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Post by bjorney on Apr 3, 2012 11:34:13 GMT -6
Great Review Brian! Interesting to see the difference between a regular 1912 and a Jr. I have a Star 1912 that I feel shaves much smoother than my (almost pristine) GEM 1912. Are the Stars more like a GEM Junior? I think my GEM was a very late model (1940s?) and it looks great. I want to love it as much as its somewhat worn sibling, but I don't!
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ShadowsDad
Gem Star
None boring shaver!!
"It's not the bow, it's the Indian"
Posts: 4,534
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Post by ShadowsDad on Apr 3, 2012 20:43:15 GMT -6
Thanks Bjorn.
I'm not qualified to answer your question, so I'm going to back out and let someone else get in here with the answer.
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RocketMan
Gem Star
RazorAddict
Welcome To The Sharp Side!
Posts: 4,167
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Post by RocketMan on Apr 4, 2012 8:22:19 GMT -6
I'm pretty sure that once ASR picked up Kampfe/Star around 1919 that they promptly put out a STAR that employed the 1912 patent design. ASR was essentially streamling the razor biz by buying Kampfe and integrating it into ASR. Then by the time the MicroMatic style was in place the STAR product line was heavily carved down to pretty much only the 1912 style which kicked around for a bit. GEM was almost the only ASR razor product being purchased once they carved the razor world up into the two main producers - Gillette and ASR (with GEM).
so yeah, same razor, same company
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Post by bjorney on Apr 9, 2012 14:41:13 GMT -6
A question for fellow Damaskeene owners... What is the knurled handle made of? I just bought a rather ugly one on Ebay and the handle is very discolored. I almost looks like rust, which would indicate a steel handle. All the other GEM razors I own seem to be brass with or without plating. I'm asking because I'm trying to figure out how best to clean it.
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ShadowsDad
Gem Star
None boring shaver!!
"It's not the bow, it's the Indian"
Posts: 4,534
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Post by ShadowsDad on Apr 9, 2012 15:22:15 GMT -6
It's plated steel.
It attracts a magnet. Or at least mine does.
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RocketMan
Gem Star
RazorAddict
Welcome To The Sharp Side!
Posts: 4,167
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Post by RocketMan on Apr 9, 2012 21:14:39 GMT -6
A question for fellow Damaskeene owners... What is the knurled handle made of? I just bought a rather ugly one on Ebay and the handle is very discolored. I almost looks like rust, which would indicate a steel handle. All the other GEM razors I own seem to be brass with or without plating. I'm asking because I'm trying to figure out how best to clean it. Sounds like the right razor for a pastel enamel painted handle!!! OoOOooh!!
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ShadowsDad
Gem Star
None boring shaver!!
"It's not the bow, it's the Indian"
Posts: 4,534
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Post by ShadowsDad on Apr 9, 2012 22:32:43 GMT -6
Great minds think alike! Earlier in the day I was going to suggest cleaning it up and dealing with the corrosion (rust converter?) and getting a gun finish from Brownells and baking it on. They have ceramic finishes that should wear like iron and are intended to keep rust at bay. But bjorney is from OZ if I remember correctly... I was also thinking of having him send it to me and I'd do it, but shipping would be the killer. Plus I don't have pastels. Grey, OD, black, that's it for what I have on the shelf. Bjorney, do you have a gunsmith supplier in Australia? Maybe they have the bake on ceramic finishes? You should have rust converter available by mail order down under. www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=41610/Product/GUN-KOTE-trade-OVEN-CURE-GUN-FINISHWouldn't you know... I was specifically thinking of Cerakote, but it says it can't be shipped to NZ or Aus. . The Gun Kote can be however, or at least I saw no prohibition on it. www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=41824/Product/CERAKOTE-AIR-DRY-CERAMIC-COATINGSBjorney, if you want to go the Cerakote route I could ship it to you. Phooey on regs! But replating or buying a razor just for the handle would probably be less expensive.
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Post by bjorney on Apr 10, 2012 1:00:49 GMT -6
Great minds think alike! Earlier in the day I was going to suggest cleaning it up and dealing with the corrosion (rust converter?) and getting a gun finish from Brownells and baking it on. They have ceramic finishes that should wear like iron and are intended to keep rust at bay. But bjorney is from OZ if I remember correctly... I was also thinking of having him send it to me and I'd do it, but shipping would be the killer. Plus I don't have pastels. Grey, OD, black, that's it for what I have on the shelf. Bjorney, do you have a gunsmith supplier in Australia? Maybe they have the bake on ceramic finishes? You should have rust converter available by mail order down under. www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=41610/Product/GUN-KOTE-trade-OVEN-CURE-GUN-FINISHWouldn't you know... I was specifically thinking of Cerakote, but it says it can't be shipped to NZ or Aus. . The Gun Kote can be however, or at least I saw no prohibition on it. www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=41824/Product/CERAKOTE-AIR-DRY-CERAMIC-COATINGSBjorney, if you want to go the Cerakote route I could ship it to you. Phooey on regs! But replating or buying a razor just for the handle would probably be less expensive. Hi Brian, I'm in California... only halfway to OZ! I`'ll probably just keep on the lookout for a nicer Damaskeene, since the head has some wear too. Thanks for the advice!
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Post by HoosierTrooper on Apr 10, 2012 4:00:29 GMT -6
Sounds like a candidate for re-plating.
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ShadowsDad
Gem Star
None boring shaver!!
"It's not the bow, it's the Indian"
Posts: 4,534
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Post by ShadowsDad on Apr 10, 2012 20:56:47 GMT -6
How on earth did I get the impression you were in Australia!? Oh well, welcome to the USA! ;D I bet it almost feels like you never left. Sometimes I amaze myself. Just think this crap will just get worse as I get older. Fun! I got an e-mail from Dave Glynn today (link will follow) and he told me, regarding a rusted Kampfe, that he can handle it. I doubt your handle will be a problem. www.restoredrazors.com/
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Post by wchnu on Apr 11, 2012 5:22:32 GMT -6
I wonder if he marks his restores so they are not resold as "mint" originals.
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Possum
Master Shaver
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Post by Possum on Apr 11, 2012 14:19:03 GMT -6
I wonder if he marks his restores so they are not resold as "mint" originals. Exactly why I do not like restored razors. Too easy to pass them off on an suspecting newbie as something worth more than it really is. Now I do not have a problem with someone putting a different handle on a razor. Something like the stuff from Bob's Razorworks or similar places. Just as long as the owner keeps the original handle and if he sells it he sends both handles and does not represent the razor as something other than what it is. Then there is the vintage reason I would not redo an old razor. The ugliness of it with brassing and all just adds character to the razor. Someone has used that thing day in and day out to remove whiskers from his face. Why spoil that character just so something shines real nice.
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blobby
SE Super Freak
Posts: 83
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Post by blobby on Apr 11, 2012 21:57:26 GMT -6
Regardless of the shine, I just don't like the smell and staining that brass leaves behind during and after shaving. On that basis I'd get a favourite razor replated. But I'm not a collector.
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