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Post by amishmotorboat on Mar 23, 2013 21:05:43 GMT -6
I thought you might enjoy seeing this here. I have come across what I believe is a prototype of the Gem Micromatic. Here are some photos. When I received it, it would not close because the barrel had separated from the neck.
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Post by amishmotorboat on Mar 23, 2013 21:14:00 GMT -6
The handle is threaded on, and an inner shaft is supposed to push the slider back when you turn the knob. The handle being separated like this means the little shaft inside this square hole won't come out far enough to push on anything. Here it is fully retracted. It's disappeared inside. Here is the head. You can see the slidy thing the shaft pushes on. Here is the handle after being tapped back into place. Now that little nub on the end of the shaft comes out far enough to make contact. And now it works just as it is supposed to. Points of interest: It just says "Pat'd" instead of including any numbers. It doesn't say "Gem" or "Micromatic" anywhere on it. It lacks the two little nubs inside the head, a trait is shares with the earlier micromatics. The slider is short. The neck tapers in but then flattens out, whereas every other micromatic has an even taper all the way down to the little ring.
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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 23, 2013 22:35:57 GMT -6
Welcome to the forum!
Very interesting!
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Post by wchnu on Mar 24, 2013 2:38:52 GMT -6
Very interesting looking razor. Does it shave like a OCMM??
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norfolkdick
Master Shaver
Captain of the Razor Blades
Posts: 1,601
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Post by norfolkdick on Mar 24, 2013 3:46:54 GMT -6
Greetings
Another intriguing razor, I (and I suspect most others) have never seen before, everything about the head shouts GEM Micromatic. I just don't know how you would find out anything about it unless someone on here knows something.
A great find and a razor I suspect will pose more questions then provide answers.
Regards Dick
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Post by HoosierTrooper on Mar 24, 2013 5:37:28 GMT -6
That is an awesome find, and it's great having you here. Interesting how different the handle is than what the production models have. A real treasure for sure.
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Post by birdlives on Mar 24, 2013 7:54:41 GMT -6
One thing it shows is that from the start these guys were 'Bullet Proof'... Just hammer the head back on and its business as usual...Wish I was made that good...LOL!!
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Post by wchnu on Mar 24, 2013 15:34:52 GMT -6
One thing it shows is that from the start these guys were 'Bullet Proof'... Just hammer the head back on and its business as usual...Wish I was made that good...LOL!! That is a good way to look at a MM.
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RocketMan
Gem Star
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Post by RocketMan on Mar 26, 2013 22:25:14 GMT -6
Most interesting. There seem to be a number of differences from GEM. No marks. Clone? Don't recall seeing one though.
Curious.
Feel free to drop back and post about the more mundane too!
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Post by wchnu on Mar 28, 2013 12:55:23 GMT -6
I was thinking a clone myself Rocketdood. Never heard of a SE clone though. Interesting eh?
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RocketMan
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Post by RocketMan on Mar 28, 2013 19:15:27 GMT -6
I was thinking a clone myself Rocketdood. Never heard of a SE clone though. Interesting eh? yep
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RocketMan
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Post by RocketMan on Mar 28, 2013 19:26:10 GMT -6
Maybe to support the prototype argument though one could point out the resemblance to the Gillette OC Aristocrats starting in the mid thirties. Maybe it is meant to compete with Gillette's more "upscale" product lines? New handle old head.
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Post by razorx on Mar 28, 2013 19:55:34 GMT -6
I really dig the looks of the spiral design of the handle,kills the linear Greek Column look of the OCMM and seems that it would feel better in hand.
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Post by amishmotorboat on Mar 29, 2013 21:43:38 GMT -6
I wouldn't point to barberpole knurling as a means of dating it. The bulldog had barberpole knurling and that predates all TTOs. The lack of little bumps in the blade tray is a good indicator, imho. Those were added very early in the ocmm's run. The short slide also, which was changed to a taller one some time later. As to it being a clone, I highly doubt it. The cap, where it's bent, all of the little angles here and there are identical. The spacing and dimensions of the little squares on the blade tray where the neck is attached, identical. The width of the teeth and the spacing between them, identical.
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RocketMan
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Welcome To The Sharp Side!
Posts: 4,167
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Post by RocketMan on Mar 30, 2013 13:42:52 GMT -6
I wouldn't point to barberpole knurling as a means of dating it. The bulldog had barberpole knurling and that predates all TTOs. The lack of little bumps in the blade tray is a good indicator, imho. Those were added very early in the ocmm's run. The short slide also, which was changed to a taller one some time later. As to it being a clone, I highly doubt it. The cap, where it's bent, all of the little angles here and there are identical. The spacing and dimensions of the little squares on the blade tray where the neck is attached, identical. The width of the teeth and the spacing between them, identical. Well there you go. So what do you have as support for it being a prototype? Are there other ASR products with PATD stamped? For me it is useful to explore options - such as a model that may have been considered as competition for the mid 30's DE TTOS - bulldog or not. Perhaps instead it is a one-off custom handle? It could have been an international manufacturer as well? Also... Just tossing out possibilities. IMHO, that is useful. It is certainly a curious razor! Thanx for posting.
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