Help with USA Brush History

[onotoman]

Hi Guys,

I recently picked up these lovely vintage brushes.

They were both made in the USA but seeing as I'm in the UK, I can't find much information about the makers.

I'd love to know a bit more about the companies, the approximate age of the brushes, if the companies are still in business - if not when did they go out of business etc. In short any information.

I do know that they are really fine brushes.

The first is a Made Rite and the second is a Gimbels. Please see images below.

The Made Rite one is huge. I'm going to give it a try in the morning!

 

[theperfectstorm]

Gimbel Brothers (Gimbels) was a Mid-western department store that eventually moved to New York City, where for decades it was the main rival, and pop-culture partner, of the more famous Macy's store. This was a reasonably high-end store, so I assume, like many UK Menswear retailers they contracted with an outside company to make their brushes.

Considering some of the Brooks Brothers brushes I have seen (which were clearly Rooney's) it is perfectly possible that it was a high-end UK firm that made the brushes for Gimbels. On the other hand, the amount of verbiage on the bottom of the brush is very much in the vein of native US brushes, like those from Ever-Ready, Fuller, and Made-rite, who always seem to go on about sterilization, etc. The "Made in USA" does seem a bit of a giveaway. So actually it was probably made by someone like Made-Rite or Ever-Ready.

 

[dpm802]

While we're on the subject, do you know anything about the "Peerless" company?

My first brush was Peerless 500 Pure Badger that I picked up NIB at an antique store for $9 ... it served me quite well until I got a C&E BBB. I still dig out the Peerless every so often when I need a good stiff brush for soap.

I've only found one other member that has a Peerless brush ... but I'd like to find out more about this relatively unknown company.

 

[theperfectstorm]

Peerless was an American brush company, specializing, from what I can tell, in hairbrushes, etc.

All of the Peerless shaving brushes I have seen, including mine, are nylon, so if you have a badger one--that's news to me.

Throw us up a pic, dude.

 

[redbike]

I've only found one other member that has a Peerless brush ... but I'd like to find out more about this relatively unknown company.

I just picked one up in a small brush lot off eBay.

It's a nylon brush, and the middle color is a faded pink. I'm not sure what I'll do with it yet.

jim

 

[onotoman]

Thanks Chris,

I don't suppose you would know anything about Made-Rite?

Best wishes

Dave

Gimbel Brothers (Gimbels) was a Mid-western department store that eventually moved to New York City, where for decades it was the main rival, and pop-culture partner, of the more famous Macy's store. This was a reasonably high-end store, so I assume, like many UK Menswear retailers they contracted with an outside company to make their brushes.

Considering some of the Brooks Brothers brushes I have seen (which were clearly Rooney's) it is perfectly possible that it was a high-end UK firm that made the brushes for Gimbels. On the other hand, the amount of verbiage on the bottom of the brush is very much in the vein of native US brushes, like those from Ever-Ready, Fuller, and Made-rite, who always seem to go on about sterilization, etc. The "Made in USA" does seem a bit of a giveaway. So actually it was probably made by someone like Made-Rite or Ever-Ready.

 

[Shamus99]

Redbike - Sorry to hijack, but who's the maker of the brush on the far left in the picture you posted? I just picked up a West German made brush distributed by 'Kenmore' that looks very similiar. It's branded 'Kenmore' as in Kenmore pharmacy.

 

[redbike]

Redbike - Sorry to hijack, but who's the maker of the brush on the far left in the picture you posted? I just picked up a West German made brush distributed by 'Kenmore' that looks very similiar. It's branded 'Kenmore' as in Kenmore pharmacy.

It's a "Centaur." The manufacturer's mark on the brush is obscured by something that smeared the paint, but the lettering is visible under magnification. Unfortunately the handle is wooden and has a split from top to bottom. I haven't restored any brushes yet, but may try with this one first. I'll have to read up on how to deal with the split.

 

[Shamus99]

It's a "Centaur." The manufacturer's mark on the brush is obscured by something that smeared the paint, but the lettering is visible under magnification. Unfortunately the handle is wooden and has a split from top to bottom. I haven't restored any brushes yet, but may try with this one first. I'll have to read up on how to deal with the split.

Thanks - I did more poking around and my brush looks a lot like the 'Nobility' branded brush in this thread http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=114231&highlight=nobility+brush

Seems like these West German brushes were prone to rebranding, probably all made by the same group. But I'm just guessing.