny. I just got one of these flip tops in the mail today. Celluloid case.

 

[InfernoOrangeSS]

NO... window scraper blades are ground to provide long life under hard/adverse usage and shaving blades are ground for a sharp edge.

You can put a window scraper blade in but you will take it out very quickly. I used one just to see for myself. It is like taking a broken bottle to your face by comparison.

Get a pharmacy blade as those are "shaving" blades and steer clear of box cutters

Thank you for letting me know. As I said, I have no experience with SE's. I will have to look into buying some SE blades.

 

[Mick]

Talking about the 1924 travel razors made me use mine for the first time today.

It's been here a few days but I did not clean it up until tonight.

Late shave but a NICE one

 

[InfernoOrangeSS]

Talking about the 1924 travel razors made me use mine for the first time today.

It's been here a few days but I did not clean it up until tonight.

Late shave but a NICE one

Very nice looking razor! How did it shave for you?
Can anyone report how aggressive Ever-Ready SE razors are? I am sure some are more than others. What do the 1912 and 1914 compare to in a Gillette DE?

 

[dcobranchi]

Very nice looking razor! How did it shave for you?
Can anyone report how aggressive Ever-Ready SE razors are? I am sure some are more than others. What do the 1912 and 1914 compare to in a Gillette DE?

If I had to pick, I'd say the SE razors were somewhere close to a Gillette NEW. Pretty aggressive. Very close shaves.

I used my 1924 this morning with a GEM PTFE blade. Still BBS 4 hours later.

 

[Mick]

Well this morning I am still BBS close.

Even pulling my skin I can not feel any stubble anywhere, just skin and it has been 12 hours exactly since I shaved last night.

I hate it when that happens.

Now I am not going to have anything to shave off today

Hey <newbee voice> Does a beard grow slower when you are asleep?

 

[Mick]

Very nice looking razor! How did it shave for you?
Can anyone report how aggressive Ever-Ready SE razors are? I am sure some are more than others. What do the 1912 and 1914 compare to in a Gillette DE?

The shave feels like a Tech (smooth, no irritation, very comfortable). It shaves as close as an old type but without the irritation.

Using a SE razor requires holding it at a different angle than a DE.

You want the razor head to almost touch your face ( 5° angle). A DE is used at 25-30° angle. SO.. stick the handle way out (almost perpendicular with your face).

For your first shave you might try sticking the razor head flat on your face then move the handle down slightly just until the blade makes contact with your face. If you use it like you have used your DE you will be scraping off your beard (and a lot of skin with it) rather than cutting your beard.

Once you get used to a SE you probably won't go back to using your DE razors. SE razors are about as close to shaving with a straight razor as you are going to get without using a straight razor. In the past they were called a straight razor on a stick.

 

[dcobranchi]

Once you get used to a SE you probably won't go back to using your DE razors.

+1 My DEs barely get any use these days. I may start thinning the herd in '13.

 

[InfernoOrangeSS]

Bought some GEM Blue Star Super Single edge from Amazon. Do any of you have experience with these blades? I have an Ever-Ready 1912 on the way, and thought I would start with that.