Never seen this type of GEM

[wbw0126]

I saw this for sale today, and have never seen another GEM like it. I don't think it's a custom handle, but maybe the first model GEM? It's labelled with GEM Cutlery Co.

Can anyone date this? Is it a rare find?

Danke Schoen,
Will

 

[gaseousclay]

whoa, looks like a potato peeler

 

[Bertilak]

I saw this for sale today, and have never seen another GEM like it. I don't think it's a custom handle, but maybe the first model GEM? It's labelled with GEM Cutlery Co.

Can anyone date this? Is it a rare find?

Danke Schoen,
Will

Relatively rare. Mine has two patent dates: Dec 27 (18)98 and Aug 28 (19)00.

If it is the same as mine, and best I can tell from the picture it is, it wil only take the wedge-style blades and not today's SEs.

To put in the blade you need to (1) flip up the side pieces and (2) flip back the little tab at the back. Then position the blade and put (1) and (2) back down and forward.

There is a little button on the back to allow you to open up the razor's head to clean it.

Lots of moving parts!

Mine is the one on the left in the attached picture. Note the back edge of the wedge blade in the box. The razor on the right has patent dates of 1900 and 1901. Not sure how long the razor in question was in production but I'm guessing not for long, making it somewhat rare.

 

[John C]

No wonder our forfathers where so tough. Having to face down that fist full of metal every morning would build anyones internal fortitude.
*geesh...momma have mercy*

Cool razor though
Awesome find

John

 

[wbw0126]

Wow, that is a lot of moving parts, and that's odd they used wedges originally. Very cool razor though...I like the wooden handle and the bulk of the mechanical head.

The handle reminded me of the picture of Gillette's patent, that's why I figured these were probably made in the same years.

By the way, do any Gillettes with that thick handle (as shown in the patent) actually exist?

 

[82R100]

Wow, that is a lot of moving parts, and that's odd they used wedges originally.

You've got to remember that the early part of the safety razor concept was simply making the razor safe (by incorporating a safety bar of some sort to manage the blade angle). The concept of a disposable blade is part of what set King Gillette and his razors apart (no honing, no stropping!). Think of the wedge blade as a short section of a straight razor, to be stropped and honed as before.

- Chris

 

[wbw0126]

Yes, very true. I found this old article on Wired online that talks a bit about King Gillette. It says that his first year he sold like 56 razors or something. What type of razors were these originals? Not double rings were they?

Here's the article:
http://www.wired.com/techbiz/it/magazine/16-03/ff_free

 

[Hoos]

Yes, very true. I found this old article on Wired online that talks a bit about King Gillette. It says that his first year he sold like 56 razors or something. What type of razors were these originals? Not double rings were they?

Here's the article:
http://www.wired.com/techbiz/it/magazine/16-03/ff_free

Yes, the first Gillette razors were the double-ring model. Single ring was introduced in 1906.

 

[D.Irving79]

if i recall, its a 1900. made until about 03.

 

[Monkeydad]

Crazy contraption. About what would it be worth?

 

[D.Irving79]

2 prices. whatever some book value is and what it sold for.

a safe estimate: $100.