Help With Information About Vintage Rooney Beehive

[ridgerunner]

I am trying to determine the age of this brush and any additional information possible. I have read through some of the resources here and surfed the web. I know that some older brush handles contained materials that would change color with age - 20 to 30 years or more. This brush has a wonderful color but I don't know if that was the original color. I would appreciate any information about this brush that can be shared.

I purchased this Rooney Beehive Brush here through the B&B and corresponded with the two previous owners. Not much information available beyond an estimated age of 30+ years.

The brush is HUGE. It rivals a BK12 that I owned for size but with a bit more backbone but not much. The brush dimensions has a 27mm knot, a 66mm loft and a 66mm handle height. It weights 125g.

Thanks for your assistance and your expertise.

 

[Bestarrkin]

Nice acquisition. Can you have a chance to put better photos of it?

 

[beginish]

That is a beautiful brush. Short of confirming that it is most likely a catalin or Bakelite handle, what other information do you want to find out? Unlike Simpson and Kent, it is very difficult to get information about Rooneys.

 

[ridgerunner]

Here's some additional pics

 

[ESTEBE VERDE]

Such a Beautiful Brush!

 

[Bestarrkin]

Better pictures are always appreciated. On the other hand Bob's statement is so true. I hope there was a Rooney catalog or they are going to open a decent web site.

 

[ridgerunner]

That is a beautiful brush. Short of confirming that it is most likely a catalin or Bakelite handle, what other information do you want to find out? Unlike Simpson and Kent, it is very difficult to get information about Rooneys.

I am interested in anything I can learn about the brush. I have traced the brush through previous owners as far as I can. One of the previous owners believes the brush handle is catalin. I have seen some other vintage Rooney brushes that have a similar coloring that were reportedly from the 50's.

I failed to mention in the first post that there is lettering on the bottom of the brush:

<R>
ENGLAND

This mark is very faint and I did not believe I could get a decent photograph of the lettering.

It is a keeper and I hope that over time I can uncover some additional information.