I am intrigued with the Gem razor. Just wondering a few things. First how much do they cost? Are the blades readily available? What is the shaving experience like? I would really like to try one. I have been DE shaving for a couple months and while I really enjoy it I would like to expand my horizens. Any feedback would be very welcome.
Interest in the Gem
- Thread starter Danricgro
- Start date
They are pretty cheap, and I believe a number are on the B/S/T right now. It's possibly to get Treet blades at some drugstores and groceries, and the Ted Pellas are available by mail-order. There isn't as much variety as with DE blades.
The shave is different, starting from the blade angle. It's often compared to a straight razor on a stick.
Andy (MrGuy) has a good video about the micromatic. I'll see if I can dig up the link [edit: http://www.youtube.com/user/MrGuysRazors]
The shave is different, starting from the blade angle. It's often compared to a straight razor on a stick.
Andy (MrGuy) has a good video about the micromatic. I'll see if I can dig up the link [edit: http://www.youtube.com/user/MrGuysRazors]
I got this cased Micromatic on the Bay for under $15.00 (Try that with a Fatboy).
Micromatics are a bit aggressive, the 1912 model is milder, and the later G-Bar and Contour get kind of wimpy....but all can be made to deliver
Micromatics are a bit aggressive, the 1912 model is milder, and the later G-Bar and Contour get kind of wimpy....but all can be made to deliver
If you have a Walgreens nearby they sell the GEM blade made by Personna. I can't tell any difference between them and the Ted Pella blades but some can.
I use some version of a GEM 5 or 6 times a week, and a double edge the other day or two with the occasional injector thrown in, that's how much I love using them.
I use some version of a GEM 5 or 6 times a week, and a double edge the other day or two with the occasional injector thrown in, that's how much I love using them.
About the cost, you should be able to find a good condition Gem 1912 for under $10. G-Bars, Micromatics, Pushbuttons, and Featherweights should be in the same general range. I have a 1912 in excellent condition that cost me $5.80 shipped from an eBay seller, and I got one lot of three, 1912, Featherweight, and Bullet Tip Micromatic at $11.09 shipped. If you'd like to try more than one kind, some of your best deals can be one of these lots. You'll pay more for minty condition, cased, or a rare model, of course.
I recently purchased a couple of GEM SE razors from B/S/T. While waiting for them to arrive I dusted off an old Ever Ready SE that my dad gave me a couple of years ago.
It is a pretty plain and simple looking razor and I had not previously been inclined to use it. I thought I would give it a go while waiting for the GEMS so I bought a ten pack of Stanley DE blades from my local hardware store and gave it a go.
The shave was fantastic - as good as any of my straights and DEs. An incredibly close shave with no irritation whatsoever. I could not believe that a simple plain little razor with hardware store blades would give me such a great shave.
I wish I had given SE shaving a go before now and cannot wait for the GEMs to arrive.
It is a pretty plain and simple looking razor and I had not previously been inclined to use it. I thought I would give it a go while waiting for the GEMS so I bought a ten pack of Stanley DE blades from my local hardware store and gave it a go.
The shave was fantastic - as good as any of my straights and DEs. An incredibly close shave with no irritation whatsoever. I could not believe that a simple plain little razor with hardware store blades would give me such a great shave.
I wish I had given SE shaving a go before now and cannot wait for the GEMs to arrive.
"The shave was fantastic - as good as any of my straights and DEs. An incredibly close shave with no irritation whatsoever. I could not believe that a simple plain little razor with hardware store blades would give me such a great shave.
I wish I had given SE shaving a go before now and cannot wait for the GEMs to arrive."
It's hard to go back to DE shaving once you have become accustom to the SE experience.
DD
I wish I had given SE shaving a go before now and cannot wait for the GEMs to arrive."
It's hard to go back to DE shaving once you have become accustom to the SE experience.
DD
I have a really nice gem 1912 that came in one of the lots I've bought. Been meaning to give it a try. Since I'm not near a walgreens, where is the best place to get blades? I've heard there is very little variation in the SE's as opposed to the DE blades.
There's not as much selection when it comes to SE blades. Most Rite Aid stores carry the Treet brand. The other brands available are PAL and GEM Blue Stars, but it all depends on what the stores in your area carry. Amazon and a few online shave supply dealers have them available, as do some of the vendors here.
Keep in mind that the Treet, Blue Stars and PAL blades are carbon steel and tend to rust rather quickly and usually don't hold an edge very long. The GEM/Personna/Walgreens and the Ted Pellas are stainless and coated with PTFE and maybe some other chemicals that make them last longer.
You're lucky the Stanley blades worked. Most of us that have tried the hardware store variety have had less than stellar results.
