L'Essor Le Supreme

The L'Essor Le Supreme, with its industrial/steampunk design is IMHO one of the best looking razors around. It's head and twist knob are made of brass, handle is aluminium and as a result its very "head heavy". The adjustment mechanism pushes the safety bars downwards and out in a scissors like action - it's awesome to play with and watch.

I've read on various forums that they date back to the 1930's/1940's however I've not been able to confirm this with any evidence.

I'm not sure what the designer had in mind but it has a very strange anomoly in that it has different blade gaps per side. I'm not sure why one would need that in an adjustable because if you need a bigger gap, just adjust it! Per the instructions - start on the lower setting for the first pass and then turn the razor around on the more open side for the second pass.
A scan of the original instructions in French are towards the bottom of the page along with a translation.

I now believe there to be three generations, excluding the Hybrid version. The heads are all the same. The differences are in the handle and twist knob. The picture shows all three from the oldest on the left to youngest on the right.
The first Le Supreme that I bought (middle one) is what I now believe to be the Second Version. About a year later I was offered a "broken" version that has the straight knurled handle with a straight knurled twist knob which I repaired. The next purchase was what I have called a Hol'Pif. It was sold as a Le Supreme but is actually more of a hybrid and has more Hol Pif features than Le Supreme features - (See Here). I thought that I was done with Le Supreme's when the third version below came up in an auction.
It makes me wonder if there are any more!

threeperson01

A bit about L'Essor. According to a post on a French forum, the original design was a Hol'Pif. A bankrupt Hol Pif were taken over by L'Essor and who in turn were bought out by Gibbs.
(For all the differences with images between a Hol'Pif and a Le Supreme - SEE HERE)

The First Version
This is what I believe to be the first version. This is the "broken" one that I refer to above.
It has straight knurling on both the handle and twist knob, which is similar to that of a Hol'Pif albeit a bit coarser.

The Second Version
This is the first one that I bought. The handle has diamond knurling and the twist knob has the straight knurling. This pattern technically correct as to how a razor is used. Other than the change in the knurling on the handle, its identical to the first version.
From what I've seen online, it appears to be the version that is the most found.

The Third Version
This one really surprised me when I saw the auction. They changed the knurling on the twist knob kept the diamond knurling on the handle although its slightly more aggressive. Once again the head is identical to the previous two generations.
This could have been a cost cutting exercise as it got rid of the need for a second knurling wheel.

How do they shave?
All three generations shave the same. Even at their most open they are mild shavers.
Most of the time I use them with the topcap the "wrong" way around. This evens out the gaps and if I want a bigger gap, I just adjust it. I also tend to use new or newish blades with them.

The Instructions
This is a scan of the original instructions. (Click on them to open a bigger version in a new tab)
The Google translation is on the right.

LE SUPREME
THE FULL ADJUSTABLE RAZOR
EACH HAS A PERSONAL-ADAPTING RAZOR
    We all know from personal experience that not all epidermis, not a beard, are comparable to one another.
    Some have sensitive skin, others hard beards, others beard stuck in all directions. still others the face angular or cut with strong furrows, and for many, several of these various points united, making shaving difficult or painful, making it a real
    Each person does not explain himself, in general, what the reasons for these difficulties are. However, if we examine the way the barber shaves, we realize that he always seeks the sharpest angle of cut, the razor almost flat on the skin, and that, according to the strength or the type of beard, he employs one razor or another.
    Starting from these primary observations, and from many others, it follows that IT IS NECESSARY TO HAVE AND MAINTAIN CONSTANTLY THE BEST CUTTING ANGLE, IS THE MOST ACUTE, whatever the opening of the razor. It is necessary to have the blade maintained in a rigid way, and to choose the extra-thin, thin or strong blade, according to the type of beard and the sensitivity of the skin. It is necessary to be able to clear the cutting edge of the lane in a precise way, depending on whether the features are jagged or offer difficulty in reaching the surface very closely without significantly modifying the most acute cutting angle which is the most favourable.
    A razor therefore needs to take any blade, that the latter be held on its length, absolutely rigid, and that the guard or comb be movable - in a well-determined direction in order to free or narrow the cutting edge of the blade without changing its inclination or angle of cut.
    The SUPREME razor is inspired and designed from these observations and it is the ONLY razor bringing together all these improvements.
    It therefore takes all the blades, keeps them rigid, over their entire length, practically coloring cutting angle adjustable opening with accuracy. Entirely made of stainless metals.
    The use of the SUPREME razor is as simple as any other razor, but each person has the ability to adjust the settiung to their personal beard, simply by turning the knurled nut numbered 1-4 from left to right.
    Each division opens 4 1/10 of m/m. The complete opening reaches 20 to 25 1/10 of m/m.
    In general, by placing the number 3 under the mark red for the first pass and 3 or 4 for your second, this is sufficient but if you want a larger opening, continue to turn the nut while using the blue marker placed opposite the red and a half. - the nut makes a turn.
    The complete closure protects the blade against possible accidents, and also the fingers in case of clumsy handling.
    Le SUPREME is sold in a nickel-plated metal case. velvet or felt interior, or in case, ordinary sheathing.
    The set comes with a practically unlimited guarantee, and can be found in all major stores, perfumeries, tools, etc., etc.

ADJUSTABLE RAZORS