Two New Simpsons on the way: What should I expect?

[Westaway]

My wife generously in anticipation of my birthday, let me use her Ebay Bucks to buy a brush or brushes of my choosing. Of the few that I own I am most impressed with the Chubby 1 Best considering performance and comfort. The quality is definitely there. Kent & Savile Row would have to be given up before my Chubby. I am not a collector but the brushes I do use are most appreciated for their individual attributes.

Ebay bucks can only be spent on Ebay so I didn't have the choice of shopping WCS or Vintage etc. Last night someone unexpectedly bought a Vintage Case that was from the Somerset Era for $60. It was very attractive and I had already considered it mine before it surprisingly disappeared from the "Buy It Now List." Decision was finally made tonight and I have ordered the Simpson Duke 3 Best and an Emperor 3 Super. It is times like these that I am reminded that I married well.

The Duke 3 seems to have a favorable consensus of admirers when I read reviews and comments but the Emperor 3 Super (3 Band) is not as clear cut a choice. The brush seems to be sold in 2 band and I have even seen different knot and loft sizes posted here and there. I am not a face latherer particularly..... the bowl seems to work very well for me. I've never had a Simpson in Super. I would appreciate any impressions or evaluations although the deed is done.... it is ordered.

• 

10/5 After 8:30pm... A slight surprise & change in the brush order described above. After I had paid for the two purchases, later that evening the Ebay Seller wrote that the Duke 3 Best box that he was ready to mail to me actually contained a Duke 3 Pure brush and they were not going to restock until November. He cancelled the sale and refunded the money right away. That left me with Ebay Bucks and no Duke 3 Best. Today I bid on and won the only Duke 3 Best listed on Ebay. The Lord works in mysterious and wonderful ways because this particular brush was the "limited edition ivory stripe handle" Duke 3 Best that is out of stock everywhere else. It was used but described as having only three or four test lathers. Doesn't matter...... the knot looks new and I've got my Duke. Worried for a while after the cancellation but am very, very pleased with the unexpected upgrade.

 

[inspectoring]

With brushes like duke you will become a face latherer and enjoy it too

 

[Marco]

You got two excellent brushes, Sir. Please follow up with pics once they arrive!

 

[oscarbowman]

I've toyed with the idea of venturing down the Super way but have been more than happy with all my Simpsons in Best.
Two great choices. I'm sure you will enjoy using them both.

 

[Antique Hoosier]

Bravo! I've used several Duke 3's ( maybe 7) in the past 7 years. They get bought and sold but always come back on the den. My current is a Somerset lampblack in Best! Great brush! Enjoy. Never owned an Emperor but always wanted one mainly for the epic handle

 

[Coffeesnob]

You really got the best of both worlds.

The emperor is well suited to a whipping up lather in a bowel and the duke is perfect for face lathering, so you'll have a brush to suit your fancy.

Enjoy!

 

[Alpinebully]

Congrats on the new Simpsons. I was going to say sorry about the Duke 3, but it sounds like things worked out really well in the end!

Travis.

 

[johnniegold]

The Duke 3 is my favorite brush, bar none. Enjoy it.

 

[Greg1911]

I have an older, short lofted, bulb shaped Duke 3 that I really love. I also recently snagged a Duke 1 as a travel brush. I like that one so much I'm thinking I should just get a Duke 2 to complete the collection of Dukes.

 

[COShaveSurfer]

Duke 3 is a MUST have brush in my opinion....great pickup and GREAT birthday gift!

 

[teeitup418holes]

Every shave den should have a Duke 3. I have 3 Duke 3's (in different hairs of course...). That way they can fully dry out

​

 

[Westaway]

The brushes both arrived in the evening mail yesterday. The Duke 3 advertised as used seemed as untouched as if the tissue were never unwrapped since it was boxed on the Isle of Man. It had the musky smell of a badger knot that had never touched water. The Emperor 3 was just as pristine as you would expect from a new boxed Simpson. The Duke's hair was soft as you would expect from a Best but when I held and examined the knot in the Emperor, pressing it against my face, it was so harsh and prickly I could close my eyes and imagine a cheap chinese knot that was top trimmed for convenience. This was Simpson's Super Grade knot and it seemed more like a pure badger than even a best. This morning I couldn't wait any longer, so I lathered and used both brushes with Tabac Soap. The results were breath-taking. The Duke was soft, luxurious and wonderfully firm, melting and massaging the lather onto the skin. The "prickly" or should I say "former prickly" Emperor, transformed into pure unadulterated soft luxury with only the one quick lathering. This is heaven. Now I'm wondering what I'm going to do with the Kent BK8, the Savile Row and the Col Conk Super. I know I've got two wonderful Semogue Boars that I will have to use once in a while when I feel like a good massage. Even my Simpson Chubby 1 Best may have to sit it out for a while. Marco asked for pictures once these two arrived. They're already taken, before and after. I think I will post them in a new thread when I have time. P.S. Not one hair from either brush left the knots. If there is to be any shedding, it will save itself for later. I don't think I could be happier with a shaving brush than I am with these two. Anyone who hasn't tried out the Emperor 3 Super will have quite a pleasant surprise if and when.

 

[jodypress]

Congrats on the new acquisitions. I love my Duke 3 in Manchurian, up their with my Rooney 2XL with Heritage hair.

 

[Westaway]

You got two excellent brushes, Sir. Please follow up with pics once they arrive!

If you haven't already seen them on another thread Marco...... here they are before I lathered them.

 

[Marco]

They knot on both brushes does look gorgeous! Congrats!