Thread: Brush questions

I recently located some shaving brushes that have been in the family for a long time. From left to right. Albright Rubberset, Star 574, Ever-Ready 100, Rex 200. On Old School Shaving Brushes I found an advertisement with the Rubberset dated from 1921, so I'm thinking it is from around that era. There isn't a number on the brush but the advertisement says it is a 379.



I found pictures of the others on OSSB but wasn't able to establish an approximate age of the brushes, is it possible to narrow the age down to the decade they are from?

The Rex and the Rubberset have cracks in the handles so they'll remain unused. The Star was left in a shaving mug for awhile at some point, could the bristles be straightened? Or would it have to be re-knotted?

Thanks

Brushes like those were made from the 1960s back probably from the 1930s or even earlier. I doubt you could pinpoint any decade unless you had the original catalog and I know it's been here on the site so do some research on the forum.

As to straightening out the bristles, I doubt it however try a good cleaning with plenty of mild soap and warm water and maybe soaking in borax and some vinegar and see what happens.

Thanks that does help quite a bit to narrow things down.

I have had some really good success in cleaning vintage boar with washing soda and warm water. Then after cleaning I rinse really good and get some very hot water (just under boiling) and put JUST the boar hair in the water for a FEW SECONDS. Don’t submerge the knot or let the brush stay in the steam for more than 5 seconds to avoid loosening the knot/hair. Then I simply put it into a empty toilet paper roll to hold the shape as it dries and 2days later you have a new brush.

Originally Posted by Steel

I have had some really good success in cleaning vintage boar with washing soda and warm water. Then after cleaning I rinse really good and get some very hot water (just under boiling) and put JUST the boar hair in the water for a FEW SECONDS. Don’t submerge the knot or let the brush stay in the steam for more than 5 seconds to avoid loosening the knot/hair. Then I simply put it into a empty toilet paper roll to hold the shape as it dries and 2days later you have a new brush.

If you be talking about water around 200 F I'd be real careful with that. It's not good for any kind of hair or your skin either even if it seems to work.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

If you be talking about water around 200 F I'd be real careful with that. It's not good for any kind of hair or your skin either even if it seems to work.

I have no idea the temperature but it was boiling a few seconds before I took it out of the microwave. for 3-5 seconds there has been no problem. It instantly straightens the clean hair like a straightening iron (which I would guess gets pretty hot). As it dries in the empty paper roll it holds its shape. I have had great results in the past, as I said. It didn’t seem to work. It did work. They are still in operation over a year later. Or you can drill the knot out and toss it.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Brushes like those were made from the 1960s back probably from the 1930s or even earlier. I doubt you could pinpoint any decade unless you had the original catalog and I know it's been here on the site so do some research on the forum.

As to straightening out the bristles, I doubt it however try a good cleaning with plenty of mild soap and warm water and maybe soaking in borax and some vinegar and see what happens.

A nice collection! From the research I've done, I think you could safely push the date back to the 1920's or even a bit earlier. The point is that Rubberset, EverReady, et al. produced a ton of handle patterns, many of them quite idiosyncratic; but some were/are quite good with many forming the basis for handles still produced in modern form today.

As far as the bristles are concerned, I might add to BigSpendur's thoughts. Please understand: there are no guarantees; but the following should help. That said: I would first soak the entire brush in a dilute solution of white vinegar and water (1 part vinegar to ~10 parts warm tap water) for 15 minutes or so, then go over the handle gently with a SOFT toothbrush to remove the soap scale. (A microfiber washcloth can also work. You might need to repeat this process a few times, so patience is a virtue....) Then rinse out the knot in warm water and soak overnight in warm water/hair shampoo with conditioner solution (you can even mix a little borax in if you want.) But, as mentioned earlier, I would NOT subject the knot to hot water (meaning hotter than your hand can stand for 10 seconds or so) since the heat will damage the already brittle fibers. The goal here is to try to restore the hair to something approaching its former condition. Anyway, next morning, rinse the knot thoroughly, shake out the excess water, wrap the knot in a layer or two of paper toweling and set aside in a dry environment for 2 or 3 days. (The paper towel should only be needed the one time to "train" the hair back to its original shape.)

Good luck--and feel free to send a PM if you have any specific concerns.