I've never heard of the Star brand razor but when I purchased my SS from an online auction, it came with a Star DE blade still in it's individual wrapper. I couldn't find anything worthwhile doing a Google search either.
The Star brand is 28 years older than the Gillette brand and in fact King Gillette was holding a Star in his hand when the got the idea for his first razor. Kampfe Brothers started manufacturing Star safety razors in 1875. Over six million Stars were sold before the first Gillette razor was made. Star was Gillette's largest competitor for many years. The most common type Star was a 3-piece very similar to the Gillette Tech and in fact some people think Gillette copied the Tech design from Star. Two Stars, one in genuine gold plate thick enough not to require lacquer. I paid $3 for the gold one: I had several Stars but sold all of them. The Tech-like ones are very nice mild shavers. Stars have little value, usually selling for less than $5 on eBay. I've run across them for $1 in antique stores. The really old ones are worthless and use odd blades. Here's an ad for an 1899 Star. Star was bought by American Safety Razor who makes Personna blades and they were still being made in the 1950s. Here's the instruction sheet for the gold one shown above. It was made in 1957. Richard
STARs are super cool! They also made bakelite razors. I've seen Personna's on eBay that are British made in the same design as the DE STAR. The STAR razors have better gold plating than Gillettes and the handles are nice and grippy. They are a great alternative to a regular Super Speed. They are a medium-weight shaver. I recommend cleaning out the grooves in the handle w/ toothpicks. I'd say if you are paying over $5 for a STAR you are paying too much. STARs fall into the "unknown razor" category where making your money back is not very likely because people either don't know about them, don't collect them or they're seen as not very desireable .
Cool pics, Richard. I'd been looking for a Star and a few weeks ago finally found the same gold one you have, also for $3. Haven't bothered shaving with the Star head, I wanted the handle for my Clix.
I have a se star razor very similar to the gem 1912/24's great shaves tho, I also have some of there carbon DE blades but never have come accross a star DE razor
I also have a Star DE razor. It shaves mild, very similar to a Gillette Tech. But with a super sharp blade, such as a Feather, it give a very good shave. The one thing I most like about a Star DE razor is its design and appearance. It resembles a classier and upscale Tech. It looks "the way a razor should look," if I were to design a safety razor, and the handle has an impressive non-slip design. It combines simplicity with elegance. I don't use my Star DE often, but I would never dream of selling it.
The every early Star SE's were actually fantastic works of Art. It must have been an amazing period of time - if you had the money ! -)
I just picked up a Star with a bakelite black handle. It feels very light (the head). Are these brass? If so I want to get mine replated in silver. It is currently gold.
The baseplate is brass, the cap is, unfortunately. zinc alloy. The gold ones have nickel under the gold, at least all of the ones I've seen where the gold has worn off, including mine, had nickel under the gold, so a little brass polish will leave you with a nickel plated head. I would just leave it and shave with it, they are great shavers!
Thanks for the info. It actually looks pretty good. A good cleaning and It will look new. No plate loss. I'm just not a fan of gold.
You can't see it in this pic, but the cap on this one is now just nickel, the gold has gone away. They also came with this style handle. Eventually, the threads will go to poo, but a Gillette OLD type cap will fit perfectly, and it's solid brass.
Maybe I shouldnt use scrubbing bubbles on this on. Just hot water and dawn? It has a nice layer of soap scum.
