Restoring old brushes keep original set up? Help to identify?

[Bobbers]

I am going to try to put new knots in some old brushes. The 4 that are pictured are the candidates. From left to right the are a Rubberset 6-75, Ever Ready K40, Stanley Home Products, and Rubberset Gillette from a travel kit set that I have. All 4 of these brushes are losing hair and some of them are already loose. I see a lot of information on the site and understand the process of restoring a brush.

My questions are:
What type of hair was originally in each of these brushes? I am still learning the different type and not sure if I am identifying them correctly.
When you restore a brush do you put the same type of knot back into it?
Are all 4 of these good candidates or not?
Thank you for your input.
I will post pictures of the finished project later.
Robert

 

[JJMontague]

All four appear to be boar bristle knots, but I'm not 100% sure about the 2nd one. I haven't restored any myself, but I can tell you that most people choose whichever size and type of knot they please, as long as the cutout in the handle can accomodate it. There's not much value in vintage brushes, so don't worry about ruining the integrity of the brush by using a different knot. Now, if one of your handles clearly states "bristle" (boar) or "badger," you may want to stick with that to stay consistent and avoid confusion.

 

[Zumkopf]

The second one is a badger. It's very similar to the Ever-Ready 150. If you want to re-knot it, I belive that it is a very narrow knot.

 

[Bobbers]

The 2nd and 4th are very narrow. The 2nd one looks to be about 18mm. The 4th one looks to be about 16mm. Are 16mm available?

 

[Brownbear]

Most of the brush restorers are trying to get a nice brush that incorporates the beauty of the bygone era but does not compromise functionality rather than trying to maintain a period piece in its original configuration. Best example is restoring a butterscotch catalin handle. if you wanted to make it true to the original you'd sand off all that discoloration on the surface that came with age and obscures the original creamy white surface. But few here would do that as the patina from age gives them a beauty not anticipated by their makers.

So put whatever knot you want in the handles to make them lovely and functional objects for you. I personally mix and match ferrules with handles when I get a brush with one or the other damaged beyond repair and I don't care that they weren't that way originally, only that the proportions work and they look nice and function well.

 

[fidjit]

Best example is restoring a butterscotch catalin handle. if you wanted to make it true to the original you'd sand off all that discoloration on the surface that came with age and obscures the original creamy white surface. .

 

[wimbouman]

Yes, from The Golden Nib.
See our 'Little Brush' thread, we just finished a couple.

 

[wimbouman]

I am going to try to put new knots in some old brushes. The 4 that are pictured are the candidates. From left to right the are a Rubberset 6-75, Ever Ready K40, Stanley Home Products, and Rubberset Gillette from a travel kit set that I have. All 4 of these brushes are losing hair and some of them are already loose. I see a lot of information on the site and understand the process of restoring a brush.

My questions are:
What type of hair was originally in each of these brushes? I am still learning the different type and not sure if I am identifying them correctly.
When you restore a brush do you put the same type of knot back into it?
Are all 4 of these good candidates or not?
Thank you for your input.
I will post pictures of the finished project later.
Robert

I can imagine a good boar in that third one.
I think it needs a tough, firm knot.

 

[Brownbear]

Ian, I knew that would get a reaction from you.

 

[woodfluter]

The 2nd and 4th are very narrow. The 2nd one looks to be about 18mm. The 4th one looks to be about 16mm. Are 16mm available?

The second one, which you I.D. as Ever Ready K40, seems to have a very similar handle to the F40 that I restored two days ago with a TKN 20mm boar knot. I would guess they varied plastic color but not the molds for K40, F40, and 150 models...but could be wrong. Measure with calipers if you have them.

By the way, the F40 I restored was pristine, NOS in box, but the quality of the knot was poor - big lump of glue in center made it hollow (saved hairs used I guess) and almost no ends.

Another by the way...when I drilled through the knot it went directly into the cylindrical cavity of the handle - no base for the knot with the F40. I used six pennies for weight glued into the space, with a trimmed wine cork for spacer. That added support and heft. Just a thought.

- Bill