March 2024

[Rocketman]

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One should be careful using this chart as the info is rather incomplete. But what it does indicate correctly  is that the one piece metal handles for the Juniors did not start until 1911 and that is what your new to you razor is - at least as regards the patent date and first date of sales. A one piece handle Gem Junior. It is not clear how many years they sold this model for, but it was not beyond the ASR corp formation of  1919. So likely sold from 1911 through the war.
Your second razor looks the same, but with a Gem Deluxe handle (a 1912 style frame) rather than a Jr handle.  Not sure as the photos don’t show all. The blade stops are pressed differently so if there are other differences it could be an earlier Junior around 1907/08, or more likely, one of the 1911 variants.

Agree that the chart leaves much to be desired but I find it can be helpful in some instances and totally frustrating in others.  That why I refer to anything with an -ish.  1907-ish and 1911-ish.  Leaves a bunch of wiggle room.

I think his new razor is the one with the two piece handle, so an earlier model.  The one he refers to as his beat-up one is actually the solid handle later model.  The two are very similar.

Name softly and carry a big “ish”.   They are both most certainly terrific antique Gem Jr razors! At at a certain point it becomes like worrying about if my one tube of Crest toothpaste is the same formula as my other tube from a few months ago. Its pretty much still Crest. Brush on!