In the beginning there was the Star Razor . . .

[WastedResources]

1875 - The Star Razor is introduced.

The Kampfe brothers introduced the Star Razor in 1875. It was the first safety razor made in the United States. The Star Razor's revolutionary design won national and international awards for design and craftsmanship.

1898 - Gem Cutlery Company created.

After working for the Kampfe Brothers for 23 years, Jerry Reichard left to start his own company - the Gem Cutlery Company. Its first product, the Gem Safety Razor, borrows heavily from the Star Razor in design but soon outpaces the Star and becomes one of the world's most famous razor and blades ever made.

This is the beginning of the company we know today as Personna American Safety Razor Company.

If you want to see the rest of their history, visit the Personna Web site for some cool old product pictures and descriptions:
http://www.personna.com/personna/blades/corporate/history/

 

[W_B_K]

Interesting! Didn't know about the Ever Ready/GEM/Personna connection.

 

[Haiku]

I wonder if they sell directly to the public, or whether there would be enough interest in a group buy directly from them.

 

[kingfisher]

So the first "safety razor" ever was an SE, not a DE. Interesting.

 

[Ignatius]

Pics of the Star Razor

 

[WastedResources]

Thanks for the pics Ignatius. That's a crazy looking razor. What a beauty. It looks mint. So good, that it looks like a guy could still shave with it.

 

[c0ry]

I have an 1880 pat Kampfe-Star

 

[DunEdinRanger]

Nice thread and great photos!

 

[Haiku]

Pics of the Star Razor

No, those are not pictures of the Star Razor. Those are pictures of a like-new, one of a kind condition, museum quality Star Razor. Wow.

Thanks for taking the time to post these!

 

[Omnichron]

rofl

Ever-Ready Shaving Brushes are introduced.
Ever-Ready Shaving Brushes are introduced.

The line grows to include a wide variety of styles and sizes.
The top of the line being a pure badger brush that sells with a 24 karat gold-plated razor and five Ever-Ready blades for the exorbitant price of $1.29.

 

[fmlondon]

It not only looks as if you could still shave with it, you CAN shave with it. And, it gives a really great shave! Just use a modern SE blade (although, if you want to restore a wedge blade, it is ultimately worth the trouble).