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Post by drumzalot on May 14, 2014 14:57:29 GMT -6
PJ, I just thought I would add this. I absolutely forgot about this but my first SE was broken it had a missing blade stop. The broken razor is a Gem ornate handle model (not the short version because there is a travel model with the same handle). At that time I didn't know that not all 1912 models were compatible with different heads and handles. I got lucky and scored a spare Damaskeene head for a low price, I figured I could use the head to mix and match with my broken razor's handle. The Damaskeene head did not fit the handle! I tried to see which handles the Damaskeene would fit. I can't believe I overlooked this but I do own a Gem Brooklyn 1912 razor. It is short and the handle has a thin neck (where the threads are located), the Damaskeene head did fit this razor's handle. The Damaskeene head requires a handle that has a thin neck (where the threads are located). Now, I own seven 1912 models (two of which are Damaskeenes). I can only test the Damaskeene head with the 5 (non Damaskeene) 1912 models. Again, the Damaskeene head does fit the small Gem Brooklyn 1912 handle. Below, are pictures of the Damaskeene head on a Gem Brooklyn 1912 handle. Paul, I actually have two and a half Damaskeenes. The standard Dami the OC dami and a spare standard Damaskeene head how about that? Well, okay, so maybe you don't have a Damaskeene so how about an OPEN COMB Dami? No? Oops, I didn't mean to bring up this subject carry on.
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Post by mjclark on May 14, 2014 15:03:53 GMT -6
So Damaskeenes have the thinner thread! Breakthrough! Thanks Joe
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Post by PJGH on May 14, 2014 15:38:46 GMT -6
Breakthrough, indeed. I knew our man with all the Dammies would come through Yup! There we have it ... thin threaded, curved capped GEMs and ERs are "special edition" Damaskeenes. Run out models. Joe - I don't have a Damaskeene because in all honesty, I'm holding out for an open comb. When I saw those, I just thought, "Wow! How completely, utterly and totally different from anything else in the line-up". What a treasure. I'm about to make a post which might just make you sit up - a piece of British trash, really, it's rubbish ... but it's 100+ year old rubbish.
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Post by drumzalot on May 14, 2014 16:25:36 GMT -6
MJ, no problem buddy. I can't believe I had forgotten about the frankenrazor I had created which involved a Damaskeene head! As an added bonus I also tested my open comb Damaskeene which also needs a handle with a thinner neck since it too fits the Brooklyn 1912!
Paul, I tend to give the bay a quick view everyday. At this point I am no longer buying anything but I still like to look. I will keep a look out for a standard and OC Damaskeene for you. I have to tell you that the OC version is not easy to come by. I was super lucky when I scored my OC Damaskeene, I got it cheap (with everything) and it is in very good condition.
IMO the OC version is smoother and shaves closer. I like the British 1912's but they cost quite a bit due to international shipping. The British ornate handle 1912 was pure luck since the seller was located in the USA and the price was cheap for NOS.
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Post by prometeo on May 15, 2014 9:57:37 GMT -6
It's a beautiful razor. For me one of the softest but which get very good rush.
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Post by mjclark on Sept 28, 2014 6:56:48 GMT -6
Just to bump this thread because I've been comparing my Damaskeene and ER 1912 Brooklyn and they very definitely are NOT the same. Although both have curved caps, the widths and general geometry are different.
Both my Brooklyns came from eBay UK, and I'm now wondering if maybe the Damaskeene was made for the US market and the Brooklyn was made at the same time for the British market. What do you think guys?
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Post by PJGH on Sept 28, 2014 13:58:02 GMT -6
I think no ...
I don't think GEM/ASR were in the UK at that point - remember, we also had a massive proliferation of face scraper manufacturers. I don't think they were made for our market, but they broke into it in the same period.
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Post by mjclark on Sept 28, 2014 14:11:01 GMT -6
So when did we start getting Ever Readys in the UK? And where does the ER 1912 Brooklyn fit in? I don't think the theory that it was just using up surplus Damaskeene parts is correct since it's not identical. Was it made simultaneously with the 1914. The GEMologists debate...
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Post by PJGH on Sept 29, 2014 15:31:04 GMT -6
It has to be post-1919, since ASR did not have the rights to make a 1912 until the merger (takeover) with GEM. Early "proper" (read: non-Damaskeene) 1912s were seen in all sorts of adverts at the time, but I struggle to find a British one. Sears & Roebuck catalogue carried the Brooklyn 1912s in the mid-1920s; 1924 & 1925.
Best guess is that the chain link was the first British 1912. I'm still going to hold onto the early 1930s for the British market.
With regards to the 1914, that was a model that ran alongside the Damaskeene. GEM had the Damaskeene, ASR had the "1914". The "1924" was made long before 1924, but named so because of its appearance in the Sears & Roebuck catalogue for 1924. I think - please correct me if I'm wrong there. The "1924" was seen pre-1919 and most likely a simple successor to the 1914 and something to rival what would be the new 1912 from GEM. With the merger it all became moot.
FWIW, the 1912, 1914 and 1924 were all made in parallel for a short while. In fact the older GEM Junior Bar was also still made. Sears & Roebuck show both the GEM Junior Bar and the 1912 in their 1924 catalogue!
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Post by mjclark on Sept 29, 2014 23:17:15 GMT -6
Thanks for such a comprehensive answer Paul. So in the 1920s, there was the milder GEM 1912, the more aggressive ER 1912 Brooklyn, the 1914 and the 1924.
So pre-1930's, exactly what SEs were available in the UK? There's the Wilkinson Pall Mall and the Valet VB/C1 but what else? The Rolls, Darwin, Ronson and Empire didn't show up til the 30's, and what about the Schick?
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Post by PJGH on Sept 30, 2014 4:36:31 GMT -6
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