Cost ... a buck or two if you are patient. Also, don't disregard cleaning up an old one that you get on the cheap. Take a look at the before and after pictures on my earlier post here: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=153509
The Featherweight is mint; never been used. I paid $2 for it! The 1912, which I paid $1 for, looked like a beater, but cleaned up beautifully!
Picked up some Treet blades at CVS (10-pack for $4.99) and I intend to make my inaugural run with these razors sometime next week. Like you, I've been curious, and decided to take the plunge. Most guys on B&B who have tried them swear by the shave they get. Check out the reviews on the GEM 1912 and the GEM Featherweight.
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Lucky and surprised. I only bought the Stanleys because they were the only ones I could get locally.
Ted Pella blades get good reviews but I'm not sure if they ship to Australia. I can get Personnas online. Any recommendations?
If the Stanley's work I'd say stick with them if you can get them locally at a decent price, but I think might would be wise to pick up some of the GEM/Personnas to compare to the Stanleys.
Maybe somebody from Australia can suggest a good source to find some of the SE blades made for shaving.
GEM razors can be bought ridiculously cheap. I bought a display quality GEM 1912 a few weeks ago in a nice green velvet lined case for $12. There are plenty of blades around from Gem brand, Treet and Ted Pella. I think they even sell them on Amazon. The shaving experience is great. A GEM will probably give you the best shave of any safety razor. They are really under-rated. I would start with a GEM 1912 and a single packet of blades. It'll probably cost you less than $20. If you end up not liking it, you can just sell the razor on. As you said, you'd really like to try one, so why not.
You probably already know there's a lot of variation between the GEMs, starting with the baroque wood-handled "lather-catchers," then the 1912 (several variations), the GEM Jr. (more variations, notably the fat brown bakelite handled one) the Micromatic (several more variations, notably the "Clog-pruf" and the "open comb"), and the Featherweight. The lather-catchers are quite rare, but there are lots and lots of all of the others available. [Also, there are lots of "Everready" razors out there, basically GEM clones made in England, I believe.]
My personal favorite is the 1912 "Damaskeene" version with the rounded head. Nice weight, BBS shave, and very gentle (it's the hardest GEM to cut yourself with, although you CAN manage it). Number 2 would probably be the open-comb Micromatic -- nice Art Deco look, an even closer BBS shave if you're careful, but very easy to cut yourself with. The Gem Jrs tend to be gentle shavers. All of these can be had with nice cases for very little coin, but I've never seen an unused 1912 or Jr. [You CAN get NIB Micromatics.] The Featherweight seems like a toy to me, and I don't like it, but you can get brand new ones in boxes for a buck or two.
As far as blades go, it's hard to beat the Ted Pellas. The teflon coating seems to make them better. If you send me a PM with your address I'll send you a pair. I think the SE blades hold up better than DE ones, since the steel is thicker, but you only have one cutting surface, so it may even out.
Once you get the GEM technique, well, you're a man.
My personal favorite is the 1912 "Damaskeene" version with the rounded head. Nice weight, BBS shave, and very gentle (it's the hardest GEM to cut yourself with, although you CAN manage it). Number 2 would probably be the open-comb Micromatic -- nice Art Deco look, an even closer BBS shave if you're careful, but very easy to cut yourself with. The Gem Jrs tend to be gentle shavers. All of these can be had with nice cases for very little coin, but I've never seen an unused 1912 or Jr. [You CAN get NIB Micromatics.] The Featherweight seems like a toy to me, and I don't like it, but you can get brand new ones in boxes for a buck or two.
As far as blades go, it's hard to beat the Ted Pellas. The teflon coating seems to make them better. If you send me a PM with your address I'll send you a pair. I think the SE blades hold up better than DE ones, since the steel is thicker, but you only have one cutting surface, so it may even out.
Once you get the GEM technique, well, you're a man.
Half of my shaves are with a GEM of one variety or another, the rest are with my straights.
No shave compares! (yes, I'm a bit biased
)
No shave compares! (yes, I'm a bit biased
)
PM me. Cheers Phil.
Thanks Phil. PM sent.
Both Gem and Ever Ready razors were produced by American Safety Razor Corporation at manufacturing facilities in both the US and UK. Although I have a cased British Ever Ready 1912, my everyday razor is a well worn US made Ever Ready 1912. As a side note, please remember that 1912 refers to the year of patent, not the year of manufacture. Based on early advertising, the 1912 was, at one time, only produced by Gem. During this time, ASR's Ever Ready division was making their patent 1914 model. Although I don't know when ASR began making the 1912 under their Ever Ready brand, I do know that 1912s were advertised in England as recently as the early 1950s.
-Clarke
1912 is ALSO a year of manufacture.
