Rooney Finest

[rustyblade]

No - it's a labelled Rooney.

Really? This is bad. I don't remember owning such a brush.....but I probably did!

[Blue As A Jewel]

I received the following reply from Jim Ayars at Vintage Blades on my inquiry on the Rooney Finest:

"...Rooney is no longer producing their brushes in the Finest grade due to the lack of availability of badger hair in a quality that meets their standards to be called “Rooney’s Finest”. The badger hair that was used in these brushes was very unique and had a natural white color at the tips, since Rooney does not use hair that is bleached. While some other manufacturers have seen fit to continue a product line with grades of hair of lesser quality, yet maintain the same price level, Rooney has elected not to do so. They have not discontinued the Finest grade. It will be available once again when they are able to source badger hair of the necessary quality."

That makes me feel better! Now only if I had patience as a virtue!!

[rustyblade]

Ravi, start breeding finest badgers. In Winnipeg.


BTW, how do you feel about curried badger?

[notthesharpest]

No - it's a labelled Rooney.

Really? This is bad. I don't remember owning such a brush.....but I probably did!

Here's the shameful proof.
(Including my ...umm... slightly inaccurate thoughts on not getting any more brushes...)

[rustyblade]

No - it's a labelled Rooney.

Really? This is bad. I don't remember owning such a brush.....but I probably did!

Here's the shameful proof.
(Including my ...umm... slightly inaccurate thoughts on not getting any more brushes...)

Ah! You're confused then! That is a style 1, size 1, pictured with a style 2 size 1 and a style 3, size 1. Gotta love Rooney's numbering system.

[drP]

I received the following reply from Jim Ayars at Vintage Blades on my inquiry on the Rooney Finest:

"...Rooney is no longer producing their brushes in the Finest grade due to the lack of availability of badger hair in a quality that meets their standards to be called “Rooney’s Finest”. The badger hair that was used in these brushes was very unique and had a natural white color at the tips, since Rooney does not use hair that is bleached. While some other manufacturers have seen fit to continue a product line with grades of hair of lesser quality, yet maintain the same price level, Rooney has elected not to do so. They have not discontinued the Finest grade. It will be available once again when they are able to source badger hair of the necessary quality."

That makes me feel better! Now only if I had patience as a virtue!!

Bah, humbug.. ...Vulfix'/Simpsons two band super is identical to Rooney's finest and opposed to Rooney Vulfix has no problem to reveal that this kind of badger is in fact bleached...

Triggers my curmudgeon mood this nonsense...

[notthesharpest]

Really? This is bad. I don't remember owning such a brush.....but I probably did!

Here's the shameful proof.
(Including my ...umm... slightly inaccurate thoughts on not getting any more brushes...)

Ah! You're confused then! That is a style 1, size 1, pictured with a style 2 size 1 and a style 3, size 1. Gotta love Rooney's numbering system.

YOU called it style 1 size 2! And that's what it is according to the measurements. The 1/1 is quite a bit smaller.

Edit: It's also got style 1 size 2 printed on the box.

[notthesharpest]

I received the following reply from Jim Ayars at Vintage Blades on my inquiry on the Rooney Finest:

"...Rooney is no longer producing their brushes in the Finest grade due to the lack of availability of badger hair in a quality that meets their standards to be called “Rooney’s Finest”. The badger hair that was used in these brushes was very unique and had a natural white color at the tips, since Rooney does not use hair that is bleached. While some other manufacturers have seen fit to continue a product line with grades of hair of lesser quality, yet maintain the same price level, Rooney has elected not to do so. They have not discontinued the Finest grade. It will be available once again when they are able to source badger hair of the necessary quality."

That makes me feel better! Now only if I had patience as a virtue!!

Bah, humbug.. ...Vulfix'/Simpsons two band super is identical to Rooney's finest and opposed to Rooney Vulfix has no problem to reveal that this kind of badger is in fact bleached...

Triggers my curmudgeon mood this nonsense...

I wasn't going to touch this, because I suspected that the latest comment from Rooney was more marketing ploy than fact.

I can't prove anything about bleaching vs. no bleaching. But if Peter says the hair is the same, then that's good enough for me.


Ravi, maybe you should try to find one of the new crop of 2-band Simpsons. Probably easier to find since they're recent and people are trying them out (and therefore potentially not liking them). Most of the Rooney Finests have settled into permanent homes by now.

[Blue As A Jewel]

Here's the shameful proof.
(Including my ...umm... slightly inaccurate thoughts on not getting any more brushes...)

