Difference between Rooney 3/1 Coral (Super) and Rooney 3/1 Ebony (Super)

I had acquired a Rooney 3/1 Coral (Super) a few months back and loved the brush. Giving in to SBAD, I acquired another Rooney 3/1 (Super), this time in Ebony. Both brushes were acquired from Jim at Vintage Blades.

I note that the Ebony version is not as densely filled as the Coral. Also, the backbone is a bit less and tips are a bit softer on the Ebony.

Is it normal to have variances in brushes of the same model? I called up Jim and asked him about this - he said since the brushes are hand made, there could be subtle variations in the feel of the brush.

I have attached a picture to explain the difference. As you can see, the bloom characteristics are different. You can also make out the difference in density and the whiteness of the hair.

Anyone else experienced this?

They look like two different grades entirely.

bonechina,
My friend thebigspendur makes an interesting observation. Also, notice the difference in bands.

One looks like a fan and the other a bulb...just my 2 bits

Did you send Vintageblades this picture? It seems like these are two totally different styles of brush to me..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Disburden

Did you send Vintageblades this picture? It seems like these are two totally different styles of brush to me..

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Yes i did. This is what Jim responded:

Your two brushes were made approximately 24 months apart. It should also be apparent that they were filled with a different batch of silvertip. As I am sure you are aware, badger hair quality and characteristics can vary significantly over time. This is a constant problem for brush manufacturers. In that intervening 24 month period, the silvertip badger used by Rooney did change. This is a common situation. During that period Rooney also had to source a different hair for their Heritage brushes two different times.

All this being said, your two brushes are of the same grade and quality, Super Silvertip. However, being a completely handmade brush they can vary in appearance and “feel” to a small degree. All Rooney brushes are completely handmade. Also given that length of time, it is also quite probable that your brushes were made by different brush makers at the Rooney facility which can also lead to some variation in individual brushes.

As to their relative density, this is a very subjective assessment and one that it is difficult for me to counter. All I can say is that Rooney prides themselves in their density of fill, however it will vary slightly according to diameter of the hair bristle used for the knot. Unfortunately, we do not have a 3/1 Super in Coral left in the shop to compare to the current production brushes.

At the end of the day, as I have said repeatedly, these are individually handmade items, not cookie cutter, mass production items that are thrown together using pre-made knots. If there is some difference between two brushes that were made about 2 years apart by a little old lady in a little shop north of London, then I’m sorry.