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Post by PJGH on Jan 3, 2014 18:58:30 GMT -6
What a great review! What a good read!
I have this razor myself, as well as the open comb mentioned. I shaved with the 1924 as a step towards plucking up the courage to give the open comb a go. I concur - it is not a mild razor. The open comb is a brute, you know it's going to be, so you're light and fleeting with it. The 1924 looks less intimidating but after that first bite where you've been just too generous with your touch and you ease off.
I have a 1914 coming and can't wait to compare.
Again, superb write-up. Don't do yourself down.
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Del
Shave Master
Posts: 123
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Post by Del on Jan 18, 2014 17:33:03 GMT -6
I think I need to get one of these...
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Post by fram773 on Mar 11, 2014 12:22:13 GMT -6
I posted this on another forum some time ago. Thought I'd post it here. Well there are at least two forms of '24s. One has more blade exposure than the other. The way to tell them apart is the comb. On the one with more blade exposure it is flat- see right razor. While on the one with less exposure it is round- see left razor.
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Post by PJGH on Mar 11, 2014 13:22:20 GMT -6
No difference in what's stamped inside? I have on with the flat teeth and it says "Patent Applied For" inside.
Double-checking Waits, I think ... think ... the square teeth are from 1919 and the rounded teeth appear to be from the 1925 Catalogue onwards ... like from the Wall Cabinet Edition. Hard to tell, but zooming in on the example pictures it would appear to be that way.
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Post by mjclark on Mar 11, 2014 13:47:57 GMT -6
I also have the flat comb big exposure model and it is undoubtedly my favourite SE - the FaTip of the single edge, as powerful as the OCMM but smooth smooth smooth smooth smooth It follows the pattern of "the progressive tendency to mildness" in safety razor design if the later models have less blade exposure.
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Post by fram773 on Mar 11, 2014 15:39:36 GMT -6
I just checked. Two of mine are flat comb they say "Pat. Appd for." I have a round comb and it says the same thing.
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Post by mjclark on Mar 11, 2014 15:46:42 GMT -6
So why is it called the 1924 then? It's based on a 1909 design, and they all say "Patent applied for"...
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Post by PJGH on Mar 11, 2014 16:47:41 GMT -6
According to Waits, it was first seen around 1919. I think we call it the 1924 since it was popularised by the famous 1924 product catalogue. As above, I am pretty sure that the curved tooth variant was from 1924 - the flat tooth variant was seen between 1919 and 1924. 1924 saw what we call the 1914 model dropped, or rather superseded singly by the "1924" model; prior to 1924, the 1914 and what we call the 1924 (from 1919) ran alongside each other.
Recall, what we call the 1912 is actually a 1919! Prior to 1919, it was the "Damaskeene" ...
Okay, so both variants are stamped "Patent applied for" ...
The 1912 was a patent made in 1912 - the model we know as the 1912 hereafter. 1914 patented the razor we popularly call the 1914. What we call the 1924 appears not to have been patented! Hence, applied for. With the handover of the Ever Ready trademark to British production in the '30s, we (Brits, that is) called the 1912 the "New improved Ever Ready" as it was released shortly after the "Improved Ever Ready", or US Made Ever Ready circa 1930.
The "1924" was released in various guises, such as the Wall Cabinet, Imperial De Luxe, even 'Speedster' ... recall that 1924/5 saw product catalogues from both GEM and Ever Ready brands. Some of the names are similar, such as the "New De Luxe" GEM (a 1912 with curved head and short handle) and Wall Cabinet GEMs (1912).
Yes, it's a tangle, but if you visualise the product lines distinctly, then together, it sort of makes sense ... just about.
We could institute the use of the term 1919 to reflect this flat toothed "1924", but that could get confusing, since the non-Damaskeene GEM and Ever Ready "1912" were produced from 1919. Confused? You should be, but this is a lot of fun spotting the differences.
So, I'm now on the hunt for a curved tooth 1924 ...
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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 Mar 11, 2014 16:57:03 GMT -6
I have both and the flat comb model is what I like. I'll try the curved comb tomorrow. It just may be for sale.
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Post by PJGH on Mar 11, 2014 18:34:19 GMT -6
... if it's awful, I'll take it ... and a bottle of your finest, which I've yet to enjoy
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Post by mjclark on Mar 11, 2014 21:54:27 GMT -6
Great timeline Paul! Thanks - I 'm starting to see how all this fits together now. The more aggressive '24 was introduced alongside the new non-Damaskeene 1912s and ran concurrently with the 1914 until the year 1924, when the '14 was dropped from production and the milder version of the '24 was introduced.
So the significant dates when the GEM/ER linup changes are 1914, 1919 and 1924. Wonder what happened in 1929? And where do the Damaskeene-like ER 1912 Brooklyns fit in?
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Post by PJGH on Mar 12, 2014 8:01:32 GMT -6
And where do the Damaskeene-like ER 1912 Brooklyns fit in? ... as in curved caps, shorter handles and small thread? From 1912 through to shortly after the release of the 1924 catalogue. I see those models more as a run-out of existing casts given nice boxes and special names. I may be right, I may be wrong ...
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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 Mar 12, 2014 11:42:09 GMT -6
Paul, I wish I could send you a bottle of my finest, but there is something like a $250,000 fine and 20 years in jail if caught. Italian Barber can ship it to you though. He has the Frostbite too. I find myself reaching for Frostbite more than the BR anymore, but that are completely dissimilar except in skin care, with a bit of an edge to the Frostbite (it's loaded with frankincense).
But on to the reason I'm posting.
I tried the milder '24 today. Yes, it's milder. I would place it somewhere toward mid aggressive. I found it to be a better shave than the recently tested Streamline by a hair, and todays shave was with a blade with 7 shaves on it. A fresh blade should make the shave even better. The sound effects were muted but were there as compared to the aggressive version. It a very nice razor. I'll also be keeping mine. Now I need to find 2 spares, one of each version.
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Post by PJGH on Mar 12, 2014 13:23:51 GMT -6
I'll find a more local supplier ...
Back to these '24s, I think our man has discovered the reason behind why some folks rave about it for being almost as aggressive as the MMOC and others simply meh and set it aside. Good spot!
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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 Mar 13, 2014 0:58:55 GMT -6
:-) Unless you combine an order with other folks there is no more local supplier. At this time Italian Barber supplies the world for me. I know since I know ALL of the retailers and they are very few. I'm retired and I keep things small deliberately. (I'm not looking for a job. I'm busy enough in retirement.)
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