Question about Ever Ready and GEM SE Razors

[rhmills]

When these SE razors say Patented in "year", is that the year they were actually made in or just when the patent was granted? If it's the patent, then it seems like they had quite a few different patents. I was just wondering. Thanks!

Ryan

 

[BBrad]

That would be the year of the patent grant. The Gem "1912" was actually produced well into the 1930s.

It is a de facto "model" designation in our discussions, which can be confusing at times. Even though a particular head was available in different plating and with different handles (making for several combinations known by the same "name") we call them all "1912s". Later Gem razors were given model names, such as the Micromatic.

Gillette, with their superior marketing skills and advertising budget gave their razors model names much earlier, such as the "Bostonian" from the 1920s. Gillette did have some model confusion over the years since model names were sometimes recycled (such as the Aristocrat) or in the case of the Tech, was produced for decades and is found with multiple plating and handle configurations. At least Gillette employed serialization on their early razors, and date codes from 1951 - on to help us accurately date the razors.

No matter what you call it, though, the Gem 1912 ranks among one of the finest shaving instruments ever made, anywhere, by anybody!!

 

[rhmills]

Thank you!

 

[Zumkopf]

It's funny, in light of alex's incredibly comprehensive list of names, that the names commonly boil down to "lathercatcher", "1912", "Micromatic", G-Bar, Featherweight, and Pushbutton.

 

[melyus]

yes, they had names like the 1886 GEM, 1898 GEM,1898 ZEN GEM, 1900 GEM IMPROVED, 1901 NEW GEM, 1899 THE GEM SAFETY RAZOR,1903 Z, 1904 MODEL GEM,1905 GEM RIGID MODEL, 1905 GEM, 1905 NEW GEM,1907 GEM JUNIOR, 19006 GEM JR. ELITE,1907 GEM JR. BAR,1911 GEM JR,1911-12 GEM DE LUXE, 1911-12 GEM DAMASKEENE, 1912 DAMASKEENE BLADE,1915 DAMASCENE, 1916 GEM,1919 GEM,1921 GEM,1918 GEM KHAKI SERVICE SET,1921 GEM/DOUBLE LIFE,1923 GEM MARBLELITE,1924 GEM,1925 GEM WIZZARD,1925 GEM MARVEL,1925,GEM MINUTE MEN,1927 GEM PEERLESS,1925 GEM STROPLESS,1928 GEM/ASR,1930 GEM MICROMATIC,1932 ASR/DUAL ALIGMENT,1939 GEM/JR,1943 GEM JR SERVICE ISSUE.1941 CLOG PRUF,1947/48 FLYINGWING,1950'S GEM PUSH BUTTON/LIGHTWEIGHT, I think thats bout it. i got this from my wait razor compedium.

Incredible information here. Almost All SE Razors date code.
Thank you very much Alex.