Can anyone ID this brush?

[Gamma]

Says 'England' on the bottom with an R that has some geometric lines around it. I don't know much about classic brushes and I'd like to know what this one is before I start thinking about doing anything to/with it.
The label says Pure Badger over Sterilized - I believe the worn part might have said 'made in England'.
Any hints or clues would be appreciated.

 

[Bestarrkin]

It looks likes a vintage Simpsons with butterscotch handle but I am not an expert so I hope a "Homer" will give us the answer

 

[Greybeard]

It looks almost identical to a vintage Rooney I have, including the same type of hair that was in it originally. If you look through the butterscotch brush thread you will see other Rooneys that look very similar. That keyhole shape was the most common shape used by Rooney decades ago.

Be careful if you are going to try to remove those scratches. You would probably remove a lot of the butterscotch color in the attempt.

 

[Gamma]

Ah-hah!
Thanks - it's a Rooney. I found one with a clear shot of the label and it's identical.
Now what to do.??? Decisions decisions..
Thanks for the tip on the Bakelite oxidation thing... I've been there before with a radio or two. I would be inclined to just leave this one alone. We'll see.

 

[Greybeard]

Ah-hah!
Thanks - it's a Rooney. I found one with a clear shot of the label and it's identical.
Now what to do.??? Decisions decisions..
Thanks for the tip on the Bakelite oxidation thing... I've been there before with a radio or two. I would be inclined to just leave this one alone. We'll see.

I decided to re-knot mine. The hair was very fine and soft, but it was sadly lacking in density and was a shedder. Wash yours out as in Em's method linked below. It may surprise you.

If you do decide to re-knot, I should warn you that the epoxy Rooney used is really hard. I had to use a carbide tipped drill bit. I used a knife to make a pilot hole, but it took a long time.

http://www.shaveinfo.com/videos/brush_cleaning.htm

 

[Gamma]

I decided to re-knot mine. The hair was very fine and soft, but it was sadly lacking in density and was a shedder. Wash yours out as in Em's method linked below. It may surprise you.

If you do decide to re-knot, I should warn you that the epoxy Rooney used is really hard. I had to use a carbide tipped drill bit. I used a knife to make a pilot hole, but it took a long time.

http://www.shaveinfo.com/videos/brush_cleaning.htm

Some of those old glues are incredibly dense and difficult. Thanks for the tip, and after the soak and wash and overnight lather treatment I'll see what's up.
Thanks for the help everyone... !!

 

[maxman]

I recently de-knotted a vintage Simpson. I had to use pliers then a dremel to get the old glue out. Nasty business.
nice handle, If you put a new knot in it be sure to show the results.

 

[Gamma]

After working up a lather with it - I see the bristles have been well loved by its previous owner/s, but they seem to have a good amount of life left. Of course this is just a preliminary assesment - the real test will be to use it on my face and that will probably happen tomorrow or the next day.
I'm immersed in reknot projects right now - so if I do decide to refurb this one It'll be a while before I get to it. If I do get into it - I'll definitely post the pix. The handle isn't perfect so I may just leave it alone... It might be nice to have one brush that's in 'original' condition.

 

[bbarton713]

What a beauty!

 

[Gamma]

What a beauty!

Thanks - yeah, it's got some character to it that I find very appealing. The shape is very comfortable to hold, the weight is near-perfect for the size (balance) and and the butterscotch coloring is warm and inviting. I only wish the label wasn't mucked up but that's part of the game I suppose. In any case, if it was pristine I probably wouldn't want to use it - so this condition is better for me anyway.
It's drying after the soak and the bloom came back nicely. It's very handsoome-looking now and I can only hope it lathers well. If not, I'm afraid I'll have to attempt to tackle this one. it's growing on me quickly.

 

[Gamma]

This is pure badger? Geez.... soft as a kitten, lathers like a champ. I don't know how I feel about it being this soft... it's almost as if the lather has more substance than the brush. Yet - it did the job and it did it well. I had to adjust the water and technique somewhat but whatever... its a very nice brush. No shedding either.
So - here i am wondering if I should leave it and enjoy it for what it is or reknot it.
I guess I'm not in a rush.. I feel weird about pulling the knot though. It kinda feels like pulling a slant-6 out of a Dodge Dart and replacing it with a V8.
Know what I mean? Just feels - wrong somehow.
I guess I have to use it a few more times...

 

[Greybeard]

If mine hadn't been a shedder I wouldn't have re-knotted. I haven't come across any modern knots that have the feel of some of the better old badger brushes.
"Pure badger" labeling on vintage brushes didn't mean the same thing as it does now. Manufacturers didn't specify many grades and "Pure badger" could mean anything from mixed hair to silvertip. The term was used to differentiate badger brushes from mixed badger and boar (much more prevalent then), and boar. Price of the brush was usually an indicator of the quality.

 

[Gamma]

Seems to me that you have to be corrrect - I had read that somewhere on the web but like most things in this world - reading it online and experiencing it first-hand are two different things.

I remember my dads brush - the one I learned how to shave with. It wasn't an expensive brush - I say that because he was kinda - uhm... frugal - but it was a real fine brush and it was sort of like this Rooney here.