Ever Ready SE

Manstein

Manstein

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381
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Hadrians Wall
Down in the vaults today I came across this old Ever Ready razor still with its original card sleeve. There's a very faint Christmas dedication on the sleeve that despite fading seems to be 1906. Would this be correct period for the razor?

Just had a closer look and there's a patent stamp for 1914.

AFBECA91-CE84-4D59-8997-65F410693E41_1_201_a.jpeg

58569C29-3735-42E6-9205-4AD4095465E0.jpeg
 
Last edited:
OP
Manstein

Manstein

Messages
381
Location
Hadrians Wall
pjgh said:
It's a 1912 ... actually, a 1919. The 1912 was technically the Damaskeene. 1919 got another patent and that razor is such. By 1930, that little indent on the tab became flat. So, it's 1919-1930. Yes, it's a DeLuxe set so the sleeve is correct for the set.
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Thanks I assume its gold plated on brass or alloy?
 
OP
Manstein

Manstein

Messages
381
Location
Hadrians Wall
pjgh said:
It'll be brass. Gold wash. Personally, I'd remove the gold with something mildly abrasive and then Brasso it up ...

Are you going to use it? It'll make a lovely example.
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The finish is less than perfect on the head so I might polish it off on a soft wheel. I didn't think I had blades for it but have found a couple of clear transparent boxes of blades which are unmarked but look like the Gem SE blades Connaught list. Thanks for the info.
 
pjgh

pjgh

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10,498
Location
Halifax, Republic of Yorkshire
If that first stroke is rough as hell, those blades could easily be window scrapers (2 facet whereas the shaving blades are 3 facet edge). Don't take that as the definitive experience!

Polishing wheels will do fine - you're back to the bare metal.
 
pjgh

pjgh

Messages
10,498
Location
Halifax, Republic of Yorkshire
Not without a microscope.

If they're in the hard plastic case, say 20 of 'em (rather than a big box of 100), there's a good chance they'll be good for shaving. In 100s, the packaging is very similar between the 2 and 3 facet, the 3 facet does say so on the label as well as PTFE coated. Same packaging for 2 facet and for carbon.

When shaving, the head should be almost flat to face. You don't want to get the comb into play - it's just there to stop you beaching the blade into your face. If you do get the angle like that it might well feel rough as you're dragging the edge across your skin rather than with your skin. If it's 2 facet, you will know straight away. But, you'll get massive kudos for completing a shave :eek:
 
pjgh

pjgh

Messages
10,498
Location
Halifax, Republic of Yorkshire
Manstein said:
The blades are marked Gem and the case American Safety Razor Co. So I assume they are correct type?
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They generally come like this:

s-l400.jpg


It says "3 facet" on the grey stripe ... and coated further down. This is the type you'd get from Connaught.

I've also seen cardboard boxes marked "for industrial use" both coated and non-coated stainless as well as carbon, the latter more likely under the PAL brand but all from the same stable. Personna/Edgewell/whoever bought the ASR stable back in the '60s.

There's also this type of plastic dispenser:

s-l400.jpg


Notice uncoated and de-greased - these are for medical purposes.

I think you might have one or two of these:

F203255~p.eps-650.jpg


... if so, yes, good to go. Shave well and enjoy!
 
pjgh

pjgh

Messages
10,498
Location
Halifax, Republic of Yorkshire
Oh, and if you pop on to eBay and think there's a good deal to be had on PAL blues (from richardg2202) go carefully. I excitedly got 50 to find that I really don't think they're intended for shaving. The GEMs that he's selling look about right, but the PAL are very ... well, brisk indeed! I can shave with 'em, but they make me wince and I'd not recommend. I have shaved with good PAL blues and it was a very pleasant experience - these are from the naughty list.
 
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