Why a Badger, and not a horse?

**C utz** · 10-09-2006, 02:55 PM

I'm sorry if this topic has been covered....

However, I see all sorts of spins on the strop front, horse, pig, seal, deer, bear, etc... for leather. However, the only types of brushes that I see are boar, badger, and 'authentic bristle' (I love that last one...not to use but the vague-ness of it. Great marketing ploy). Anyway, I've read the 'perks' to badger hair, (absorbitvity, soft, wear-tear, etc...) but why have we not seen other furry critter hair used?

Why not horse tail insead of boar-bristle? What about exotic camel hair? Alpaca?
Perhaps tiger mane brush?

Just wondering..........

C utz

**rtaylor61** · 10-09-2006, 03:42 PM

I understand horse hair was used in the past, but there was an issue with the spreading of anthrax. As far as others, I'm sure the main issue is the ability to absorb water.

Randy

**wvbias** · 10-09-2006, 03:45 PM

Horse hair brushes were used to
brush hair off customers by barbers.

They mayhave used one to apply powders
as well.

Terry

**icecow** · 10-09-2006, 03:49 PM

I read horse hair was too soft and floppy to make a good shave brush, which sounds right.

**shavethebadger** · 10-10-2006, 12:21 AM

I have seen both Camel and Goat hair used in bristle. I've seen both types of brushes on ebay in the past couple months.

Horse was used up until the first(or second) world war, I believe, when they had a problem with the brushes in the trenches spreading the anthrax bacteria/virus? At that point, there was a move to badger bristle.

**wvbias** · 10-10-2006, 12:57 AM

If the anthraz story was true, then it was
most likely WW I. That would fit in with
the whole trench thing, more so than
WW II.

Terry

**mikey** · 10-10-2006, 01:20 AM

hello matt,

you are correct. horse hair was used up until WWI.

thanks,
mike

Originally Posted by shavethebadger

...Horse was used up until the first(or second) world war, I believe, when they had a problem with the brushes in the trenches spreading the anthrax bacteria/virus? At that point, there was a move to badger bristle.

**thebigspendur** · 10-10-2006, 03:18 AM

yea and its bad enough trying to wrestle a badger trying to relieve him of his hair I don't think I would try that with a horse!

**dunkmiller** · 10-10-2006, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

yea and its bad enough trying to wrestle a badger trying to relieve him of his hair I don't think I would try that with a horse!

"Bald as a horse" it just doesn't sound right does it ?

**azjoe** · 10-10-2006, 04:14 PM

I may be wrong, but I think horse hair was a popular component for all types of brushes (paint, grooming, cleaning, etc. ) much later than WWI. I'm certainly not disputing the anthrax reference... I have no knowledge about that either way.

I'm pretty sure that until at least the 1940's horsehair was readily available and widely used in the US. I grew up in a rural farmhouse house that had horsehair plaster walls which the previous owner said he added when he remodeled it in the late 1930's. As a kid I remember hairbrush and paintbrush handles having "genuine horsehair" stamped/branded on them. Horsehair is still used in many parts of the world for all sorts of things... padding, fabric, rope, brushes, baskets, pottery, and even violin strings. It's certainly available in craft stores for "artsy" uses and upholstery fabrics are still being made in Europe and China for the antique restoration trade.

Now that I think about it, I believe I still have a horsehair pool table brush packed away somewhere (I don't know why -- I sold the pool table 15-years ago, lol).

Thread: Why a Badger, and not a horse?

LinkBack

Thread Tools

Display

Why a Badger, and not a horse?

Posting Permissions