The GEM with the fat handle...

[paydepst]

Sorry I don't know the model designation for this one but doubtless you SE shavers of long standing are familiar with it as it has a rather distinctive appearance. I'm curious not only as to its proper name but how does the thing shave--that handle looks a wee bit unwieldy to me!

[wchnu]

That is a 1912 model with a fat handle.. I have 3 of them I think. They shave great. The handle does look a bit strange... but they shave great. I see that Murker is making a DE now that has a fat handle on it.

Don't let the handle fool you, it is a great shaving razor.

Fuzzy

[paydepst]

A 1912 huh? For some reason I thought the one I was thinking about had a G-bar type head.

Can you post a picture so I can be certain we are talking about the same razor?

[Possum]

Is this what you are talking about



It is on a 1912 style head. It was released in about 1939. Also came with a Red Handle. I have one and use is sometimes with one of my 1912s. Not hard to handle at all.

[wchnu]

I think there is also one that is branded as a Treet. I really want one of those.

Fuzzy

[Possum]

Right Fuzzy. Same Black and Red colors. Never have only seen one of the live but have seen several on eBay. See lots of the GEM version on eBay as well as occasionally in an antique store.

[samcracker]

I have a black handle one. Use it every now and then, shaves are typical of a 1912, just handles a bit different, nice change of pace.

[rocketman]

I just saw one of the red handled Treets in an antique store last week. The handle is cool - it is solid and not hollow like the Gem. The material is more dense too, more like a bakelite and it seems not as plastic like as the Gem.

It was a neat razor in great shape - but they wanted 20 bucks plus taxes so I passed on it. Now that I have seen one though, I want one more than ever!! Evil RAD!

[paydepst]

Yeah that's it. I could have sworn it had a G-Bar style head. Wonder what the reasoning behind the fat handle was?

[wchnu]

Jan 1, 2010 16:16:04 GMT -5 paydepst said:

Yeah that's it. I could have sworn it had a G-Bar style head. Wonder what the reasoning behind the fat handle was?

Probably marketing. just a guess but it looks like it would be easier to use. kinda like training wheels.. it is actually no different to me then using a regular handle style.

Fuzzy

[specialk]

I have seen it called "Baton" handle. Haven't ever shaved with one yet....

[tommyers]

Here is a picture showing one of the varients of this razor . . .

This Treet has the closed bottom on it's handle. This closure is a separate red piece; the handle is still actually hollow. Note that this razor has a safety bar rather than a comb on the head. All of the Treets that I've seen have the safety bar and I haven't seen any other ASR brand on this type razor with such a safety bar.

Besides the Gem Jrs. with open bottoms on the handles I also have a Star which has the plug in the bottom, similar to the Treet except that both the handle and the plug are red. The head on the star has the comb, exactly like the Gem Jr.

Gets a little confusing but that's what makes collecting these things interesting.

Regards,
Tom

Attachments:

[HoosierTrooper]

Here's the one I found at an antique store for $4.50, that I cleverly nicknamed Darth Razor. It appears to have never been used, or used extremely little. I love the way it shaves, used it this morning with VDH soap.

I notice the tag on the Treet pictured above says "1938". Were the GEM versions made in the late 30's into the 40's or 50's?

[wchnu]

Darth Razor.. oh I likey that one. . whatever you all them they shave great. I am not sure when they were made though. Someone will come along to spread the truth I am sure.

Fuzzy

[etoyoc]

Unfortunately, we don't have a good concise method of dating the SE razors yet. Dave has pulled together a lot of information from old ads, brochures, etc..

Darth Razor eh? And here I was wondering what razor to put into rotation tomorrow. Good idea!