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Post by birdlives on May 18, 2016 20:46:35 GMT -6
OK guys....The new Damaskeene has made the scene....Photos and review to follow shortly.... This is a cased razor with old style case with Iron Cross on the blue velvet.... 7 Damaskeene blades in the Silver Blade vault 1 Damaskeene blade in the box blade slot And 1 curious razor....Because it has the old pre 1919 frame, with GEM Cutlery Co New York USA on the back....And "Use Only With GEM Damaskeene Blades" printed on the inside base plate, in the old style print, like the original Damaskeene Open Comb....BUT it has the Beveled Top Blade Cover ...Now some of you have said that the beveled top caps didn't show up til after 1919.... Now my question is....is this all original, or has the Top Cap been replaced?? Everything seems to line up and look Great....and I shaved using a new GEM Stainless with a 1/2 shim and it shaved just like my curved top Damaskeene only maybe just a tad more efficient...But still that unique, Dammy Ultra Smoothness, that seems indigenous to the Damaskeenes....Those that have had that experience, KNOW what I'm referring to... Opps.... Can't load the photos....Well thats that.... Well for now....Here are the photos across the street....please take a look and let me know what you think... theshaveden.com/forums/threads/injector-se-party.23113/page-418#post-1059203
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Post by fram773 on May 18, 2016 21:10:44 GMT -6
They only show up as micro pics. You can't open them up to full size unless you are a member of that site and log in.
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Post by birdlives on May 18, 2016 21:45:13 GMT -6
They only show up as micro pics. You can't open them up to full size unless you are a member of that site and log in. Opps...sorry.... Does anyone have an original Damaskeene, with the "use only GEM Damaskeene Blades" advert...the round kurled handle....GEM Cutlery Co. USA on the back....and the top cap is beveled where it contacts the blade ? I noticed the print inside for the advert is the old style print too....And the box is lined with blue velvet with the Iron Cross in white, and it contains the silver blade holder with 7 Damaskeene blades and another blade in a slot in the box....Looks almost unused... But I guess.....no pics.....it didn't happen......lmao! Well if anyone is a member at the Den across the street...you could use the above link to check the pics...or if you pm me an email, I can email the pics....I'd appreciate any imput....Thanks!
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spidey9
Lather Catcher
All SE all the time!
Posts: 641
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Post by spidey9 on May 18, 2016 22:53:07 GMT -6
I responded across the street, but here are a couple of pictures of one of mine. As can be seen above, this one definitely has the flat cap with the bevel. And as can be seen above, this is definitely a Gem Cutlery Co. Damaskeene. I think that they used whatever parts they had lying around. --Bob
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Post by birdlives on May 18, 2016 23:15:03 GMT -6
I responded across the street, but here are a couple of pictures of one of mine. As can be seen above, this one definitely has the flat cap with the bevel. And as can be seen above, this is definitely a Gem Cutlery Co. Damaskeene. I think that they used whatever parts they had lying around. --Bob Beautiful set....I think they did an amazing job, with whatever parts they had laying around...}8^))....They had alot of talent, in the same place at the same time....
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Post by PJGH on May 19, 2016 2:08:31 GMT -6
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Post by birdlives on May 19, 2016 3:25:39 GMT -6
So Paul....whats the date or period for this ad and these sets?? And I think you are right....That no.7 looks exactly like my set, which still has the 7 blades....
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Post by PJGH on May 19, 2016 3:43:06 GMT -6
Waits shows the No.7 Set to be 1916. He also shows a "April-June 1919 advertisement" showing the No.7 set apparently without the bevel, but directly below an actual razor and case ... with the bevel. This advert, I'd always imagined to be "of the time" so 1916? It would indeed appear to be post-1919. Here's another, which was for sale on eBay and "carefully removed from a magazine dated 1919": 1919 it is ... That answers the bevel question, I guess. New top cap, but still tooling up the "Gem Safety Razor Corp" stamps/dyes? I also have another pair of Damaskeenes, both bevelled: one "Gem Safety Razor Co" (stamped 1912 underneath) and one "Gem Safety Razor Corp" (1902 underneath - mistake?). Both appear to have straight caps! Perhaps a very slight curve, but nothing like the curve that we know the Damaskeene for. Straight cap and "Corp" with bevel would all point to post-1919.
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Post by PJGH on May 19, 2016 3:45:54 GMT -6
^ Notice the price was £1.00 above, yet $1.45 in the first advertisement I posted? Maybe that puts the advertisement I first posted (showing all the sets) a little later than 1919? Into the '20s?
