Scored this beauty at an estate sale over the weekend. Great condition, and cleaned up nice! Looking forward to taking this out for a drive! From what I've been able to gather, it appears this razor dates to the 1930 or `40's (probably more the `40's). If anyone's able to better date this razor, I'd appreciate it!
It's a little difficult to pin down a date on the Gem razors. You can only get as close as a date range. Here's a link to a thread from a few years back that may help. http://theshaveden.com/forums/threads/dating-a-gem-1912.35157/ By the way, the Gem 1912 models are excellent shavers and are underrated. I can achieve a comfortable BBS every time. You should be able to pick up a 10 pack of Gem Personna blades at your local supermarket or chain drug store. Welcome to The Shave Den.
One dating chart I found says the GEM "1912" became the Junior in 1933. But here's an interesting read about GEMs from another forum... http://forum.shavemyface.com/viewtopic.php?t=49416&highlight=1912+family You'll love the way it shaves.
I guess I'm picturing the gem jr with the fat plastic handle, not the metal one like yours. I've got a couple that look like yours but in nickel only.
I keep reading that you can find blades at the drug store or supermarket, but I have never seen them. I see DE blades fairly regularly now, but not SE.
I find them at my local Shop Rite supermarket, CVS and Rite Aid. I guess it depends on where you live. I'm in New Jersey. $4.49 for a 10 pack.
Same here, but I'm also in NJ. The blades at Shop Rite, et al. are the Gem by Personna Stainless Steel. At some of the local independent pharmacies, I've seem the Gem Blue Star (carbon steel) blades, as well.
Walgreens and rite aid around here. Yup we have those here in Baton Rouge too. They are carbon steel. Made by the company that bought ASR. They are the same as Treets.
Beautiful razor. I shaved with a Ever Ready version the other day. There is a SE and injector thread here. Check it out!