A very rare GEM razor.

Discussion in 'Safety Razors' started by HoosierTrooper, Jan 8, 2013.

  1. GDCarrington

    GDCarrington Burma Shave

    That is a wonderful find Tom. Looks great!

    Perhaps why ASR did not continue down this path was because they were more than likely seeing diminishing returns on the SE market versus their DE market at the time (Personna) and Injector market (Personna/PAL). ASR may have simply decided that a more costly variant razor would not sway enough new users from other companies DE and Injector markets or would cannibalize sales from their other divisions.
     
    HoosierTrooper likes this.
  2. HoosierTrooper

    HoosierTrooper Steve-less in Indiana

    The patent application for this razor can be seen HERE

    It's interesting that he was also working on a way to adjust the length of the handle according to the description in the application. I don't believe this prototype had that capability, at least I haven't found it and I've tried.

    Gary, you're probably right. It would've been competing against the Gillette 195/Fat Boy and the Slim, which probably looked pretty bleak to the bean counters at ASR.
     
    GDCarrington likes this.
  3. Darkbulb

    Darkbulb Cookie Hoarder

    GEM is Personna now?
    Maybe send them an email with some photos - who knows, there may be someone there that knows...or...will be interested in that razor ;)
    A lot of companies have internal collections of all products ever made.
     
  4. GDCarrington

    GDCarrington Burma Shave

    GEM was a brand name under American Safety Razor that also owned the brand names of Personna, PAL, and Burma Shave from the mid 1960s.

    ASR (Personna) went into bankruptcy and was purchased by Energizer/Schick.

    http://www.stltoday.com/business/article_27c1b05e-d312-11df-af81-0017a4a78c22.html

    Personna has been slowly being moving toward industrial and medical blades since the buyout. They are not out of the shaving business, but they are putting more emphasis into market expansion of industrial and medical blades.
     
    Tedolph likes this.
  5. IAmTheJody

    IAmTheJody Gillette-i Master Staff Member

    Old thread but worthy of a resurrection! An awesome find, that adjustable GEM prototype!

    And if you see this, hope you're doing well Tom! It's been a long time!
    :eatdrink047:
     
  6. HoosierTrooper

    HoosierTrooper Steve-less in Indiana

    That’s very kind of you! I’m doing well, took a bit of a break from shaving forums for a while, with other interests I was spread pretty thin but I retired in February so I’ve got more time and have been getting back into it a little more. That razor was a really cool find!
     
  7. swarden43

    swarden43 "It's your shave. Enjoy it your way."©

    Helllloooo Tom!
     
  8. HoosierTrooper

    HoosierTrooper Steve-less in Indiana

    Good morning sir!
     
  9. Ron R

    Ron R Well-Known Member

    Tom there is another Proto type adjustable that was designed by @twhite (Tom White) that was circulating around and I believe most enjoyed using it.

    Have some great shaves!
     
    twhite likes this.
  10. John Beeman

    John Beeman Little chicken in hot water

    Welcome back, sir.
     
    HoosierTrooper likes this.
  11. HoosierTrooper

    HoosierTrooper Steve-less in Indiana

    Thanks!
     
  12. HoosierTrooper

    HoosierTrooper Steve-less in Indiana

    Yeah, I’ve been reading about these. That’s an awesome looking razor!
     
    Ron R likes this.

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