So once I figured out that my 1901 STAR razor by Kampfe Bros had all the pieces it should I decided to take it a spin this morning.
Who knows how many years since it was used last...

Now, I may be slightly biased but I think this is a gorgeous razor.

Front:


Back:


Inside:


So...time to put a blade into this pretty thing and see if it can hold is firmly...
I put a new coated GEM SS blade into it.
First slide the spring out of the way then slide the blade in under the clasps on the sides all the way down to the tabs that stops it from moving further down. Then release the spring that applies some considerate pressure from behind - and voila, we have a blade in place that is not going anywhere!
It felt very solid.

With the blade in place it does obscure that pretty STAR lettering:


I decided to go with some Stirling "Tea Tree" soap and my SOC Boar brush.


So, how was the shave you may ask?
Well, I'll admit I was a bit worried about how it would perform but I have to say it did a really, really great job!
I did two passes - one WTG and one ATG.
The first sensation I had when shaving with it was that I felt a lot of 'flex' in the razor. I think due to the large head and the way the blade is attached to it. Nothing bad - just felt a bit 'tinny' at first. Not as solid as a heavy DE razor for instance.
Having said that, half-way through my first pass that sensation had already faded away I and I was really enjoying my shave.

I also came to a clear understanding of why it's called a lather catcher.

After almost two complete passes I didn't even have to rinse the razor once...it caught and held on to every piece of lather:


Oh and the Stirling Tea Tree soap - a soap of this that doesn't get much mentioning - performed really well:


All in all a great experience.

I admit that when shaving with it I did wonder about things like who may have used this razor a hundred years ago.
Where was he?
Who was he?
What was he thinking about when shaving?
Probably the same as me "Gotta make sure I don't nick myself"

Nice dude!

Thanks, it worked!

Didn't I tell you just to put a blade in it and try it!?! hahaha
Very cool. I don't know anything about that razor, so I was surprised that the blade just sits on top like that. Was that the lather from your entire shave? That's kind of cool. I wonder if it was because back then a lot of the users may have been shaving out of a bowl with no running water, and didn't want to mess it up until they were done.

Actually the blade slides in under two clasps on the side of the razor and then it rests on the tabs then the spring applies some force from the back.
I have to say it was kept in place very securely.

And yeah, that's the lather from almost two complete passes!
I think you may be right about the reasoning for a lather catcher back in the days - this way you can shave without rinsing the razor even once.

did you get your blades on line
I got cvs persona blades, they don't last from one shave to the other, seem one an done for me. I got some pal blades with the razor Prolly 75years old. I didn't get the a shave with those. love my old razor, not so much those se blades

Yeah I got them from Connaught.
Are you using carbon blades maybe? Those do require you to really wipe them dry after use for them to last I hear.
The ones I have are stainless steel, coated ones by GEM and lasts at least 4-5 shaves.

I'm glad you tried and it worked out as it did!
Thanks for posting, DB!

Guess what I've just added to my wish list?

I'm not sure about the cvs personas, but the old ones are carbon, I'm gonna retire the whole lot.
use up the one an done cvs's. look into getting better ones next time
Yeah I dried them off, like it was precious. stored away from razor. loaded for shave two, dull as a burn doorknob.

What I found about the SS ones is that I like them more after about two shaves.
They tug a bit the first shave but after that they are great.

And exactly how long is that wish list now?

really might have to test them out a bit. my first shave was fabulous second tuggy. might try to get past that second shave and see if they smooth out.
why did old timers cork their blades, to get past what you're talking about?

Just looked at the prices. Ouch. It's like the Fatboy of SEs. Price-wise.

Yeah I think I got lucky when I picked this up for about $25.
It came with the original case, the handle-extension-thing and one of the original wedge blades.

Beautiful razor - glad it went well!

Cool razor! First SE that I actually like. Looks like something out of Steampunk. And you are very brave.

You're an evil man. No Buy July and now this?

I thought you already owned every possible SE in existence

I really love them in the wood handle as well.
I believe it pre-dates my razor with 20 years or so.

Pretty, pretty.

People even 'mod' them by putting them on custom, new handles: