I can't believe no one out there knows anything about Erskine shaving brushes?
Oh Well! Maybe I just need to be patient. It is the holiday season.
I spent another two hours yesterday on the internet and making phone calls to antique dealers trying to get some information on my brush. I found one green handled brush offered for sale, but nothing about my red/beige #98 brush. I talked to Country Joe Antiques, because he had one for sale, but he did not know anything about the brush. I found one reference to a James L. Erskine Co. that made brushes in Brooklyn, New York. Is this the right manufacture? I could not find any recent (Last 40 years) manufacturing information.
Is the Erskine line of shaving brushes that rare? I have been using the #98 daily, since I bought it, trying to get the bristles to soften. I have been soaking it in very hot water when I shave. I even have used it to wash my face daily. The bristles have softened a slightly, but it's still very scratchy. I dry it after every use with a hair blower, just on the bristles, trying to get the ends to split/soften.
I am having second thoughts on wether the bristles are boar. Could they be a horse hair/boar combination? My softening regimen does not seem to be working very well! I have been thinking about cutting the bristle out and buying a Golden Nib, finest badger replacement for the great looking handle. As I said in my previous blogs, the brush appears to be little used. That might explain why it is so stiff and scratchy. I don't want to damage a rare brush, so I am holding off for several weeks to see if it will soften any. Any information would be appreciated. Thanks, Doug Rosso
Oh Well! Maybe I just need to be patient. It is the holiday season.
I spent another two hours yesterday on the internet and making phone calls to antique dealers trying to get some information on my brush. I found one green handled brush offered for sale, but nothing about my red/beige #98 brush. I talked to Country Joe Antiques, because he had one for sale, but he did not know anything about the brush. I found one reference to a James L. Erskine Co. that made brushes in Brooklyn, New York. Is this the right manufacture? I could not find any recent (Last 40 years) manufacturing information.
Is the Erskine line of shaving brushes that rare? I have been using the #98 daily, since I bought it, trying to get the bristles to soften. I have been soaking it in very hot water when I shave. I even have used it to wash my face daily. The bristles have softened a slightly, but it's still very scratchy. I dry it after every use with a hair blower, just on the bristles, trying to get the ends to split/soften.
I am having second thoughts on wether the bristles are boar. Could they be a horse hair/boar combination? My softening regimen does not seem to be working very well! I have been thinking about cutting the bristle out and buying a Golden Nib, finest badger replacement for the great looking handle. As I said in my previous blogs, the brush appears to be little used. That might explain why it is so stiff and scratchy. I don't want to damage a rare brush, so I am holding off for several weeks to see if it will soften any. Any information would be appreciated. Thanks, Doug Rosso
