Just bought this old made rite still in box. Thought it would look nice on my shaving display. Should I try to use It or leave it in box keep it in mint shape?
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Vintage Brush - Use or Not
- Thread starter Super Speed 1953
- Start date
as far as mint or NOS stuff goes, I like to keep those unused. That's the collector in me though. If it's not NOS but still looks good, I use it. I picked up a vintage Plisson on the bay (handle isn't in the best shape) with a knot that was in better than decent shape. it's in the rotation as my travel brush.
It doesn't look like a knot that would dense enough or enough backbone in general for me so I'd just display it. It looks nice.
Depends on whether you are a collector or user and how you feel about the sanctity of unused items.
I've broken the packaging on a few NOS items but they are ones I wanted to use and have used regularly since opening them.
If you think it is a brush that you will enjoy using then use it. If you think you might "try it" then if you don't like it, re-knot it, then shelf it and find a brush handle to restore.
I've broken the packaging on a few NOS items but they are ones I wanted to use and have used regularly since opening them.
If you think it is a brush that you will enjoy using then use it. If you think you might "try it" then if you don't like it, re-knot it, then shelf it and find a brush handle to restore.
If you didn't have the box, I would say use it. But NIB? Nice decoration, I think.
display it! looks in good shape, and would make a nice decoration. old NIB stuff im hesitant to use.
i would try it out. Good luck.
I wouldn't use it. You have the box. It's too nice and once you use it you can't go back ever.
I would use it because somewhere down the line someone will use it, might as well be you.
- Thread starter
- #10
Think your right . Going in the growing collection .
i would use it, it is a simple shaving brush,
+100. that is a sweet brush--you got that right, if it was mine, it would already be broken in, i would not even be asking for advice
Its a boar brush with some badger around it ("badger cased"), so it should have enough backbone.
After using modern brushes, I'm usually - not always - disappointed in my cheaper vintage ones - even the never used ones. I suspect it's not the last NOS MadeRite to be found, so use it if you want. I wouldn't, but I have a lot of other brushes I like a lot.
-jim
-jim
I recently found a nice vintage Vulfix, and opened it and used it! No regrets and I love the little brush!
I say use it; but, I collect to use, not display.
Either way is win win. Enjoy! Nice brush.
I say use it; but, I collect to use, not display.
Either way is win win. Enjoy! Nice brush.
I had the identical brush (but mine had a blue handle) in the past, also purchased as NOS. It was unbelievably floppy. That was despite it being a combination of boar, and badger hair (as this one apparently is as well). I eventually gave up on it, and placed a new larger badger knot in it.
I think the floppiness is caused by the extremely high loft. Most brushes these days would seem to have the loft set at half that amount.
If your idea of a great brush is soft without a lot of backbone use it! The old badger hair is much nicer than todays imo.
Use it.
That's what it was made for.
Help it find its destiny.
That's what it was made for.
Help it find its destiny.
I think there are certain vintage brushes that need to be used. I bought a 25 - 30 year old Simpson Chubby 2 in Best and let it sit for a long time because I was afraid to use it. I thought the hair might fall out or that it would turn out to be very dry. Well, it is an amazing brush; the tips are very, very soft and it still has a nice backbone. I get a lot more personal value from using it than I would have gotten from simply displaying it.
I have a Made-Rite of that model. It's a nice example of a mixed-hair brush and it's broken in nicely.
I would suggest you use it - it's not particularly uncommon, nor is it a high-demand collectible, I think - and it's a nice brush to use, if a bit floppy for most tastes.
Enjoy it!
I would suggest you use it - it's not particularly uncommon, nor is it a high-demand collectible, I think - and it's a nice brush to use, if a bit floppy for most tastes.
Enjoy it!
