#1
A while ago a grabbed off ebay a strange lot of very old SE razors.
2 French Lather Catchers and another I can not really recognize.
The Lather Catchers were of the PERFECTA brand.
One came with an oversized wedge blade, in poor shape.
I used a spine to hold a GEM blade in place.

The shave was very aggressive, as you can see from the picture, the blade gap and angle can be summarized with one word: YIKES.
[Image: 4JXZxHc.jpg]
Looking at it with the intended blade, you can see the design was not that aggressive.
[Image: uwhzHMh.jpg]

After some fiddling, I managed to wedge GEM spine, to re-create the angle, with a GEM blade, like so:
[Image: ppO0IbF.jpg]
[Image: xXlPJ57.jpg]

I was a bit afraid to try it again. The previous time i got a small cut.
To my surprise, with proper angle, this became to be a fine gentle razor on one hand, but very efficient and smooth on the other.
A keeper for sure and an honorary member in a GEM rotation.
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Plus it is a beautiful piece of art deco...
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Cheers,

Erez

Matsilainen and wyze0ne like this post
#2

Posting Freak
Canada
Congratulations and that is a lovely-looking razor. Happy2
Celestino
Love, Laughter & Shaving  Heart
#3

Member
Detroit
Very cool razors and great photos too!
- Jeff
#4

Administrator
Philadelphia, PA
very nice. ShadowsDad might have some more information on the razor...I know he's very into the older SE razors.
Tu ne cede malis, sed contra audentior ito.
#5

Member
MD Eastern Shore
Interesting find. Glad you were able to bring it back to life!
#6

Member
Central Maine
I have no info' on the razor, but I have to admit that it's a beauty! I did look it up in Waits Compendium, but it had virtually no information other than it was French. I have no personal experience with it.

You might try shimming below the spine to better mimic the gap that the wedge blade gives. From what you posted, and from what I saw, you were basically using a blade w/o a functional safety comb on the first shave. I like that type of razor, and it gives a great shave, but many folks look at it and instantly shy away from it. It's just a mind game if one possesses good technique . Do a search for SEvette to understand what I refer to. I know you'll find it on the TOST (The Other Safety Too) forum because at least 2 of us posted about it there. Maybe here also, I just can't remember where I posted it. Basically a SEvette is a SE razor minus the safety comb; just a bare blade held in place on a handle. Yes, it can be off putting, but with proper technique it gives a great shave, but I think I'm repeating myself now. Think of it as a hoe handled, and extremely sharp, cutthroat razor. It works through pure technique.

Blade4vor likes this post
Brian. Lover of SE razors.
#7
Thanks Brian.
I will take another look to see what else could be done shimming-wedge-wise.

I saw the SEVette ... I thought it was a bit over the top.
I have another razor that might qualify as one, without modding, that I am afraid to use.
I will post pictures later...
#8
This was the 3rd razor in the lot.
With a blade in, the gap is so huge it is essentially a SEVette... I have not worked up the adventure to use it.

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#9
(This post was last modified: 06-27-2018, 05:12 PM by Galhatz.)
I had two prefecta shaves the last two days.
Started a little on the aggressive side for me, but then I realized I can tweak the aggressiveness.

When the blade touches the stops, it is still rather aggressive.

[Image: 6du5TWz.jpg]

On the other hand, everything is held with friction against the clamps, so I just moved the blade backwards 2-3mm, it was still held secured in place.

[Image: kY7mFub.jpg]

I found a sweet spot where it became a very mild razor with no bite at all, just the way I like it. Even with a brand new blade, and those GEM blades are very sharp when new, it was a safe worry-free sale. A little difficult to maneuver under the smeller, but doable and it does not have to be perfect, Perfacta is plenty good for me.


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Blade4vor likes this post
#10

Member
Central Maine
So glad you found a way to use it! I like that!
Brian. Lover of SE razors.


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