My Rooney 3/1 Finest - last one?

[ssultan]

Well Gentlemen, after exhausted (well...almost) my thirst for Simpson 2-band brushes, I felt like exploring the wonderful world of Rooney. Having heard so much about the Finest grade of hair, I decided to acquire one of these elusive animals to see for myself what all the buzz was about

I honestly did not anticipate the difficulty in tracking down one of these brushes. All of my favourite online vendors were out, and have been out for many months now. Everyone informed me that I had waited too long, Rooney is unable to source the Finest grade any more and that looking for one is like searching for a needle in a hay-stack!! I'm stubborn by nature...and well...you can guess what comes next

I finally acquired a Rooney Finest 1/1 (the most elusive of them all it seems) from a member (B/S/T purchase) and used it for a few days. It's a monster brush...the knot is STIFF with very little to no flex at all !!! If you've ever thought your existing brush has back-bone, then you will be royally surprised by the stupendous backbone of the 1/1. It has the most backbone of ANY brush that I've EVER experienced!! It absorbs a LOT of water and generates excellent lather with good through-flow. If you're a face lather aficionado, then there is NOTHING better out there

I'm adding a few pictures of my Finest 1/1 ...please excuse the quality of the images

 

[Schwert]

Beautiful brush....nice shoes too.

 

[ssultan]

Well, coming back to the title of this thread. The Rooney Finest 1/1 fuelled my thirst for more Rooney Finest brushes in different lofts. I began to search for the extremely sexy (LOVE that handle) 3/1. The only vendor that I could find after a VERY extensive search had a SINGLE brush in stock...I decided to grab it while I could...I suspect this might be the LAST brush in that size/style available anywhere. Without further ado, here are the pictures...once again, please excuse the bad quality of the images...I really do need a new digital camera and some skills...these were taken when the sun was right above vs. a bit later in the afternoon for the 1/1...

 

[ssultan]

And the last picture...

 

[dalecooper51]

Nice brushes.

Which handle style do you prefer?

 

[ssultan]

Well, the 1/1 is a fantastic handle, a lot easier to grip and much more comfortable than my Simpsons Chubby CH1. Between the two of them, I do find myself leaning more towards the Style 3 handle...The Style 1 handle is about 42mm high while the Style 3 is a comfortable 50mm. Keep in mind, though, that the more comfortable handle does come at a loss of loft so to speak...the 1/1 is a 22mm Knot with a 44mm loft though I feel mine is more like 42mm-43mm! The 3/1 is a 22mm knot with approximately 48mm loft...mine I feel is closer to 50mm...

 

[Sueto]

I felt that the 3/1 opened up a bit more, lather flowed through it better from my experience with it. Over time I ended up liking the 3/1 more than the 1/1. Finest truely is a category of it's own. The shoes look pretty cool too, they probably deserve a pic of their own!

 

[Darjeeling Express]

You have found Nirvanna. Clearly. Without being rude or prying, but do you wear those slippers or is it just a Princess Jasmine thing? (Mods - its cool, its cool)

 

[ssultan]

Thanks Michael. I'm breaking in the 3/1 today, that new badger smell is absolutely atrocious!!! It is definitely blooming, whereas the 1/1 goes back into it's un-bloomed state as soon as it dries. The 1/1 is definitely more dense than my 3/1 and has a flatter knot. I'm still surprised at the back-bone of the 3/1 considering it's taller loft!!

 

[ssultan]

Never thought those shoes would attract more attention that the Finest Rooney's!!!

They do make for amazingly comfortable bedroom slippers...they're linen lined, leather slippers with gold thread work...quite intricate.

 

[Darjeeling Express]

Kismet.

 

[whitebar]

Nice brushes. Now you need a 2/1 to complete the set.

 

[ssultan]

Thanks Stephen. I'm enjoying these two for now...I'm scared that any more self-indulgence and I'll show up on the wifeys radar...

My 1/1 may not remain with me too long though...I never thought I'd say this but it just might have too much backbone for me to handle!

Nice brushes. Now you need a 2/1 to complete the set.

 

[Scott0079]

Thanks Stephen. I'm enjoying these two for now...I'm scared that any more self-indulgence and I'll show up on the wifeys radar...

My 1/1 may not remain with me too long though...I never thought I'd say this but it just might have too much backbone for me to handle!

Well when its time for it to depart give me a shout !!!

 

[huntmol]

All my Rooneys in Finest are far and away my best performing brushes with soaps, maybe even my best performing brushes, period.
Insane amounts of backbone and ridiculously soft tips.
Here's my collection:

 

[ssultan]

Gorgeous set Hunter!! "Insane amounts of backbone" is absolutely correct!!!

I thought I was bad with two of these gems!!! You sir, make me feel a whole lot better about mine!!

 

[ssultan]

The Rooney Finest 3/1 is finally de-funked. This took forever, approximately 7 lathers before the smell wore off. I shaved with it this morning. What a dramatic difference between the two brushes. There's definitely more lather through-put but about quarter the backbone of the Finest in 1/1 !!!! I realize this can be attributed to the much longer loft (50mm vs 44mm in the 1/1) but it did catch me by surprise! It's definitely not floppy, but feels a lot similar in backbone to my 2-bands but with thinner/finer hair and denser knot...refreshingly different!

 

[Marcoparis]

Hi Sultan,
I was sure you had à brush collection when you told me about my Butterscotch Rooney (among others), I was right!
Best regards from your french Friend!

 

[ssultan]

Thank you my friend! I've been fortunate enough to have a small brush rotation going. I have the sister brush to that gorgeous Rooney of yours, except in boar. Haven't even lathered it yet, I can't bring myself to use it!!

When you get around to it, I'd love to see your brush collection one of these days!!!

 

[kolinpl]

Dandy brush.

Nice photos.

So, who was the retailer who possibly has sold the last remaining Rooney 3/1 finest in captivity?

K