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Post by PJGH on Apr 13, 2014 8:20:40 GMT -6
For one reason, or another, I had all my Valets out today ... VB1 British Patented 1904 No.10740, 1907 No.15230 & 1913 No.7093 660281 ... 660281 on the lever VC1 - Model C Set Patented April 9, 1912 VC1 - Model C Set (Gold) Patented April 9, 1912 VC2 - US Made Patent No.s 1492246 1163332 639335 Pat.s Pend VC2 - British Made Patent No.s 184808 286057 287411 VC3 - British Set Patent No 470433 I believe this is an 'Army & Navy Stores' set circa 1937. VC4 - British Set Patent No 470433 This is the same handle as the VC3, just shorter. I think I'll be acquiring more Model C Sets. I absolutely adore them ... and there are, curiously, so many variations. I've also seen VC2 heads in the boxes - is that right, or has someone just dumped the wrong head in the case? Both of mine state "Patented April 9, 1912" on the back.
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herco
SE Super Freak
a happy injectorman
Posts: 19
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Post by herco on Apr 13, 2014 15:56:43 GMT -6
Wonderful razors indeed (and in shining condition!) - thanks for the photos Paul !
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Post by wchnu on Apr 13, 2014 20:06:12 GMT -6
Very nice. Thanks for sharing.
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Post by sleddog on Apr 13, 2014 21:41:35 GMT -6
Nice collection and great pics!!
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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 14, 2014 0:58:40 GMT -6
Very nice examples of these razors. Thanks for the post.
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Post by PJGH on Apr 14, 2014 2:54:18 GMT -6
Thanks, chaps. I've yet to shave with them all, but hope to catch up with a springtime of ASR shaves.
The only one that is a little wobbly is the US VC2 - the shape of the pin that drops into the "T" of an original VALETo blade does not locate securely in a modern Feather. I'll get some close-ups in due course, but upon loading the blade, it slips - it doesn't with an original Valet.
I've heard of variants with pins in annoying places that need grinding off, but this is in reverse; that there is not enough of a shape to hold the blade securely.
I said it above, but those Model C sets are addictive - I have a bunch of them now in my watch list.
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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 14, 2014 11:26:37 GMT -6
I was poking through here again. There is something really special about Auto Strops. And, I have had some great shaves with them here and there. I am inspired to poke through my pile and set up a few shaves for myself over the next week. Should be fun. Thnx Paul!
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Post by PJGH on Apr 14, 2014 12:48:44 GMT -6
Beauty! Perhaps go through the ages and models? I fancy doing that some week. Have a lot of fun ...
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Post by drumzalot on Apr 14, 2014 16:41:42 GMT -6
Sweet Jesus Paul, you are lord of the Valet! All of your models are in pristine condition. I only have a VC1 so I don't know how the other models shave. Which model would you consider the most mild?
My VC1 doesn't seem to work well with modded Gem blades. The original Valet blades are bigger then a modded SE blade. When I use an SE blade without the spine the blade sits a bit loose, the blade doesn't fit tight against the blade stops. When I use the original (now dull) Valet blades they work well. Have you run into a similar situation? Also, what do you think about the Feather single edge blade that are used in Valet razors?
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Post by PJGH on Apr 15, 2014 2:58:53 GMT -6
Until recently, my VB1 was the only one that would accept a de-spined GEM blade and I thought it played out just fine. Not too mild nor too aggressive. At the time I also had the VC2, 3 & 4 but no Feather blades and the GEM simply would not fit due to the locating pins. I did have one NOS Valet blade which I used in the VC4 but it was very "tuggy" and I presume past its best.
When I bought that ASR 7 O'Clock recently, I found out exactly what you found - the GEM is somewhat shorter than the Valet/Feather blade and so when I bought those VC1 sets i got some Feathers to run through them ... and continue with the others, also hoping they'd breathe new life into the later, milder GEM & Ever Ready razors.
I've been very happy with the Feathers - for the VC1, presumably for the rest of the Valets and run through a GEM Push Button. Lovely shaves all round.
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