Please help - shedding Rooney 1/3 - how can I get it replaced?

[Igor01]

Hi guys,

My Rooney 1/3 in Super silvertip is shedding about 10 hairs every shave, I've tried the combing technique but it didn't seem to do anything, so I think I should at least attempt to get the brush replaced before it becomes unusable. The problem however is the fact that I got it off a member here who also got it from someone else, so it's not possible to assertain which vendor the brush was originally purchased from, and naturally I have no receipt.

Is there any chance I could contact Rooney directly and hopefully get this luxurious (and not cheap) brush replaced? I tried looking for their contact info on the net but either my google-fu is not strong enough or they don't particulary wish to be found online.

Any help will be greatly appreciated!

 

[AFG]

If it has been shedding since you purchased it, I would contact the seller about it and ask for your money back. No one should be stuck with a shedder. If you've had it for a while though and the seller sold it in good faith then I don't think you can hold him responsible.
As for contacting Rooney, that's a problem too as they don't have a website and no one really seems to know much about their operation unlike some of the other brushmakers. I would probably contact a vendor who sells Rooneys, explain the problem and ask how you might contact Rooney directly. I think though that since you are the third owner it might be difficult to get the brush replaced.

 

[dpm802]

I did some googling on my own, and I can't find a manufacturer's webpage, either.

You can also look under the name "City of London Brushworks."

You might try contacting one of the vendors that carry Rooney brushes, they should have further information on how to contact the factory.

Or perhaps someone that owns a Rooney brush, purchased new, can supply you with information if they have the original package.

I was going to suggest you could replace that knot with a plug from The Golden Nib, but I had second thoughts. I don't own a Rooney, at least not yet, but if I did, I wouldn't want to have any replacement parts for it except a if they were genuine Rooney parts.

 

[dpmtherrien]

See the above post and give it a shot. You may end up being SOL on it though.

I have a Rooney that has given me no such problem, but I'll tell you that not being able to contact Rooney directly is going to make me avoid them in the future. Of course having a dealer that you can come back on makes dealings easier, but it looks like you don't have that option. I have a Vulfix 2234 in super badger that IMHO is every bit as good as my Rooney. Take a look at it here, www.classicshaving.com, if you're looking for another brush.

 

[maxman]

I don't know if this will help or not, but my 3/2 shed bristles like yours.
I persisted in using it and it just stopped shedding one day.
but it must have lost about 100 before that.
now it only loses 1 very infrequently.

you can read a million threads about the Rooney's shedding.
Hopefully it'll settle down for you.

 

[njpaddy]

Got my Rooney 3/1 from Vintage Blades. Mine hasn't shed 10 hairs in the 4 months I've had it. I still have the original box, but there is no company info on it.

 

[Igor01]

Thanks for all the suggestions, gentlemen, I really appreciate the help!

I believe that the seller sold me this brush in good faith and due to a particular circumstance I will not ask them to give me my money back.

Maxman, I believe my brush already lost at least twice or more the amount of bristles yours lost, and that in just two months of use (I shave every other day). Sometimes it seems to only shed 3 or 4, but on other occasions it can be up to 14, so I'd say the prospects don't look very good...

I was able to find the following info on a "R.A. Rooney & Sons" on a UK website called Touchlocal.com:

R A Rooney & Sons (1977) Ltd

Ph: 02085271493
30 Sutherland Road,
LONDON, E17 6BH

Link to the listing

I'll try contacting them and will post the result. I strongly suspect that I will get nowhere since I am not even the original owner but it's worth a try to find out.

If anybody has any other suggestions, please free to throw them my way Thanks again, guys!

 

[mblakele]

The phone number may still work, but I don't think that's the right address anymore. I understand that the office moved around the corner to St Andrew's Rd.

 

[antoine1]

That building is 30 - 32 Sutherland Rd.

Rooney doesn't exist as a registered business in the UK, I'd be surprised if "Made in England" was relevant any more. Unlike Simpson you cannot send it back to them directly.

 

[ziplepingouin]

I think it's not normal that your brush is "shedding" like this. If it was new, you expect it to loose some hairs, but here as it's an older one, it should have stopped shedding by now... Anyway I hope you'll find a solution.
Don't know about Rooney, but a company that gave me a very satisfactory after sale service is Mühle. I bought a new razor from a local shop in Brussels, the plating was uneven and rough on the side of the comb part. I simply contacted Mühle and they decided to send me the replacement comb part directly. As a matter of fact they now have a loyal client as I have ordered a silvertip from them and anxiously waiting the delivery...