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Post by PJGH on Mar 15, 2015 15:30:22 GMT -6
GEM? Surely you mean Ever Ready? No! I mean GEM! Bought today and so it'll take a short while to arrive ... Ignore all the picture and focus on the middle right where you'll see a curious razor. The seller assures me it says "Patented 24/14" on the back and clearly, it says "GEM Safety Razor Corp" on the plate. It's a post-1919, looks to have blade retaining lugs rather than clips as per later Ever Ready examples, but most interesting, it appears not to have a cap but a simple blade retaining strung clip at the back like the lather catchers. Have we heard of such a beast before?
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Post by PJGH on Mar 16, 2015 3:18:36 GMT -6
Oh, it gets better ... Spotted by a fellow British collector:
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Post by PJGH on Mar 16, 2015 3:20:02 GMT -6
Yep, here's how it works ... presenting the capless GEM/Star 1914: How have we ever missed this one?
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norfolkdick
Master Shaver
Captain of the Razor Blades
Posts: 1,601
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Post by norfolkdick on Mar 16, 2015 8:16:57 GMT -6
Greetings
Really interesting, you must keep us up to date when the razor arrives with some photos.
Regards Dick.
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Post by drumzalot on Mar 16, 2015 8:56:32 GMT -6
FANTASTIC! I remember almost getting a capless 1914 just like yours over 2 years ago. At that time I tried to find information about it. My memory is sketchy on this but there were only a few made this way. I am certain that you have a RARE razor.
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Post by drumzalot on Mar 16, 2015 9:23:18 GMT -6
Here are pics (not mine) from another gent who owns one.
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Post by PJGH on Mar 16, 2015 10:13:21 GMT -6
Brilliant! Nice one, Joe. It is my summary that these were made very shortly after the 1919 merger when GEM gained access to ASR's 1914 and toyed about with the idea. I'm really excited about the GEM, but now I've seen the Star as well ... well, I have to have one of those, too
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Post by birdlives on Mar 17, 2015 1:57:29 GMT -6
Wow...talk about too cool for school.....Does anybody know what that Star has printed on the back?
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Post by PJGH on Mar 17, 2015 9:15:03 GMT -6
The same ... "Patented March 24/14" and "Made in USA" ... seems to be the same across the board, from the Ever Ready 1914 to these GEM & Star oddities.
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Post by mpf9ret on Mar 17, 2015 11:19:27 GMT -6
The same ... "Patented March 24/14" and "Made in USA" ... seems to be the same across the board, from the Ever Ready 1914 to these GEM & Star oddities. Some Star as described on the Bay now-ex estate
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fergie
Shave Master
Posts: 122
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Post by fergie on Mar 17, 2015 17:57:40 GMT -6
I just purchased the very same STAR 1914 that is pictured above from EBAY......
I was looking for a nice American made 1914 anyway, as I personally prefer the American made models to the British made ones as I think they are smoother shavers.......But that's just me.....
I am quite excited about it....This wee razor is old stock brand new unused mint condition by the looks of it....
Will keep you updated on what it says on the back of the razor when it arrives in the post.....The original paperwork might perhaps reveal something as well......
Billy
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Post by PJGH on Mar 17, 2015 18:11:28 GMT -6
Fantastic news, Billy! Yeah, that paperwork may well give us some insights into this little enigma.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2015 21:34:16 GMT -6
I just purchased the very same STAR 1914 that is pictured above from EBAY......
I was looking for a nice American made 1914 anyway, as I personally prefer the American made models to the British made ones as I think they are smoother shavers.......But that's just me.....
I am quite excited about it....This wee razor is old stock brand new unused mint condition by the looks of it....
Will keep you updated on what it says on the back of the razor when it arrives in the post.....The original paperwork might perhaps reveal something as well......
Billy Lol. I came in second... A very nice set, but I'm kinda glad I lost. I've spent waaay too much money on this stuff this month. What was your top bid, Billy? Anyway, congrats!
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fergie
Shave Master
Posts: 122
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Post by fergie on Mar 18, 2015 1:50:17 GMT -6
Yeah its certainly a nice unusual 1914 set.....They are rare.......I saw someone make reference to one on an old Badger and Blade thread.....But non of them had one....It was the GEM model that had turned up and started the thread......They are just as rare and they are nearly a hundred years old by all accounts .....1918/1919 seems to be time when they came out in small numbers.......The guy that acquired the GEM model thought there was a part missing..... I had a maximum of forty Brit notes on it then I switched the internet off and walked away for a coffee.....Wasn't expecting to get it as people were around like a pack of buzzards ...... Billy
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spidey9
Lather Catcher
All SE all the time!
Posts: 641
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Post by spidey9 on Mar 18, 2015 10:13:39 GMT -6
I just realized that I saw one of these on the 'Bay a while back. The pictures were poor (there was no shot of the back) and that was exactly what I thought: "Some clueless character is trying to sell a Gem with the cap missing." I could have probably gotten it for next to nothing. --Bob
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