My new-old Gem Junior SE razor (warning: lots of photos)

Since I really do like my 100+ year old STAR SE razor and well, lather catchers just looks so cool - I decided to pick up another one.

The pictures on eBay of the razor weren't all that good/telling but I put in a bid and ended up winning it (sorry @fram773) for $40.


Long story short, it arrived today...

When I opened up the package there was this tiny little box inside, kinda tattered on one side....


Opening it up reveals an, to me, absolutely stunning old razor.


Upon closer inspection, it appears almost unused. The head is very shiny and not a scratch to be seen.
All the three handle pieces are there (incl. the strop handle) - and six out of the possible seven wedge blades are included and all are in great condition (and sharp!).

The back of the head:


..and the front/top of the head:


The handle is a bit modular but to me I preferred it when I use both pieces to create a somewhat longer handle.
Back:


Front:


One thing that really stood out to me were the wedge blades - they were all in fantastic condition - and sharp. I really liked the small details like the Gem Cutlery branding at the top of them.
I might try to strop them (and/or have them honed) to see how well they would work.



Unfortunately, I think it might be too late to take them up on this offer that was included in the box:


But - even so, it appears as if it will be fine to use regular SE blades in it.
The blade slides in ontop of the head and once you secure it with the flip-up clasp at the back of the head that blade is not moving at all. The two notches also helps to hold the blade in place.


Since this is my second lather catcher, here is a visual comparison of the two next to each other:




So, next step is trying out shaving with it

 

Those old blades might surprise you with good service. Nice razors, both of them.

 

Gorgeous.

 

Stunning! Congratulations.

 

Oh, and the seller also threw another razor in the box for me for some reason.
It's a brass SE Gem Junior razor of a more recent vintage.

Looks just like this one (not my razor but looks just like it):


Maybe he thought they belonged together as they have the same name. Anyway, a free razor is a free razor

 

Very cool stuff!

 

Very cool! Nice pics.

 

Cool stuff!

 

Very cool! Enjoy!

 

With all these snazzy new SEs in the arsenal, you're going to need to make a concerted effort on honing your SR skills…..

 

That's very cool!

 

I like mixing it up - DEs, SEs and my straight
I could never do the NochangeVember thing for that reason.

I keep touching the leather on my strap seeing if that will change it in any way but so far the stropping and shaving is going "well"...slow...but well.. (Ok, I've actually only stropped the razor twice now )

 

That truly is a remarkable razor. The whole set is fantastic. And Darkbulb, you have some great photography skills

 

That is a truly remarkable looking set that dates to around 1908, but, for the sake of accuracy I need to point out that those are not wedge blades. In 1906 GEM introduced their version of the rib-back wafer style blade as a replacement for the wedge blade, the same thing that Ever-Ready had already started doing a year earlier. This was done as a way for GEM and Ever-Ready to compete with the Gillette blades that were meant to be used and then disposed of. Although the sets like yours came with a stropping handle it's obvious they where meant to be replaced with new ones when they got dull.

The GEM razors that were designed to use the new style rib-back blade had the name Junior stamped on the frame as a way to distinguish them from the older models that used the wedge blades.

 

Jealous! Those are just awesome looking. Happy for you!

 

Very nice haul!! Enjoy!

 

Recently, in a big lot of stuff I bought, I got a bunch of stroppers 'for gem type blades'. From what I can tell, the device doesn't actually strop anything. It appears to be a handle of sorts to clip a blade into, thus holding it at a correct, comfortable angle for stropping. I have a box of them. 10 maybe. If you want a couple to experiment with, pm me your address and I will send you a couple.

 

Thanks, that was great information! I did think that they were awfully thin and..well...non-wedge-shaped....to be wedge blades
I guess it makes even more sense now though that they take the more modern SE blades so easily.

I had planned to shave with it this morning - with a modern SE blade - but my morning got rushed so that plan will have to wait a day or two