norfolkdick
Master Shaver
Captain of the Razor Blades
Posts: 1,601
|
Post by norfolkdick on Apr 5, 2014 8:10:25 GMT -6
Greetings I have managed to pick up a Star Featherweight razor, I have been looking for one for some time , not because they are the last word in shaving as I suspect it will shave exactly the same as its siblings the Ever Ready and the GEM Featherweights but because it is only one of a couple of razors that to the best of my knowledge were the same razor badged up by three different manufacturers albeit all owned by the same American company. A little bit of corporate nonsense that must have made some sense at the time. The Star and the ER are made in Great Britain the GEM which I suspect must have been the original model in the USA. There are differences between the three razors but IMHO they are insignificant and can in reality be called cosmetic. The Star and the ER have longitudinal striations on the safety bar whereas the GEM has vertical ones. The blade tray is a little thicker on the ER and the Star. The cover lifting flap has striations on the ER and the Star whilst the GEM has none. The handle is riveted to the frame on the ER and the Star whilst on the GEM it has just indentations. The letter G on the handle of the GEM has been replaced with a circle on the ER and the Star The sides of the cover are a slightly different shape on the GEM. Regards Dick.
|
|
|
Post by PJGH on Apr 5, 2014 11:17:40 GMT -6
Thanks for the pictures, Dick. Good to the the three side by side.
|
|
|
Post by drumzalot on Apr 5, 2014 21:20:30 GMT -6
Very nicely displayed and good work on describing the differences of each Feather Weight incarnation. I tend to favor the Star design. These are light weight and mild shavers but are solid performers.
|
|
|
Post by wchnu on Apr 8, 2014 18:51:31 GMT -6
Outstanding. Thanks for the pics and write up.
|
|
RocketMan
Gem Star
RazorAddict
Welcome To The Sharp Side!
Posts: 4,167
|
Post by RocketMan on Apr 9, 2014 0:37:57 GMT -6
I have an ER and have shaved with a Gem but had no idea there was a Star of this style. Good spotting on the differences too. I will have to haul mine out and compare a little closer. I had not yet even stacked the ER and the Gem up against each other. Going to take a peak at that. Thnx!
|
|
|
Post by HoosierTrooper on Apr 9, 2014 17:40:42 GMT -6
Very interesting collection! Here are the three American made GEM variations that I have, and have noted the different guard bars as well. The nickel one on the left has horizontal grooves, the dark handle is smooth while the gold one on the right has the vertical striations. No idea why they are different.
|
|
norfolkdick
Master Shaver
Captain of the Razor Blades
Posts: 1,601
|
Post by norfolkdick on Apr 10, 2014 5:45:32 GMT -6
Very interesting collection! Here are the three American made GEM variations that I have, and have noted the different guard bars as well. The nickel one on the left has horizontal grooves, the dark handle is smooth while the gold one on the right has the vertical striations. No idea why they are different. Greetings I have never seen a dark handled model before, I suspect there were not many of those made, it makes you wonder why the company made so many minor (and what appear to be)insignificant alterations, there must have been a cost in setting up the different toolings in the factory and to achieve what? Nothing that I can work out. Unless it was to try and refresh what must have been at that time a flagging razor market share. Regards Dick.
|
|