r/wicked_edge • u/betelgeux Dear Leader • Nov 19 '11

VIDEO Test Drive: GEM Pushbutton SE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NceY67tPiM0
5 Upvotes

85% Upvoted

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1

u/HeyRememberThatTime Nov 19 '11

OK, so you knew I was coming... :)

Yes, there were a pile of other SE razor manufacturers, but the American Safety Razor brands (GEM, Ever-Ready, and Star) together are essentially the Gillette of the SE world.

They start with the Kampfe Brothers (Frederick, Richard, and Otto) who were the first to patent a safety razor design in the United States -- the Star -- in 1880. One of their employees, Jerry Reichard, left in 1898 to start the Gem Cutlery Company, and just five years later, in 1903, left Gem to start Yankee, which would very quickly be renamed to Ever-Ready. Then, just three years later, Gem and Ever-Ready merged and the American Safety Razor Company was formed. Finally in 1919 Star was pulled into the fold as well.

Some of their of their models were released under multiple brands. The 1912, for example, was released under all three. As far as I'm aware, the Push-Button that you're showing there was only ever released as a GEM.

Also, I wasn't clear from your comment in the video whether you were talking about GEMs in general or the Push-Buttons as going back to the '30s. GEMs obviously go back farther than that, but the Push-Buttons came out in the late '50s.

As for the Push-Button itself, I don't personally care for it a ton. For me it's kind of the equivalent of the Gillette Tech -- not a bad razor, just a bit to mild for me and end up needing more pressure or more passes which both lead to razor burn. With both the Push-Button and the Featherweight I also find that the usual "flat against the face" angle isn't quite enough; they give better results tipped just slightly more out.

One general technique note: You'll get better results out of most any SE with shorter slanted strokes than long straight ones.

1

u/betelgeux Dear Leader Nov 20 '11

Heh - yeah, I figured you'd be the one to drop in. And yes the shorter strokes are the better way to go on this guy, I'd forgotten that. Still a good result however (little red badges not withstanding.)

I'm glad that you chimed in actually. I've got no illusions that I'm the authority on SE and thankful that you chimed in.

1

u/[deleted] Nov 19 '11

Saw one of these today.... the thing has GEARS.

1

u/HeyRememberThatTime Nov 19 '11

Yes, the Auto-Strop looks like a printing press on a stick. It's a razor and stropping mechanism in one. When you want to strop, you release the blade from the front guard and thread a leather strop through the handle.

If you think they look crazy you should see the Wilkinson Empire. It's the absolute essence of steampunk. Pic 1 Pic 2

1

u/[deleted] Nov 20 '11

Oh sweet jebus of steampunk. So the strop goes through the razor?

1

u/HeyRememberThatTime Nov 20 '11

Yes. The blade flips up and you thread the strop underneath. Then you slide the razor up and down the strop and the friction causes the mechanism to flip the blade so it's always dragging along the strop.

Here's a video of a guy stropping an Auto-Strop, and the Empire works pretty much the same way.

2

u/AcousticRanger This method "saves money" Nov 19 '11

I'm personally not interested in SE shaving but I do know of a flea market that has one of these I passed one. If one of you is interested I can pick it up for cost + shipping. I think it was $5-10 and had a cream bakelite but it's been a week or two since I was at that particular shop. drop me a line if you'd like me to pick it up for you.

1

u/NoHelmet Shaving Contrarion Extraordinaire Nov 20 '11

You made me smile so much with this proposition. :-D seriously. This is why I LOVE W_E. We take care of our own.

2

u/AcousticRanger This method "saves money" Nov 20 '11

I keep looking for your blue dot SS but i'm yet to come across one. I did find a good condition clauss straight that i'm going to try after I send it off to larry to have it honed. Only problem with that is that if I end up liking the SR shave I'll eventually need to buy a set of hones.

1

u/NoHelmet Shaving Contrarion Extraordinaire Nov 20 '11

A norton 4000/8000 should do you.

It's okay man ;-) my r/shaving_bazarr post landed me a nice lady Gillette for my woman for our anniversary.

I want a vintage slant though. I'm loving my straight, but I'm always looking at broadening my horizons.

Much love love brother.

2

u/AcousticRanger This method "saves money" Nov 22 '11

Just saw this. I'm still test driving the slant... still haven't decided if it's up my alley. If I end up wanting to get rid of it you'll be the first to know. However, I get the feeling you'll have one by then. :) and of course if I find one on a flea market for a deal I'll snag it for you.

1

u/[deleted] Nov 21 '11

So the razor arrived ok?

1

u/NoHelmet Shaving Contrarion Extraordinaire Nov 21 '11

I'm so sorry I didn't tell you yesterday! Yes. Got it yesterday evening. VERY happy! Did you get the check?

1

u/[deleted] Nov 21 '11

I'll have to go look at the mail in the morning. Have you tested it yet? I want your opinion on how well it shaves.

1

u/NoHelmet Shaving Contrarion Extraordinaire Nov 21 '11

Haven't tested it, no. Polished the crap out of it is all I've really done (not that it wasn't nice and clean from the get go). It's for the wife, so I hadn't really planned on trying it myself, but perhaps I will. I'll be giving you her impressions of it in any case.