Seems these Damaskeenes continued for longer than we thought with the "new" 1912 sliding in from 1919 but by no means replacing the "Damaskeene". Perhaps these sets were made up to sell off remaining Damaskeene stock - it's a common trick to make "specials" to clear out old stock. Curious, though, as I'm sure the "new" 1912 was aggressively advertised as new, improved, better ...
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Post by birdlives on May 19, 2016 3:50:25 GMT -6
But That pic of Spidey's no7 is probably 1916ish, right? It's GEM Cutlery Co.....Mine looks exactly like his....and has "use only GEM Damaskeene Blades" written in the old lettering similar to the print in an open comb de luxe I looked at...
and what is waits talking about?
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Post by PJGH on May 19, 2016 3:51:44 GMT -6
Yet another thought ...
Canadians! The 1919 advertisement mentions the Canadian branch. Recall also that The Great War was well underway during this period and former colonies, like Canada, were very much involved. There was a Khaki set of the Damaskeene, presumably for the Canadian market.
Perhaps the continuation of the Damaskeene well beyond 1919, into the '20s was more for the Canadian market than domestic.
Looking through "gem damaskeene advertisements" in google, I'm seeing "Canadian Branch" in a lot of them ...
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Post by PJGH on May 19, 2016 3:55:10 GMT -6
But That pic of Spidey's no7 is probably 1916ish, right? It's GEM Cutlery Co.....Mine looks exactly like his....and has "use only GEM Damaskeene Blades" written in the old lettering similar to the print in an open comb de luxe I looked at... and what is waits talking about? Yes, your No.7, Spidey's and mine are all the same - all of those details: "Co", bevel and curved cap. Waits tells of this model from 1916. We have advertisements showing this model beyond 1919 ... My guess is, our No.7s are post-1919. Yes, the model came out in 1916, but I think ours are post-1919.
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Post by birdlives on May 19, 2016 4:00:31 GMT -6
This one looks like it too.... badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/192161-Are-these-damaskeene-1912-sI just checked the waits....I see what you mean....about the dates.... And I see what you mean by Corp. and Co..... But what about, Gem Safety Razor Co. And Gem Cutlery Co.? Maybe it just comes down to some older frames already stamped, Gem Cutlery, that needed to be used... And I just noticed where you compared those prices......Makes sense....$1.49 in 1916 doesn't equate.....I think you are on to something here...Sherlock.... BTW....your second ad, mentions the booklet, how to get a smoother shave...my set has a little paper on how to get a more comfortable shave.....So....Let's check it out...On the back it has an ad for the blade stropper with strop for $2.00...There is no date on the paper, but at the bottom of the paper is the logo for GEM Safety Razor Corp. Hmmmm....Things are looking more and more like your theory is right... But your first ad, has the GEM blade stropper and strop for $2.60 and the no7 razor set for $1.49.....And the ad for that strop in my set guotes $2.00....So maybe my set was between your two ads....and maybe these sets did run for a little while....That, and the fact the strop ad in my set has the GEM Safety Corp logo, would still place my set not before 1919.....Hmmmm
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Post by birdlives on May 20, 2016 2:41:53 GMT -6
PJGH spidey9 mjclark mjclark Aswell as everyone else.... Hey guys....I remembering you guys reviewing the nos damaskeene blades....This set has 8 damaskeene blades that are not nos....although a couple seem pretty shiney along the edge...A friend has offered to loan me a GEM Automatic Stropper....From your experience, do you think that would be a wise thing to do?...I've always thought vintaged used blades were best left alone...And these guys are not wrapped in paper or anything. They are just in the silver plated blade vault....In the past, the thoughts of micro rust bothered me about carbon steel blades anyway...But right now there seems to be alot of interest in vintage stroppable blades... I would really like to hear what you guys feel....
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Post by PJGH on May 20, 2016 2:57:35 GMT -6
I would say go for it! Without doubt and unreservedly! I have had the best shave ever from the NOS Damaskeene that Marcus sent me. He's a good lad - he sent me another, then another couple. I have a good stash. Yes, without doubt ... try it! Strop 100 times before first use, then 50 times between. I got to 7 shaves on the first of those blades and it's certainly not done yet. I also noticed that they mellowed quickly, so second shave was bettered by the third and by the fourth, it was smooth as ... For these old razors, it is ideally and perfectly suited; in fact, made my open comb Damaskeene actually work, where it is normally regarded as so mild it's quite disappointing. My ASR reverse lather catcher also felt so much better with the proper blade. Hey! The instruction is right there: USE ONLY WITH DAMASKEENE BLADES - capitalised, too! Failure to follow manufacturer instruction invalidates your warranty with the company
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