A Brief Historical Review of the Razors Dave Sent Me
(or What I Found Out When Googling GEM Razors)
From Left to Right
GEM Junior Parade, GEM Clog Pruf, GEM G bar
(Left) The GEM Junior Parade is to me the most interesting. The Junior Parade that Dave sent was made only in 1943 for the military. The key is the flat black metal handle. In the words of the metal detectorist on Oak Island, this is a Top Pocket Find! Well done, Dave, and thanks for sharing it with me. I will make sure it is kept safe from jostling around.
(Middle) Next is a Clog Pruf. According to what I found, production stopped briefly during WWII, and resumed around 1946 - 47. The Clog Prufs made after the War had 17 “nibs”, and were called Peerless 17 nib safety razors. The 1941-43 Clog Pruf razors had 14 nibs. So this one of Dave’s is also early ‘40s.
Rightmost is a GEM G bar, from the 1950s from what I found. Possibly the same head as the bullet tips.
One of the joys of this hobby for me has been learning about the history of the razors. For example, the GEM razors in the 30s were twist to open, beating Gillette to it. Also, GEM Cutlery and Star Safety razors shared lots of ideas and people, and later merged. And there are links to Ever-Ready, and Personna American Safety Razors. And the tidbit that in the early Nineteen Aughts (00-10), Gillette’s company was named American Safety Razors. Cool, right!
Sources: Wikipedia (on the 'net so it must be true!) and a great thread on TSD by a member there Ron R)
- Eric
Put your message in a modem,
And throw it in the Cyber Sea
--Rush, "Virtuality"
Overloader of brushes, Overlander fanboy, Schickhead, and a GEM in the rough!
Put your message in a modem,
And throw it in the Cyber Sea
--Rush, "Virtuality"
Overloader of brushes, Overlander fanboy, Schickhead, and a GEM in the rough!