Shaving with an SE Wedge Blade

Scratch said:
Lol, now I'm confused. I think I'll stick to the GEM SE blades. :)

Edit: do you have any more info on the type of blade that Paul is using in his 1912?
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This was a good while ago ... I got the chance to use a very shave capable vintage Damaskeene blade. The blade was something like 100 years old, still VERY keen and I used it for 7 shaves stropping after each shave. I'll carry on with it in due course, because it is still very keen and raring to go.

Those older flip-top cap Ever Ready and GEM razors took that kind of blade, intended to be used and used and used, maintained with a strop. Those blades are thicker than modern GEM blades. As Billy lists, the blades like we use today came in some time in the '30s with the Micromatic razor. That is not to say that you should not use a modern GEM blade in, say, a 1912 or 1914, far from it ... carry on.

Check out 11th September 2015 SOTD onwards for my fun with that Damaskeene blade.
 
Fergiebilly said:
This stuff is confusing at first....There were basically 3 sorts of Single Edge blades..:eek:

1. Hollow Ground Blade SEs ...Early Lather Catchers & Hoe Razors..etc
2. SEs that took a stropping blade...Later lather catchers,1912, 1914, 1924.. etc
3 SEs that took a Modern Gem blade ...Micromatic Family and subsequent razors

That's it in a Nutshell..The 1912 you are using was designed for a Stropping blade...The modern Gem blade fits it cause its roughly the same size..The first SE that took the Modern Gem blade was the Gem Open Comb Micromatic on 1929/1930 and subsequent Gem Razors...Here is a link that shows the Older Stropping Blades...:p

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwj5sKfjxq_KAhWMWBQKHbz8B0IQFggoMAI&url=http://shavenook.com/showthread.php?tid=3330&usg=AFQjCNHzj6uomLEA2R-DSXej2oRRqmGIRQ

Billy
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Thanks Billy, now it makes sense.

Another newbie question - I've noticed some razors which use a stropping blade can be stropped with the blade in-situ inside the razor (e.g. Valet Autostrop). If I was to get a stropping blade for my 1912, how would I go about stropping it?
 
pjgh said:
This was a good while ago ... I got the chance to use a very shave capable vintage Damaskeene blade. The blade was something like 100 years old, still VERY keen and I used it for 7 shaves stropping after each shave. I'll carry on with it in due course, because it is still very keen and raring to go.

Those older flip-top cap Ever Ready and GEM razors took that kind of blade, intended to be used and used and used, maintained with a strop. Those blades are thicker than modern GEM blades. As Billy lists, the blades like we use today came in some time in the '30s with the Micromatic razor. That is not to say that you should not use a modern GEM blade in, say, a 1912 or 1914, far from it ... carry on.

Check out 11th September 2015 SOTD onwards for my fun with that Damaskeene blade.
Click to expand...

Thanks Paul, that's useful info. I'll be sure to check those SOTD's.
 
Scratch said:
Thanks Billy, now it makes sense.

Another newbie question - I've noticed some razors which use a stropping blade can be stropped with the blade in-situ inside the razor (e.g. Valet Autostrop). If I was to get a stropping blade for my 1912, how would I go about stropping it?
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Wilkinson Empire..:)
DSC_0177_zpseorrcvse.jpg

I think I may have an NOS Original Stopping blade laying around...I will check if you fancy one..Someone will have one..You will need a stropping handle like this one here & of course a leather strop..o_O

Billy
 
Thanks Billy. If you find that blade then I'll buy it.

I'm curious how people using those blades in their 1912's stropped them. Presumably they didn't all have stropping handles on hand so I'm guessing there must be another way. More research needed, me thinks.
 
To clarify ...

Stropping wedge type blades is often done with what looks like a stick that the blade slides into the top of. Whip up and down a strop like you would a straight edge.

Thinner blades (like the modern GEM blade) were designed to be stropped routinely, using a stropping machine.

Here's one such example:

DSC06314.JPG

DSC06313.JPG


Slide the blade into the blade holder, feed the strop through and then holding the strop taut, drive the stropper up and down the strop to suit.
 
Scratch said:
Thanks Billy. If you find that blade then I'll buy it.

I'm curious how people using those blades in their 1912's stropped them. Presumably they didn't all have stropping handles on hand so I'm guessing there must be another way. More research needed, me thinks.
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This is just a learning curve..They used the stropping method as I have shown..Later on there were more posh autostrops like Paul has just shown for the Rich...What you have to take on board is that the reason all sets didn't have strops is twofold...Firstly..The razor companies knew most folks would have had at least one..There was no point in selling strops in every set...Secondly..The SE Companies counter to popular opinion started using the term Disposable Blades..Not Gillette..That's a Myth..The SE Companies offered an exchange blade system where you exchanged your blades at the local shops for re stropped blades & or new ones..:eek:

Another thing...All SEs that used a stropping blade were discontinued after the Introduction of the OCMM..The 1912s were continued to be made and sold though using the Modern Gem blade...That's another reason there was no strop..Confused Yet..:D

Don't think too hard about it..These developments are in a Timeline..Check out Waits Safety Razor Compendium for the Timeline.o_O

Billy
 
pjgh said:
Damaskeene Combination No.25 Set:

IMG_1669.JPG


Sun Ray 1912 with stropper:

IMG_1709.JPG
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Beautiful razors there, Paul.

I see. So the older, thicker stropping blades can be held in a stick-like implement to allow them to be stropped by hand, like a straight razor, using an ordinary strop; whereas to strop a modern, thinner SE blade, you'd use a machine like that GEM "auto stropper". Correct?

I'll try an old stropping blade in my 1912 but I can see myself getting a hollow ground SE razor too, in the not to distant future. :D
 
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Scratch said:
Beautiful razors there, Paul.

I see. So the older, thicker stropping blades can be held in a stick-like implement to allow them to be stropped by hand, like a straight razor, using an ordinary strop; whereas to strop a modern, thinner SE blade, you'd use a machine like that GEM "auto stropper". Correct?

I'll try an old stropping blade in my 1912 but I can see myself getting a hollow ground SE razor too, in the not to distant future. :D
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NO..The Modern Gem blade is not meant to be stropped..The Autostopper was just a newer invention that's all for the Older stropping blades..Most folks couldn't afford them.. The Posher Gillette Sets had them an all..o_O

Billy
 
Scratch said:
Great stuff, cheers Billy.

How would you say the older, stropping blades shave when compared to modern SE blades?
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Chalk & Cheese is some respects..They can be far smoother..They can be a tad tuggy on the first pass then they just blow a Modern Gem blade away..Not for everyone I guess..Most folks just don't want the Hassle..Too Busy watchin East Enders or Football..o_O

Billy
 
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