2 new projects - EverReady 300L and Klenzo B 843

[catherix]

Got some time to get these restores started tonight. I received both of these brushes for Christmas this year.

The EverReady is in new(ish) condition and I honestly am unsure that its been used. Looks like it was tossed in a drawer and left there for a long time, but I don't think it's been shaved with.

The top of the handle has some scratches that need some attention and the stamp has really cruddy paint. Should be able to get it out and reprinted. May also attempt to paint the stamp on the bottom. The clear lucite base is very cloudy, although its difficult to see in the pics. It should easily take a great polish and become crystal clear in the end.

Ill need to measure the knot and see whether or not the hole will need to be opened any further. I'm planning for a 24mm Super Badger or Grade A Silvertip from TGN for this one.

 

[catherix]

The second brush is a NIB (as far as I can tell) brush made by a company I've never heard of called Klenzo. It's stamped with B 843 on the bottom of it. Came in a neat little box that also looks like it sat in a drawer for years and saw no attention from its owner. Has some water damage on it and the top flap is a bit torn. I'm likely to display the box anyways so it will go in the cupboard with the other shaving related boxes.

This brush doesn't need much work at all. I'll remove the mold lines on the handle and them polish it up. From there it'll receive a 20 or 22mm knot. I was thinking Best Badger but I have yet to decide honestly.


So I guess the only question I have for you gents is: Should I give these guys a good lathering before I start tearing out the knots? Just for the heck of it? I have no interest in using a vintage knot, unused or otherwise, and they will be reknotted in the end. But is it worth taking them for a spin? Guess I'm just wondering if I'm missing out if I don't give em a go.

 

[GDCarrington]

Klenzo was a brand name under the Rexall Drug Company

This was more than likely manufactured by EverReady, Made Rite, or some other brush company in NYC.

More information can be found at these sites.

http://tsdr.uspto.gov/documentviewer?caseId=sn71336549&docId=ORC20051029182710

http://books.google.com/books?id=gl...EwBw#v=onepage&q=rexall shaving brush&f=false

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rexall

Now for the kicker. Take a look at the brush in the upper right hand corner of page 145 in the reference below.

http://books.google.com/books?id=R0...EwBg#v=onepage&q=rexall shaving brush&f=false

 

[GDCarrington]

As to your question of using them as is. Yes. Give them a good cleaning and have at them.

Enjoy.

 

[catherix]

Haha 2 for $1.01!! That's awesome!! I woulda bought 10! Thanks for the info Gary. You're like an encyclopedia or something! I guess a google search coulda worked too but it's more fun to ask here.

As for using em, I think I'll give em a test lather with some VDH before I tear them apart. Thought I'd ask before I skipped it. Gotta figure it's worth trying them once before hand.

 

[oakeshott]

Tyler
heads up on the lucite brush in case you use the steam method to remove the knot. When I did that, the clear base and the top section pulled apart and getting them back together was not a simple thing.

 

[catherix]

Tyler
heads up on the lucite brush in case you use the steam method to remove the knot. When I did that, the clear base and the top section pulled apart and getting them back together was not a simple thing.

Yikes! I have yet to have any success with that method. Haven't damaged anything but haven't gotten any knots out either. I'll be using the ol fashioned cut and Dremel method. I can see from looking at the brush where they could get separated though. I've seen pics if a few brushes now that have been separated into two peices. Doesn't look like any fun.

 

[redhead shaver]

Love the Ever-Ready.

 

[catherix]

Love the Ever-Ready.

Me too! Can't wait to get it polished up.

 

[catherix]

I went ahead and gave the brushes a go tonight. Figured it would be worth playing around with them before I tear em apart. Gave them both a soak in hot soapy water. Rinsed, then a soak in plain hot water. Then took the upstairs to the den to give them a test lather.

To give them a fighting chance I decided to super lather both with VDH and CO Bigelow. The Klenzo went up first.

Now I have to consider the fact that I used a good amount of product and used two products that I can lather with no effort. That being said, this vintage brush performed quite well. I used a larger lather bowl that I have tucked away from my bowl lathering days and the brush quickly filled the bowl with great lather. The knot has absolutely NO BACKBONE. It was just flop flop flop. A test on the back of my hand shows this, and the fact that its scritchy as all get out. Its not nearly as dense as the brushes that I love the most but still did well in the bowl. I can't see it being a face latherer at all. It has a lot of splay and would likely drive me nuts. A fun little brush and I'm glad I gave it a run.

Next up, the EverReady:

I put this guy through the same treatment and in the end got the same result. I realized after I had finished making lather that I hadn't loaded the brush nearly as long and ended with slightly less lather. Again this brush whipped up lather with little effort and I ended with a great usable product that would gladly be used for shaving. The brush has a bit more backbone than the Klenzo but still not nearly as much as I would prefer. The knot has a tendency to clump together when loading which made the process somewhat irritating. The tips of this brush are much softer but still have a bit of scritch to them. Out of the two if I was going to keep a knot I would keep this one. It's a bit denser and has a little more oomph. The Klenzo seemed like a bit of a cheapie.

Here are the approximate measurements of the knots:

Klenzo B843 - 19mm knot with a 55mm loft
EverReady 300L - 24mm knot with a 52mm loft

Well, although this was fun, tomorrow these guys will get the usual treatment. I hope to have them polished up and ready for knots by the end of the day tomorrow, time permitting.

 

[GDCarrington]

I went ahead and gave the brushes a go tonight. Figured it would be worth playing around with them before I tear em apart. Gave them both a soak in hot soapy water. Rinsed, then a soak in plain hot water. Then took the upstairs to the den to give them a test lather.

The Klenzo seemed like a bit of a cheapie.

Well, what do you expect from a brush that sold at 2 for $1.01 in 1956. It was and is a cheapie. However, that is where the fun begins. Turning Mr. Cheapskate into Mr. Gotrocks!

 

[FL shaver]

Alright, now that you've at least tried them once, have at it! I figured you would have a flop fest. I use one ER 100 with its original knot, and it is floppy, but I like the change up. Looking forward to the reknots!

 

[catherix]

Well, what do you expect from a brush that sold at 2 for $1.01 in 1956. It was and is a cheapie. However, that is where the fun begins. Turning Mr. Cheapskate into Mr. Gotrocks!

Haha I suppose it really is huh? Hopefully it won't look like a cheapie when I'm done with it!

Alright, now that you've at least tried them once, have at it! I figured you would have a flop fest. I use one ER 100 with its original knot, and it is floppy, but I like the change up. Looking forward to the reknots!

It was an interesting peek into the past but it reinforces my commitment to not using vintage knots. There's a bit of an eww factor there for me and I just prefer a denser knot with more backbone. Not too dense, but much denser than either of these two guys.

I think my goal is to have so many amazing brushes in my dent that its just plain painful to decide which one to use. Once it's regularly taking me 20 minutes to decide which brush to use, then I'll stop buying brushes. I don't think that's going to happen anytime soon.

 

[catherix]

Well, life took my day off and turned it upside down. Just got home a few minutes ago and I have some house work to do. So it's unlikely I'll be working on these guys at least for a few days. I'll update again once I get back to them.