Can You Recognize This Brush?

[kossi]

Joined recently this forum:
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=129114

I began my second wet-shaving journey with new Merkur 34c and Savile Row 1422 because I have thrown away my old Gillette razors and brushes. But yesterday I discover a relatively big and very soft brush that I have used in the past. I don't have any recollection about it's origin. It's yellowish and absorbs water very good, but I have the feeling it's a little bit sloppy or maybe my technique is sloppy. Here is a picture of this brush and the new Sevile Row.
Just curious to know what kind of brush is this.
TIA

 

[kossi]

Is it so rare?

 

[cfriend]

Handle reminds me of an Omega brush.

 

[mkevenson]

Bristle looks like boar, but what do I know?

 

[kossi]

It's very soft. Could it be boar? It is way softer than the mediocre $ 55.00 badger I bought a couple of weeks ago.

 

[mkevenson]

There was a post here yesterday asking if all boar brushes were as soft as the one this member had. Much discussion followed and many members claim that a good boar is SOFTER than badger. Well that's ok if you want boar, but softness as some members have pointed out is not the end all of brush evaluations.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=129247&highlight=boar+softness

Some interesting reading here on your subject.

 

[Greybeard]

It's very soft. Could it be boar? It is way softer than the mediocre $ 55.00 badger I bought a couple of weeks ago.

It looks to me like a badger brush. A lot of the vintage badger knots are that color. The other possibility is that it is a mix of badger and boar.

Vintage brushes are sometimes very soft. I've refrained from re-knotting one of my vintage brushes just because the hair is so soft.



- Peter

 

[kossi]

P.s. And as much as I recall - it was an expensive one and it was very soft from the very beginning...but it was not yellowish. Well, we are talking about 30+ years ago....

 

[82R100]

I also vote "boar", based on its appearance.

Boar hair absorbs water while badger, for the most part, does not. When it's wet, a badger brush will generally bloom out after it's been shaken out, while boar bristles will tend to clump until they've dried.

Does it clump when wet?

- Chris

 

[kossi]

Chris, this is the case with the unknown brush. That means it's boar or a mixed one.

 

[Rudy Vey]

Looks like a pure badger to me. I have seen a number of old brushes, both for restoration and also in antique stores - I see this yellowing quite often. Just this past weekend I saw two that had exactly this yellow (jaundice) look.

 

[kossi]

Rudy, it clumps when wet and if Chris is right the brush should be boar. On the other hand I recall I spent a lot of money for it at that time. Don't remember how much exactly, but it was expensive. And boars are not.
For me it's just a link to the past with high sentimental value.

 

[Greybeard]

Check to see if the tips of the hairs are split. If it's boar, you should see several split ends. If you do see splits and they're all in the center of the brush, then it's boar/badger mix.
Vintage badger hair will clump to a certain extent. Give it a few swipes on a towel after it's been used and rinsed. You should be able to fluff and separate the hairs easily after a couple of hours if it's badger. It should also bloom. Boar will take much longer to dry and the hair to separate. It won't bloom much either.




- Peter

 

[kossi]

Hi Peter, they don't look look split to me. But I have never seen split hair tips
When it dries the hair becomes very crispy. I can hear it when touch it.

 

[blantyre]

Based on the density and general appearance of the knot I would say it's pure badger that has faded a bit with age. It will probably take up a lot of water and be moppy and floppy and quite hard to lather well.

I've got no idea about the handle but it looks nice. Unless the handle has any cracks or serious problems, I would seriously consider a re-knot with a nice badger knot and a carefully chosen loft.

 

[kossi]

Rick, the handle is in excellent condition. Very beautiful, indeed. Where can I re-knot it? I reside in NY/NJ area?
Didn't know they do this. But how could I possibly know after so many years of plastic razors

 

[mkevenson]

Rick, the handle is in excellent condition. Very beautiful, indeed. Where can I re-knot it? I reside in NY/NJ area?
Didn't know they do this. But how could I possibly know after so many years of plastic razors

Rudy Vey, a member here, who posted in this thread, lives near you and does restos.

http://www.ultimatependesigns.com

 

[kossi]

mkevenson, thank you!