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Post by sleddog on Oct 22, 2012 22:04:09 GMT -6
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norfolkdick
Master Shaver
Captain of the Razor Blades
Posts: 1,601
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Post by norfolkdick on Oct 23, 2012 2:34:48 GMT -6
Greetings
Thank you for posting, I for one have never seen that catalogue before; absolutely fascinating.
Please father Christmas send me one of each of the catalogue items (at the 1911 price of course)
It just shows how nothing is really new, I was thinking of the wonderfully quirky vacuum mirror, the Sat. Nav. window bracket for my car uses exactly the same method 101 years later.
It would be interesting to see any later catalogues they produced this is the only one I have ever seen.
Regards Dick.
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Possum
Master Shaver
Cast Iron Marsupial
Look out you "Fuzzy" wabbit!
Posts: 1,274
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Post by Possum on Oct 23, 2012 3:24:02 GMT -6
Sleddog,
Thanks for posting that link. I find that catalogs like this are very interesting to look at and they are a great way to date vintage razors.
I see in this catalog the "Elite" GEM Jr like the one I own. It probably one of the two favorite SE razors. It shaves great even with a slightly loose head. This "Elite" is especially dear to me as it was once owned by our site founder D.Irving79.
The other thing that stood out for me in the catalog was the suction mirror. I have seen similar "modern" mirrors for sale all over the web but never realized that someone like GEM would have sold one over 100 years ago.
Again, thanks for the link. Gonna find a way to keep this link handy for those new SE shavers to see.
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Post by HoosierTrooper on Oct 23, 2012 9:43:44 GMT -6
I think this was posted on the old site, but it is wonderful to have it again. One thing I find interesting is that how we tend to think of the men from that era as being tough, hard nosed manly men yet they advertised razors for guys with tough beards and tender faces. Just like today.
I also think it's interesting that they recommend the old wedge blade for men with thick, heavy and closely grown beards. The guys that weren't impressed with the new-fangled modern Damaskeene or A-1 blades could still go old school with the vintage wedge blades. Imagine what the discussions would of sounded like if they'd had message boards back then!
And, just like today, they weren't cheap either. The $3.50 Gem de Luxe set would be about $80 today, and the $5 set would be $121. One dollar in 1911 is about $24 now, so 21 of the Damaskeene blades would be over a dollar a blade, and 14 of the A-1 blades would also cost $24, almost two bucks a pop. Sound familiar?
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Post by sleddog on Oct 23, 2012 11:48:55 GMT -6
I think this was posted on the old site, but it is wonderful to have it again. One thing I find interesting is that how we tend to think of the men from that era as being tough, hard nosed manly men yet they advertised razors for guys with tough beards and tender faces. Just like today. I also think it's interesting that they recommend the old wedge blade for men with thick, heavy and closely grown beards. The guys that weren't impressed with the new-fangled modern Damaskeene or A-1 blades could still go old school with the vintage wedge blades. Imagine what the discussions would of sounded like if they'd had message boards back then! And, just like today, they weren't cheap either. The $3.50 Gem de Luxe set would be about $80 today, and the $5 set would be $121. One dollar in 1911 is about $24 now, so 21 of the Damaskeene blades would be over a dollar a blade, and 14 of the A-1 blades would also cost $24, almost two bucks a pop. Sound familiar? Hey Tom...I did have a quick look on the old board but I didnt see a link to this catalog...I may of missed it though Thats pretty interesting that you put the prices in todays cost..I see a market for the Valets and other stroppers Also interesting to see the open comb 1912 on the cover and on page 5, must be the latest and greatest from GEM.
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Post by HoosierTrooper on Oct 23, 2012 14:34:26 GMT -6
When the old site first started it had a whole section full of ads and pictures from catalogs etc, I'm not sure what exactly happened to it but it just vanished. I have that picture from the front page as my screensaver on my laptop at work, it's a great photo.
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Post by wchnu on Oct 23, 2012 23:41:49 GMT -6
When the old site first started it had a whole section full of ads and pictures from catalogs etc, I'm not sure what exactly happened to it but it just vanished. I have that picture from the front page as my screensaver on my laptop at work, it's a great photo. That page was linked from another site. Like photo bucket or something. I wish I could have had access to it for TOST.
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