A Long Awaited Return

bernards66 · Post by **bernards66** » Tue Mar 19, 2013 9:36 pm

John, Yep, 'silvertip'/'super' that sort of thing. The BKs have a lot of loft and are very comfy on the face but they have more backbone than may be apparent at first glance.
Regards,
Gordon

Shave4Fun · Post by **Shave4Fun** » Wed Mar 20, 2013 8:36 am

I had a BK4 and sold it here. It never seemed to work well for me, while my Omega 620 silvertip does fine. What are some thoughts on the possible reasons for dissatisfaction? I may want to try another.

BTW, welcome back Gordon!

Thanks in advance,

Mr.Max · Post by **Mr.Max** » Wed Mar 20, 2013 5:14 pm

Roger, I find that the bk4 needs to be used a little wetter than some other brushes and it helps if you run some water on top of the soap. Other than that, use the tips of the brush and it works great.

blantyre · Post by **blantyre** » Wed Mar 20, 2013 8:01 pm

Welcome back Gordon. I recall that you had a hard water problem where you were before. Is this now solved by moving - maybe a small silver lining.

F.W. Fitch · Post by **F.W. Fitch** » Wed Mar 20, 2013 8:44 pm

I always did like those B&B Kent handles and their loft. Just wish they didn't have the B&B print on them. Were classy looking pieces non the less! Also, that brush ,along with, vintage Simpson Tulips, Plisson brushes in EW, and Rooney in finest, just can't be left on top of pay phone boxes outside corner liquor stores.....

bernards66 · Post by **bernards66** » Wed Mar 20, 2013 8:59 pm

Fitch, No indeed!

Rick, Well, marginally. It's still Tampa so, fundamentally it's still the same fairly hard water. But, the plumbing is newer here so I don't think there's quite the problem with discoloration of brushes that I had in the old place. I had become convinced that my problem in that area was due not only to heavily colored creams but also from deposites in the water.
Regards,
Gordon

rsp1202 · Post by **rsp1202** » Wed Mar 20, 2013 9:20 pm

F.W. Fitch wrote:I always did like those B&B Kent handles and their loft. . . .

Me, too. I prefer its look to the BK4.

. . . that brush . . . just can't be left on top of pay phone boxes outside corner liquor stores.....

Damn.

F.W. Fitch · Post by **F.W. Fitch** » Wed Mar 20, 2013 9:55 pm

Well it is a dodgy area, that's why I misspelled nonetheless...was in a hurry to get out of that neighborhood! Now I can see how Gordon might of left those on top there! Just glad he was able to return ,find them still there, and take back possession (yep).

Teiste · Post by **Teiste** » Wed Mar 20, 2013 9:58 pm

Gordon :

you dont know how much I do enjoy reading your post , sir.
Glad to know you got your beloved brushes now.I must say , that if I will have to choose some brushes (like 5 or 6) , some of your brushes will be on my list , like the Simpson Colonel in best badger or the D.R. Harris H3 best badger (made by Simpson and confirm by Mark Watterson).

Im afraid that new Kent badger brushes arent like the old ones (from 8 or 10 years ago).Kent brushes were so popular in Spain back in the time ad I had the chance to get a P8 , a BK4 and BK8 , T8 , the traveling one...Those were excellent brushes , and I even think that the T8 series handles were made by Vulfix...

I even have some pics of old Kents brushes that I found back in 2009 in my hometown , Tenerife , Canary Islands.The same brushes were most available back in 2002 in Madrid.

http://foroafeitado.com/foro/brochas-bo ... s-kent-47/

Regarding the Pilsson brushes , I have the chance to try some Plisson's from the 80s and the EW and the HMW will put to shame current EW and HMW hair.Extra soft and white tips , keeping a firm backbone with an excellent flow.Yes , those are the Holy Grails of brushes for me and not current ones , which arent worth the pice (IMHO).Actually , Vie Long two band brushes are quiet similar to the EW two band by Plisson , if not the same.

Good to see you back , sir.

fallingwickets · Post by **fallingwickets** » Thu Mar 21, 2013 5:10 am

are quiet similar to the EW two band by Plisson

the new plissons or the old circa 1980 ones???

clive

btw, if i lived on the canary islands i would never leave....excellent location

clive

fallingwickets · Post by **fallingwickets** » Thu Mar 21, 2013 5:14 am

p.s. thanks for sharing your pics.....i for one never knew that kent had a plexi handled brush.......wonder if buzz is a bit envious

clive

M6Classic · Post by **M6Classic** » Thu Mar 21, 2013 7:39 am

fallingwickets wrote:p.s. thanks for sharing your pics.....i for one never knew that kent had a plexi handled brush.......wonder if buzz is a bit envious

clive

Nope. Vintage '78-'80 Plisson HMW. Accept no substitute.

