Dude, when you "apply" for a club, you really APPLY for a club!!! That is an awesome collection!!! Really looking forward to hearing about your shaves with these, down the road. Welcome!!!
Hey, when I'm in, I'M IN.......
Clearly!!!
Very nice lather catchers you have accumulated over the years. Art deco script was the in thing back in the turn of the Century, thanks for sharing.
I was very fortunate to pick this beauty up a little while ago: a Gem Zinn Automatic. Ads put this as coming on to the scene in 1905, but the patent dates go back to 1898. It took a proprietary disposable blade back in the day, but it takes a modern Schick injector-style blade without a problem. The spring is tight (you just press on the head and it opens enough to take the blade. I used a Proline B-20 blade, and since there are no blade stops, it's like hand loading an Enders....you get to choose how far forward or back the blade is to determine the aggression.
Last night was my first shave, and while I probably set the blade a little far forward, it was actually a pretty mild feeling shave. The teeth on this guy are not to be trifled with, they are on the sharp side, but the angle is pretty easy to find because of the shape of the top-cap/head. So you a shallow angle (handle more towards the wall than the floor) works best. The first pass was as efficient as some other razors (although that could have been me just using super-cautious technique), so it took 3-full passes, but I ended up with an irritation-free DFS. I did have a couple of really light (i.e., very temporary) bleeders, but that was definitely technique. I found that with a longer handle, which I love the look of, I would slip into using too steep of an angle, which would be when a bleeder would show up.
This is a great razor, and I do have some of the original blades, but I'm not a vintage blade restorer or user. The case has lost it's exterior leather covering, but it is structurally sound and I'm thinking of a light sanding to get some residual leather/glue off of it and then just giving it a coat of walnut oil.
I'll post up more pics as I continue to use this razor, and use it I will, but here is small collage that I put together. The top shot is me trying to be "arty" but the interior satin is actually a bright red and beautiful.
Very nice Fred, I have seen that razor around on the _Bay and was curious on how it shaved & worked physically . Some times you have to improvise to make it work and I'm glade you put it to use. Great photos the way you partitioned them and looking forward to other lather catchers shaves we do. Nice collection you have accumulated.I was very fortunate to pick this beauty up a little while ago: a Gem Zinn Automatic. Ads put this as coming on to the scene in 1905, but the patent dates go back to 1898. It took a proprietary disposable blade back in the day, but it takes a modern Schick injector-style blade without a problem. The spring is tight (you just press on the head and it opens enough to take the blade. I used a Proline B-20 blade, and since there are no blade stops, it's like hand loading an Enders....you get to choose how far forward or back the blade is to determine the aggression.
Last night was my first shave, and while I probably set the blade a little far forward, it was actually a pretty mild feeling shave. The teeth on this guy are not to be trifled with, they are on the sharp side, but the angle is pretty easy to find because of the shape of the top-cap/head. So you a shallow angle (handle more towards the wall than the floor) works best. The first pass was as efficient as some other razors (although that could have been me just using super-cautious technique), so it took 3-full passes, but I ended up with an irritation-free DFS. I did have a couple of really light (i.e., very temporary) bleeders, but that was definitely technique. I found that with a longer handle, which I love the look of, I would slip into using too steep of an angle, which would be when a bleeder would show up.
This is a great razor, and I do have some of the original blades, but I'm not a vintage blade restorer or user. The case has lost it's exterior leather covering, but it is structurally sound and I'm thinking of a light sanding to get some residual leather/glue off of it and then just giving it a coat of walnut oil.
I'll post up more pics as I continue to use this razor, and use it I will, but here is small collage that I put together. The top shot is me trying to be "arty" but the interior satin is actually a bright red and beautiful.
I was very fortunate to pick this beauty up a little while ago: a Gem Zinn Automatic. Ads put this as coming on to the scene in 1905, but the patent dates go back to 1898. It took a proprietary disposable blade back in the day, but it takes a modern Schick injector-style blade without a problem. The spring is tight (you just press on the head and it opens enough to take the blade. I used a Proline B-20 blade, and since there are no blade stops, it's like hand loading an Enders....you get to choose how far forward or back the blade is to determine the aggression.
Last night was my first shave, and while I probably set the blade a little far forward, it was actually a pretty mild feeling shave. The teeth on this guy are not to be trifled with, they are on the sharp side, but the angle is pretty easy to find because of the shape of the top-cap/head. So you a shallow angle (handle more towards the wall than the floor) works best. The first pass was as efficient as some other razors (although that could have been me just using super-cautious technique), so it took 3-full passes, but I ended up with an irritation-free DFS. I did have a couple of really light (i.e., very temporary) bleeders, but that was definitely technique. I found that with a longer handle, which I love the look of, I would slip into using too steep of an angle, which would be when a bleeder would show up.
This is a great razor, and I do have some of the original blades, but I'm not a vintage blade restorer or user. The case has lost it's exterior leather covering, but it is structurally sound and I'm thinking of a light sanding to get some residual leather/glue off of it and then just giving it a coat of walnut oil.
I'll post up more pics as I continue to use this razor, and use it I will, but here is small collage that I put together. The top shot is me trying to be "arty" but the interior satin is actually a bright red and beautiful.
I just put my 2-cents on that in your original posting -- here it is: GEM JUNIOR. I didn't see your post here, it would've made more sense for my response to be here....oh well, no biggie. Bottom line is I don't think that it's a mismatch. I have that particular handle on my GEM Junior Bar; and GEM seemed to be pragmatic with their inventory and packaging, so while you may see that head on a different handle and in a different case, it doesn't mean GEM didn't put this particular package together. My posting on your original thread has some pictures and more conjecture; but I end up at the same place -- most likely not a mismatch.
I just put my 2-cents on that in your original posting -- here it is: GEM JUNIOR. I didn't see your post here, it would've made more sense for my response to be here....oh well, no biggie. Bottom line is I don't think that it's a mismatch. I have that particular handle on my GEM Junior Bar; and GEM seemed to be pragmatic with their inventory and packaging, so while you may see that head on a different handle and in a different case, it doesn't mean GEM didn't put this particular package together. My posting on your original thread has some pictures and more conjecture; but I end up at the same place -- most likely not a mismatch.
Now one question I do have is whether it's painted wood or ebonite (black plastic). I know Ever-Ready used ebonite for some of their Lather Catchers -- I have one. But when I compare the Ever-Ready ebonite handle to my GEM black wooden handle, they are slightly different (not just in the materials, but with the size and decorative rings). But like I've said many times before, collecting GEMs is not like collecting Gillettes. If you're the type who REALLY needs to know the difference between the RFB Model #77 and RFB Model #88; or the 1938 and 1940 Aristocrats....then you're probably going to find collecting GEMs very frustrating. I love knowing as much as I can about all my razors, but the data gets really fuzzy for the SE razors, especially the deeper and closer you look. Of course it doesn't stop us all from trying and talking about them.
Yes I used last night. It was a good shave, milder then I expected really! Difficult under My nose but to My surprise really smoth on My neck! I will use it for sure but still thinks My DE go to razor dont have to be afraid!