Ah! You're confused then! That is a style 1, size 1, pictured with a style 2 size 1 and a style 3, size 1. Gotta love Rooney's numbering system.

YOU called it style 1 size 2! And that's what it is according to the measurements. The 1/1 is quite a bit smaller.

Edit: It's also got style 1 size 2 printed on the box.

That's definitely a Style 1 Medium (i.e Size 2)...

[Blue As A Jewel]

Ravi, maybe you should try to find one of the new crop of 2-band Simpsons. Probably easier to find since they're recent and people are trying them out (and therefore potentially not liking them). Most of the Rooney Finests have settled into permanent homes by now.

I've got me eye on a Simpsons T4... as an interim measure.

[Blue As A Jewel]

I received the following reply from Jim Ayars at Vintage Blades on my inquiry on the Rooney Finest:

"...Rooney is no longer producing their brushes in the Finest grade due to the lack of availability of badger hair in a quality that meets their standards to be called “Rooney’s Finest”. The badger hair that was used in these brushes was very unique and had a natural white color at the tips, since Rooney does not use hair that is bleached. While some other manufacturers have seen fit to continue a product line with grades of hair of lesser quality, yet maintain the same price level, Rooney has elected not to do so. They have not discontinued the Finest grade. It will be available once again when they are able to source badger hair of the necessary quality."

That makes me feel better! Now only if I had patience as a virtue!!

Bah, humbug.. ...Vulfix'/Simpsons two band super is identical to Rooney's finest and opposed to Rooney Vulfix has no problem to reveal that this kind of badger is in fact bleached...

Triggers my curmudgeon mood this nonsense...

I wasn't going to touch this, because I suspected that the latest comment from Rooney was more marketing ploy than fact.

I can't prove anything about bleaching vs. no bleaching. But if Peter says the hair is the same, then that's good enough for me.


Ravi, maybe you should try to find one of the new crop of 2-band Simpsons. Probably easier to find since they're recent and people are trying them out (and therefore potentially not liking them). Most of the Rooney Finests have settled into permanent homes by now.

I thought that as well - re-release the Finest at a higher price based on uncertainty and rarity. Good way to get up to the Plisson HMW #16 price point in a hurry...

Peter's word is pretty good for me as well - although it hasn't dampened my desire to acquire one... ...well maybe a bit especially if they muck around on the pricing!

[notthesharpest]

I think T3 would be a better bet than T4. The 4 is reportedly tall enough in the loft to spread out too much in use.

[rustyblade]

Here's the shameful proof.
(Including my ...umm... slightly inaccurate thoughts on not getting any more brushes...)

Ah! You're confused then! That is a style 1, size 1, pictured with a style 2 size 1 and a style 3, size 1. Gotta love Rooney's numbering system.

YOU called it style 1 size 2! And that's what it is according to the measurements. The 1/1 is quite a bit smaller.

Edit: It's also got style 1 size 2 printed on the box.

That is shameful evidence of my past. I also purchased an Old Apothecary equivalent at some point also meaning I had two of the same brushes. Granted the OA brush was only $75...couldn't resist.

[notthesharpest]

I feel no shame in also having one of the Old Apothecary-type brushes that are really the same (mine is completely unmarked).

That one was not from you.

That one was from Sam.

[Nitrox]

I also have a few of the Apothecary brushes. I got those straight from the source and I don't have any shame either.

[Sam]

Ah, the OA brushes. Well, went I got my beehive, the first large size that Lee made, well, I was all over that. That hair, I think it is the heritage, felt so perfect, soft, with resiliency, that it made me sell the OA brushes. I have one brush I miss that I sold, but that beehive, well, love to look at it and use it.

[bernards66]

Sam, Yes, you're pretty damn spoiled at this point. That custom Beehive that you have is one of the absolutely best all around brushes I've ever used. It'll make this planned new brush acquistion especially challenging....coupled with your trademark dithering ( chuckle ).
Regards,
Gordon

[Sam]

Gordon, I have considered some brushmakers that are on ebay, Rudy Vey, others.

[Blue As A Jewel]

I think T3 would be a better bet than T4. The 4 is reportedly tall enough in the loft to spread out too much in use.

Good point. I'll check out the loft differences.

[paddy]

not entirely off topic i hope, but i was on the plisson site today and noticed that you can now only get HMW hair in their ivory handled brushes.

i was toying over the last few months with the idea of treating myself to a HMW in horn either a #14 or #16. however the highest grade available in horn now seems to be just the pure white. has it been like this for a while? is there much difference between the pure white and the HMW hair?