Simpsons

Gary Young · Post by **Gary Young** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 2:27 pm

Hi all. Well Peter kindly welcomed me to this site. It is very heart warming hearing the amount of interest in the history of Simpson Brushes. Feel free to ask any questions. I have been bombarded over the last 24hrs on the other forum site so please bear with me if I don't answer staright away. I will do my very best!

notthesharpest · Post by **notthesharpest** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 3:14 pm

True story: When I saw the title of this topic, I thought, "Well, here's another newbie asking about brushes. I'll answer his thread, telling him that Simpson brushes are in general the best ones on the market, and to go ahead with his purchase."

Apparently, I needn't have bothered with that.

Welcome, Gary!

If it's necessary to bring in a history question to keep myself on topic, I might as well dream big: I would love to know something of the historical outline of the use of different grades or types of badger hair for shaving brushes.

Gary Young · Post by **Gary Young** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 3:22 pm

No you don't!! I will always see Simpsons as the Rolls Royce of the shaving brush world. And I will argue this out with anyone (and know that I will always win!!).

Leave the brush history alone, trust me!! It is such a personal thing. There are many reasons why we used the different badger hair grades. This is my 2nd day looking at shaving forums and I haven't seen any threads yet about hog bristle brushes that we used to make!

F.W. Fitch · Post by **F.W. Fitch** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 3:39 pm

I knew that Simpson had made 'Boar' brushes at one point in time. Do you recall if hair brushes were ever produced?

Best,
Fitch

Gary Young · Post by **Gary Young** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 3:41 pm

Certainly do. When Great Uncle Alex moved the business to Nimmer, Somerset in 1941 we shared the mill with Coate's brushes. Eventually Simpson and Coate's joined and our family owned and ran both businesses together. Simpsons making all the shaving brushes and Coate's making the hair, nail and tooth brushes. I used to make both shaving and hair

F.W. Fitch · Post by **F.W. Fitch** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 3:50 pm

That's a neat memory I bet for you Gary. Do recall any details about the manufacture of ivory-handled shave brushes? Also, were a lot of bespoke brushes made for the American market?

Best,
Fitch

diggity · Post by **diggity** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 3:52 pm

Welcome aboard, Gary. Great to have you as a part of the community. Your family's shave brushes are very well respected here.

Gary Young · Post by **Gary Young** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 3:55 pm

Most definitely! We used to make a large quantity of ivory handled brushes for the UK, US and other markets. Not cheap brushes - and a bit nerve racking to make sometimes, since you are making handles from an expensive material. We did make some bespoke brushes for individual clients in the US (2 who resided in a large house in Washington!) but most bespoke brushes were for british clients - including British royals. Although we did make some solid gold handled shaving brushes and hair brushes for an Arabic prince in the mid 80s

vtmax · Post by **vtmax** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 4:02 pm

Nothing like a US President owning a Simpsons!

Max

diggity · Post by **diggity** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 4:10 pm

Gary Young wrote:Most definitely! We used to make a large quantity of ivory handled brushes for the UK, US and other markets. Not cheap brushes - and a bit nerve racking to make sometimes, since you are making handles from an expensive material. We did make some bespoke brushes for individual clients in the US (2 who resided in a large house in Washington!) but most bespoke brushes were for british clients - including British royals. Although we did make some solid gold handled shaving brushes and hair brushes for an Arabic prince in the mid 80s

F.W. Fitch · Post by **F.W. Fitch** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 4:17 pm

That's fascinating stuff Gary and no doubt! Many kind thanks to you for sharing.

President's Reagan and Bush Sr. perhaps?

Solid Gold! Well, he may have been in his "Solid Gold" dancers stage at that point-in-time.....ahem.....*whistle*.

Best,
Fitch

Gary Young · Post by **Gary Young** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 4:32 pm

I won't give names I'm afraid!!

F.W. Fitch · Post by **F.W. Fitch** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 4:39 pm

Of course...certainly not!

Just me 'sticking-out' my elbows..... and thinking out-loud.

You've been very generous to share some details.

Did you ever witness the production of "Coate's" brand shaving cream?

Best,
Fitch

Gareth · Post by **Gareth** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 4:48 pm

Gary, welcome.

I'm moving your thread to the Shaving Brushes forum where I think it would be better suited and receive more passing traffic.

Gareth

Squire · Post by **Squire** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 5:16 pm

Gary speaking for myself I would like to hear about boar or any other hair used in Simpson brushes.

F.W. Fitch · Post by **F.W. Fitch** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 5:30 pm

[/quote] Did you ever witness the production of "Coate's" brand shaving cream? [/quote]

In hindsight, I guess that would of been after ownership had changed from your family. Forgive, for trying to wear you out so soon Gary.

One particular detail ,I quite liked, about Simpson brushes was the 'distinct' lampblacking on handle. That would've been an enjoyable daily task I bet....*laugh*.

Best,
Fitch

KAV · Post by **KAV** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 6:08 pm

It's a curious phenomenon,connecting high profile people to products.
I owned a Griffen & Howe rifle made for Tyrone Powers with ownership and provenance given by a family member. G &H to this day maintains confidential files. Given how quickly a public figure can rise and fall endorsements are a odd way to sell merchandise.

Gary, I am curious about wartime production? With rationing and privations was the product line simplified or MOD contracts taken?

Baloosh · Post by **Baloosh** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 6:15 pm

What's your favorite memory of growing up in the Simpson's family business?

Racso_MS · Post by **Racso_MS** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 6:27 pm

Hey, can you send me a freebie... $\:D/$ $\:D/$ $\:D/$

Not really (or maybe) but I'd really like to read a short history of the company. You may want to make it an attachment (if you can) in a Word document or something like that. Or, if you have a link to a website with the information, I'm good with that.

Again, Welcome aboard.

Squire · Post by **Squire** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 6:30 pm

I can see where this is going. I move we give Gary a little breathing space.