Micromatic Monday

[cryhavoc]

Razor: GEM 1912
Blade: GEM SS PTFE (2)
Soap: Wickham's Soap Co. 1912 Scottish Heather
Brush: Omega 10065 Boar
AS: Aqua Velva Ice Blue

A BBS today.

 

[Whiterook]

Razor: Gem 1912 Damaskeene Open Comb
Blade: Personna GEM PTFE Stainless Steel Blade
Brush: Rubberset 203 in Super Badger
Pre-Shave: Proraso White Pre-Shave Cream
Lather: Spearhead Shaving Seaforth Black Watch
Aftershave: Seaforth! Black Watch Aftershave Toner
Additional Care:
Thayers Facial Tonic Witch Hazel Unscented
Nivea Post Shave Balm

 

[Tanuki]

@LJBraaten gave me an unopened vintage blade - the Gem Reversible. Thanks!!

After a little flat rust removal on a hard Arkansas stone, I had at it with my Stag sharpener.

I honed on an 8k diamond plate and a synthetic 12k Naniwa Superstone. For the final finish I then stropped on the green pasted leather bench strop shown below. I only did the edge marked '1/3' since this DE blade would be loaded into an SE razor.

No shimming. I wanted the original Gem Reversible experience.

>Gem Micromatic Open Comb in chrome with bumps

>vintage Gem Reversible blade (1)

>Williams Mug vintage tallow soap lightly mug loaded and face lathered

>Ever-Ready vintage boar

>Ethos Succès AS

A fine shave, but I did not chase DFS on the resolute right neck whorl. After some additional edge refinement, I might.

 

[Ron R]

ASRazor shave, Tuesday, April 30th 2024

Razor : Gem 1912 Damaskenne OC, MFG 1912-15, mild to tame mid range. Excellent design and stamping technology for that time period. Very enjoyable old razor to use that will compete with almost any razor for my desired results at the end of a shave. Had a close comfortable shave this morning.
Blade : Gem Personna SS PTFE(9) Very sharp, excellent longevity, smooths out nicely + safest blade to handle.
Soap : Cyril R Salter Wild Rose. Nice rose scented 7/10 strength with excellent lather qualities. Great creams CRS makes.
Brush : Yaqi "Moka express: 26mm 2band badger. Excellent lather generator, pillow like soft tips, nice splay scrubber + great lather painter.
Pre shave : (Dedicated Cashmere synthetic)Brush wash whole face with CeraVe hand bar cleanser with a dollop of clear Aloe Vera on the cleaned beard area.
Prep : Cold water rinse after each pass of 2 + pickups. WTG + ATG + pickups.
Post shave : Italian barber(RR) Amici splash with witch hazel + a dollop of CeraVe moisturizing lotion(scentless).
Results : or CCS,DFS,BBS + no irritation + no weepers= Had a close comfortable shave this morning with my Gem 1912 with a coated Gem blade.

Have some great shaves

 

[Whiterook]

Razor: Kampfe Bros. Star HR-14B Lather Catcher
Blade: Pal Carbon Steel Gem-type blade
Brush: Badlands Shaving 464 Valhalla Purple & Pearl
Pre-Shave: Proraso White Pre-Shave Cream
Lather: Truefitt & Hill Grafton
Aftershave: Truefitt and Hill Grafton Aftershave Balm
Additional Care:
Thayers Facial Tonic Witch Hazel Unscented
Imperial Leather Talcum Powder

 

[thecal]

Razor: Gem Micromatic. I keep coming back to this one because it works so well, though it is pretty aggressive.
Blade: GEM PTFE
Brush: YAQI 24mm Moka Express Synthetic
Cream: Dettol (Indian) in a tube someone threw in when buying a razor
After: Nivea Post Shave Balm and Clubman Bay Rum

 

[ChrisPL68]

 

[cryhavoc]

Razor: GEM 1912
Blade: GEM SS PTFE (7)
Soap: Wickham's Soap Co. 1912 Scottish Heather
Brush: Omega 10065 Boar
AS: Aqua Velva Ice Blue

 

[Ron R]

