Looking at mine, here's what I can see ...
pre-1st Generation - the "Patent Pending" (circa 1914)
"Ever-Ready" and "Patent Pending" on the back
"LIFT HERE" and two dots at the back of the cap
"American Safety Razor Co. Inc. New York" on the baseplate with spring clip underneath
Comb is 11 Teeth with retaining nubs (not hooks)
Stropper handle or Round knurled handle (slim)
Example set: Standard Dollar Outfit
1st Generation - the "Patented" (from 1914 up to around 1924 as the "1924" can be found in similar 'Roadster' style case)
"Ever-Ready" and "Ever Ready - Patented March 24/14" on the back ... no "Made in USA" < this is a clear difference
"LIFT HERE" and two dots at the back of the cap
"American Safety Razor Co. Inc. New York" on the baseplate with spring clip underneath
Comb is 11 Teeth with retaining nubs (not hooks)
Round knurled handle (slim)
Example set: Roadster in Wooden Case
2nd Generation - the "Patented" (Some can be found with "Corp." in place of "Co. Inc." so we know that this generation crossed 1919)
"Ever-Ready" and "Ever Ready - Patented March 24/14" and "Made in USA" on the back
"LIFT HERE" and two dots at the back of the cap
"American Safety Razor Co. Inc. New York" (some can be found with "Corp" in place of "Co. Inc.") on the baseplate with spring clip underneath
Comb is 11 Teeth with retaining hooks (improved upon the nubs)
Plain hex handle
Example sets: Town and Sport in cigarette-style cases (Town in Celluloid)
Later Generation - the "Patented" (clearly post-1924 with improvement in the comb)
"Ever-Ready" and "Ever Ready - Patented March 24/14" and "Made in USA" on the back
"LIFT HERE" and two dots and a central line at the back of the cap < this line at the back is one to look for when searching for this late model
"American Safety Razor Corp. New York" on the baseplate with lugs at each side replacing the sprung clip < "Corp." replaces "Co. Inc."
Comb is 12 Teeth (not 11 as previous) with retaining hooks (improved upon the nubs)
Plain or Fluted hex handle
Example sets: Sedan and Mahoganite
Left to right:
Patent Pending w/Stropper handle
Patent Pending w/Round knurled handle
Patented (1st Generation) w/Round knurled handle
Patented (2nd Generation) w/Hex Handle
Patented (2nd Generation ... but "Corp." not "Co. Inc.") w/Hex Handle
Patented (Later Generation) w/Hex Handle [Fluted handle variant is in the Mahoganite case elsewhere]
[Back] Right to left:
Ever-Ready "Test Outfit" (see below)
Gem "Test Outfit" (see below)
Star "Test Outfit" (see below)
[Ever Ready 1906] < off-topic
[Gem Junior Bar] < off-topic
Fifth Generation - the "Test Outfit" models (which are ostensibly 1914s without a top cap)
These had 13 teeth with blade retaining hooks, capless and were giveaway razors under the Star and Gem brands to promote their new "marvellous" Star Cru-Steel and Gem Double-Life blades. Consider these a further development of the Later Generation type, which were actually very sold razors and makes me think that the 1914 design had more to give for ASR down at the design and engineering level.
Off-topic, there was also a "Test Outfit" Ever-Ready for the new Corrux blades but it was a regular squat cap 1912 albeit with a fluted hex handle that was not seen on other variants. Here's
an album < click
... and a period advert for various cases:
Remember that the 1914 replaced the Damaskeene (no "1912" yet) and it was not until 1919 that the "1912" came onto the market, so for those five years aside from an old generation Damaskeene, this was THE razor from Ever-Ready. Looking at the clear four generations, it had a good run despite being today what is one of the more esoteric models from the ASR stable.
