Micromatic Monday

[Old Sarge]

Hey, GAW9576! I've no experience with injector blades/razors. So, the clamping mechanism of the MMOC is adequate to secure the blade?

I know this is a non sequitur for this thread, but didn't know where else to ask it. 

I've been eyeballing the Gem G-bar. Is it a fair summary to say that it is the Featherweight Gen II head with a more heavy handle? How do the shaves compare between a G-bar and a FW? 

I find it interesting when looking a the GEM line you see how they find a successful design feature and carry it across multiple models. I suspect patent issues played a major role as well.

Here are some pictures to show how any of the Micromatic razors can work with an injector blade.
They all have the 2 tabs on the inside top of the head that make it possible. I load the blade into the top cap with the razor almost upside down so the inside of the top cap is facing the ceiling like the first picture. Twist the TTO knob till the top is almost all the way closed see second picture. Now I fine tune the position of the blade to be sure it's corners will contact the back of the blade stops. Then carefully close the cap the rest of the way and double check that the blade seated behind the stops on both sides. The 2 tabs on the inside of the top cap are behind the blade pushing it forward into the blade stops and the leading edge is holding down on the blade. Don't over tighten the TTO knob as I have actually had blades imbed slightly into the blade stops. Regular injector blades and twinjector blades can be loaded like this. I tried a Schick Proline B20 but the rounded off corners made it not quite engage both blade stops.

As far as the Featherweight VS Gbar. I have a 1st and a 2nd Gen FW and a Gbar. I definitely prefer the 1st Gen FW to the 2nd Gen and the Gbar. That being said the 2nd gen and Gbar are good razors and I like having them in my collection. I just don't reach for them very often. Perhaps I should use them at least a little more often though.

Thanks for the super explanation and information, GAW9576! Your pictures are excellent! (thumbs up emoji here!)

I've never paid that close attention to the underside of the Micromatic cap and really never noticed that those 2 tabs appear to actually slide into the notches of a Gem SE blade and further secure it against the blade stops. Is that a correct interpretation? I went and grabbed the MMOC and a Gem blade and played with it a bit. Although I've never even touched an injector blade and don't know what the difference is between a regular injector blade and a twinjector blade, I can imagine seeing one now in the bottom half of the Gem blade!

Those are some pretty tight tolerances with the injector blade just barely being wide enough to stay in contact with both the tabs on the cap and the blade stops. I guess if you've gone through the steps of loading one enough and successfully shaved a few times, you'd feel confident that the blade isn't going anywhere.

Thanks for the feedback on the FW vs. G-bar. I guess they are some of the least sexiest of SE razors so if you've got a shelf of awesome to select from...the utilitarian razor will get overlooked!