MMMonday, May5th 2024

Razor : Gem Micromatic OC, Mfg 1930-41, mid to upper mid range. Built to last generations and has a rack and pinion system to tighten the blade up against the blade stops. Made of brass with a chromed nickel finish that holds up to the riggers of continuous use over time. Had a close comfortable shave this morning.
Blade : Gem Personna SS PTFE(10) Very sharp, excellent longevity, smooths out nicely, predictable + safest blade to handle.
Soap : Proraso Green- Mentholated paste with a eucalyptus scent with excellent lather qualities.
Brush : Yaqi "Viper" 24mm boar bristle. Excellent lather generator, soft split end boar bristle hairs, nice splay scrubber + great lather painter. Used a different shave old bowl made in Germany, odd looking style that never caught on as a good bowl.
Pre shave : (Dedicated Cashmere synthetic)Brush wash whole face with CeraVe hand bar cleanser with a dollop of clear Aloe Vera on the cleaned beard area.
Prep : Cold water rinse after each pass of 2 + pickups. WTG + ATG + pickups.
Post shave : Proraso Green with witch hazel + a dollop of CeraVe moisturizing lotion(scentless).
Results : or CCS,DFS,BBS + no irritation + no weepers= Had a close comfortable shave this morning with my Gem Micromatic with a coated Gem blade.

Have some great shaves!

 

[Anchovie666]

MicroMatic and MDC Monday

Trying to figure out a way to use up these awful Ted Pella Injector blades. Tried one in the MMOC.
I swear these blades cannot be PTFE coated. I've shaved with enough Carbon and SS PTFE blades to feel the difference. It gave up a serviceable shave. I'll try the next one in a Bullet Tip.
MDC was amazing as usual.

GEM Micro Matic Razor
Ted Pella Injector Blade
Martin de Candre Nature Soap
Frank Shaving G7 Brush
Citrus Musk Splash On
RazoRock Tuscan Oud Aftershave

 

[Whiterook]

Razor: Ever-Ready 1914 "Little Lather Catcher"
Blade: Personna GEM PTFE Stainless Steel Blade
Brush: Ever-Ready 250 Pure Badger Cased
Pre-Shave: Proraso White Pre-Shave Cream
Lather: Spearhead Shaving Seaforth Black Watch
Aftershave: Seaforth! Black Watch Aftershave Toner
Additional Care:
Thayers Facial Tonic Witch Hazel Unscented
Nivea Post Shave Balm

 

[Ted A]

Razor: Gem Junior
Blade: Gem SS PTFE (2)
Brush: Yaqi ‘England’
Bowl: Captain’s Choice
Soap: Stirling Ben Franklin
Aftershave: Bootlegger’s Lime Bay Rum

 

[Ron R]

ASRazor shave, Micromatic Monday, May13th 2024.

Razor : Star bar #4 lather catcher, Mfg 1919-20, tame mid range. This little razor with a fresh blade can not be beaten in my collection of many razors most days when used. It just works well for my beard type and was designed by a Star brand who invented in mass the safety razor in the 1880's way ahead of any other brand in the world in new shaving technology that even existed.
For a razor that was stamped and shaped to my perfection it just works well. Had a comfortable close stellar close shave this morning.
Blade : Gem Personna SS PTFE(1).Very sharp, great longevity, smooths out nicely, predictable + safest blade to use.
Soap : Razorock Irish Countryside, very nice unique scent(Creed Irish green) + excellent lather qualities.
Brush : Yaqi "Lucky dice" 26mm brown whiskers synthetic knot. Excellent lather generator, luxury heavenly cloud like soft tips, nice splay scrubber + excellent lather painter. One of my favorites in my brush collection (26mm synthetic brushes are excellent!).
Pre shave : (Dedicated Cashmere synthetic)Brush wash whole face with CeraVe hand bar cleanser with a dollop of clear Aloe Vera on the cleaned beard area.
Prep : Cold water rinse after each pass of 2 + pickups. WTG + ATG + pickups.
Post shave : Razorock Countryside splash with witch hazel + a dollop of CeraVe moisturizing lotion(scentless).
Results : or CCS,DFS,BBS + no irritation + no weepers= Had a close comfortable stellar shave this morning with my Star bar #4 with a fresh coated Gem blade.

Have some great shaves!

 

[Anchovie666]

Monday Morning MicroMatic & MDC Melee

Wanted to try out some Vintage Personna Injector blades that came my way recently.
Popped one into my trusty Bullet Tip and WOW, are they a sweet shave.
MDC Sample only required a bit of loading and produced a nice rich three pass lather plus
a face wash.