Buzz

diggity · Post by **diggity** » Thu Mar 21, 2013 11:39 am

bernards66 wrote:Chris, Well, you should....and so should you, Bruno ( chuckle ). Today I used my old Plisson #14 EW and it got me thinking. This was the first brush that I shelled out really serious bucks to get. I paid full retail ( around $250 back then ) and waited 5-6 weeks for it to be made, sent from France to Vancouver and on to me in Florida. When it finally arrived I was disappointed. It was not like the other brushes I'd used and liked; it was stiff, a little 'scritchy' on the face and was seriously dome shaped, almost pointy. I remember sharing my disppointment on the old Wetshavers forum and receiving advice to be patient and that over time I would appreciate it more. And well, that happened. Since I didn't much like it I didn't use it that often but over time I did notice that it 'softened up' and became more user friendly ( This is the old 'real' EW bristle suppossedly sourced from Eastern Europe ). The 'scritchyness' disappeared and the knot became more flexible without losing any of it's essential 'backbone'. And I started to notice that it made unusually thick rich lather. As many of you know, I don't think that the Trumper creams are quite as rich and concentrated as they used to be. But with this Plisson the lather I got from the Trumpers Limes this morning was just like the 'old days'. I'm glad that I listened to, I think it was 'Jack', who encouraged me to keep using this brush and I would wind up being glad that I got it....cause I am.
Regards,
Gordon

Couldn't have said it better myself, Gordon. I bought a newer Plisson a few years ago and was excited to use it. However, I was disappointed that it didn't have the backbone that my vintage Plisson has. It's pretty amazing how those vintage Plisson's have the backbone but remain so darn soft.

Teiste · Post by **Teiste** » Thu Mar 21, 2013 2:16 pm

fallingwickets wrote:
are quiet similar to the EW two band by Plisson
the new plissons or the old circa 1980 ones???

clive

btw, if i lived on the canary islands i would never leave....excellent location

clive

No , my friend , the current Plisson brushes.I wish they were like the old ones...

Yeah , I left the Tropical Islands for the Utah cold...brilliant...

vtmax · Post by **vtmax** » Fri Mar 22, 2013 8:14 am

I have one of those Plissons from the late 70's. Nice brush indeed. I prefer the original ( gel) XL series a few years back from Rooney. Apparently good hair still exists.

Max

Post by **drmoss_ca** » Fri Mar 22, 2013 3:29 pm

I can't remember to whom I gave my Plisson HMW, but it was a sorry disappointment.

Chris

bernards66 · Post by **bernards66** » Fri Mar 22, 2013 9:06 pm

Ahem....it was the bait you used to get me to try that dreadful Omega boar brush for a month straight....which I dutifully did, and never used it again. I like the #12 HMW however. In fact, it was one of the three brushes I took with me in my hurried departure back in 2011. Granted, I'm sure the bristle is not on the level of what Plisson used in days of yore, or even at the time I got my EW, but I still like the brush a lot. It's beautifully balanced in terms of proportion and it is just the right size for me. It also makes very good lather. Relatively speaking, it may not be 'worth' what you paid for it, but it's still a really nice brush, IMO. I'm damn glad to have it, it was well worth that month with the Omega ( chuckle ).
Regards,
Gordon

Shave4Fun · Post by **Shave4Fun** » Sat Mar 23, 2013 7:30 pm

Mr.Max wrote:Roger, I find that the bk4 needs to be used a little wetter than some other brushes and it helps if you run some water on top of the soap. Other than that, use the tips of the brush and it works great.

Matt,

Thanks. I will remember that. Too bad I sold mine. Maybe did not give it a fair chance.

Best,

Fido · Post by **Fido** » Sat Mar 23, 2013 11:00 pm

churchilllafemme wrote:Do the BK4s come in different hair grades, or are the ones that say "Pure Badger" actually Silvertip?

Just popped in and noticed this thread.

All Kent badger brushes bear the "Pure Badger" mark regardless of grade.

Left to right, BK8 silvertip. H8 Best Badger, BK4, silvertip, BK2 grey badger.

brothers · Post by **brothers** » Sun Mar 24, 2013 9:11 am

Peter, the photo is surprising to me. I always thought the BK2 was a smaller version of the BK4, but it's not, obviously. Now I see that the difference is in the grade of hair. I might just have to go out and get myself a BK2 as a result of this revelation. Thank you!