GEM MicroMatic Bullet Tip
Personna Injector Blade (1X)
Martin de Candre Vetyver Sample
Frank Shaving G7 Brush
Citrus Musk Splash On
BRUT Aftershave

 

[cryhavoc]

Razor: GEM 1912
Blade: GEM SS PTFE (12)
Soap: Wickham's Soap Co. 1912 Scottish Heather
Brush: Omega 10065 Boar
AS: Pinaud Clubman Citrus Musk.

 

[Whiterook]

Razor: Gem 1912 Damaskeene
Blade: Personna GEM PTFE Stainless Steel Blade
Brush: Yaqi Panda in black & white tuxedo synthetic
Pre-Shave: Proraso White Pre-Shave Cream
Lather: Spearhead Shaving Seaforth Black Watch
Aftershave: Seaforth! Black Watch Aftershave Toner
Additional Care:
Thayers Facial Tonic Witch Hazel Unscented
Nivea Post Shave Balm

 

[Ron R]

GEMonday, May 20th 2024

Razor : Gem Junior bar lather catcher with stropping attachment inside handle. Mfg 1907-11, mild to tame mid range. A very nice Gem lather catcher that most folks could use with not much issues IMO. They are built well and where used a lot by folks who loved the way they shaved are my thoughts for that time period. Make sure blade stops are in good shape if you come across one in the wild. This little razor has brought a lot of decent shaving and caught my interests early in my wonderings into traditional wet shaving. One of my better buys IMO. Had a close comfortable shave this morning to start the day off.
Blade : Gem Personna SS PTFE (2) very sharp, excellent longevity, smooths out nicely, predictable + safest blade to handle.
Soap : Razorock XXX, very enjoyable unique scented soap that has excellent lather properties.
Brush : Yaqi "Ferrari" 24mm boar bristle knot. Excellent lather generator, soft split end boar bristle hairs, nice splay scrubber + great lather painter.

Scuttle: My wife picked this up at a estate sale and it is interesting shaving oddity when looking and using it but it is not for my preferences to use in my shaving routine. This is what they used back well over 100 years ago and soap bars where smaller and they would soak the (Boar) brush in the bottom part and dip tips for needed water for thinner lather wants in this little scuttle and operator would brush load the from the top are also my thoughts.
I think the person who designed it must of had a full grown beard and did not think what a person shaving needs where. Back then in those times brush knots where smaller and water was usually drawn from the well, are my thinking and water warmed up on the cooking stove kettle and poured in side the vessel.
Hot water tanks where not available and only the rich might have some way of hot water availably with maids or butlers serving them??
So I had to give it a try and see how practical these scuttles where back around the 1800's- 1900's. Todays scuttles are larger and more practical because we have running hot water plumped in to most homes. Any ways just sharing some thoughts from the past shaving products.

Pre shave : (Dedicated Cashmere synthetic)Brush wash whole face with CeraVe hand bar cleanser with a dollop of clear Aloe Vera on the cleaned beard area.
Prep : Cold water rinse after each pass of 2 + pickups. WTG + ATG + pickups.
Post shave : Razorock XXX with with hazel + a dollop of CeraVe moisturizing lotion(scentless).
Results : or CCS,DFS,BBS + no irritation + no weepers= Had a close comfortable shave this morning with my Gem Junior bar razor with a coated Gem bar.

Have some great shaves!

 

[cryhavoc]

Razor: GEM 1912
Blade: GEM SS PTFE (18)
Soap: Wickham's Soap Co. 1912 Scottish Heather
Brush: Omega 40033 Boar
AS: Gillette Cool Wave

A great shave today!

 

[Ted A]

Razor: Gem Junior
Blade: Gem SS PTFE (3)
Brush: Yaqi Atlantis
Bowl: Captain’s Choice
Soap: Cooper & French Fresh Start
Aftershave: Bootleggers Green Freeze

 

[Whiterook]

Razor: Gem Micromatic Open Comb Gold Bumpless
Blade: Personna GEM PTFE Stainless Steel Blade
Brush: Rick Montalvo Grade A Silvertip Badger
Pre-Shave: Proraso White Pre-Shave Cream
Lather: Spearhead Shaving Seaforth Black Watch
Aftershave: Seaforth! Black Watch Aftershave Toner
Additional Care:
Thayers Facial Tonic Witch Hazel Unscented
Nivea Post Shave Balm