I just read on the Bullgoose site that Thater is discontinuing their manufacture of shaving brushes. This is disappointing news, I have a couple of their brushes in my arsenal and could not pick a favorite among the Thaters matched up with my Shavemacs, M&Fs, Plissons, Simpsons, Rudy Veys, etc. It will be interesting to see how today's economics effect the wet shaving industry, disappointing though it may be.
H. L. Thater Brushes
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This is sad news. I used my Thater this morning and love it. Thanks for sharing
Where did you read that? I can't find anything on the Bullgoose Shaving Supplies site - or am I missing something?
What else do they make besides brushes though? Thater tots? 
aren’t I funny?
In all seriousness, I love my Thater 4125/4 2-Band and 4670/5 2-Band. Both are massive brushes and the knots are amazing. I will never sell those. Fantastic brushes.
Isn’t there a tie to ShaveMac in some way?
aren’t I funny?In all seriousness, I love my Thater 4125/4 2-Band and 4670/5 2-Band. Both are massive brushes and the knots are amazing. I will never sell those. Fantastic brushes.
Isn’t there a tie to ShaveMac in some way?
I received an email containing the following:
BTW, I picked up a tortoise shell beehive two-band silver tip badger today.
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Shavemac used to make handles only for the surrounding brush makers. Eventually, when Bernd started in the company they also began making complete brushes, but they still make handles for others, like Thaeter.What else do they make besides brushes though? Thater tots?
In all seriousness, I love my Thater 4125/4 2-Band and 4670/5 2-Band. Both are massive brushes and the knots are amazing. I will never sell those. Fantastic brushes.
Isn’t there a tie to ShaveMac in some way?
Yes, it was very disappointing news. I have carried Thater brushes for over a dozen years and they have been one of my best selling brands. I don't know the full story but, there was definite frustration with the supply chain. Consistently sourcing quality badger hair has apparently become very difficult.
Very sad news. My 3 Thater brushes are amazing.
I have two Thäter brushes and while they are fine, they are not my favourites.
When I bought them, one started shedding after a short while and I sent the brush back to Thäter, who tried to convince me that it was my fault. That might have been more successful, if I hadn’t used shaving brushes for near on 20 years and didn’t have several several dozen other shaving brushes that don’t shed.
Thäter offered me to comb the brush out or replace the knot at my expense.
As the first offer did IMO not address the root cause, I took the second option and the brush has behaved fine since, even though nothing changed in the way that I treat my brushes.
Shavemac is known to supply some parts to Thäter, but I don’t know whether that includes knots.
I do accept that handmade knots (even Shavemacs
) will have occasional faults, but for me what matters is how the manufacturer responds to such slip-ups.
That was the last Thäter purchase I made, as I can get great, similar shaving brushes from other manufacturers with better product support, including from Shavemac who is based not too far from Thäter.
For me, Thäter getting out of the shaving brush business makes no difference.
B.
When I bought them, one started shedding after a short while and I sent the brush back to Thäter, who tried to convince me that it was my fault. That might have been more successful, if I hadn’t used shaving brushes for near on 20 years and didn’t have several several dozen other shaving brushes that don’t shed.
Thäter offered me to comb the brush out or replace the knot at my expense.
As the first offer did IMO not address the root cause, I took the second option and the brush has behaved fine since, even though nothing changed in the way that I treat my brushes.
Shavemac is known to supply some parts to Thäter, but I don’t know whether that includes knots.
I do accept that handmade knots (even Shavemacs
) will have occasional faults, but for me what matters is how the manufacturer responds to such slip-ups.That was the last Thäter purchase I made, as I can get great, similar shaving brushes from other manufacturers with better product support, including from Shavemac who is based not too far from Thäter.
For me, Thäter getting out of the shaving brush business makes no difference.
B.
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It’s a great shame to see another highly-respected shaving brand exit the market. The customer service issues we’ve seen reported in recent years always left me with the impression that this was not a company that was thriving financially, and it seemed that few of their retailers have been carrying much Thäter inventory, with the notable exception of Bullgoose. But I don’t know and perhaps they have always done customer service that way and had other distribution channels or client brands they made brushes for.
Regardless, Thäter made high quality, beautifully made brushes with a distinctive style that will remain in the shaving brushmaker’s collective vocabulary of shapes. As I understand it they have been making shaving brushes since 1966 - more than fifty years - and at times have been considered the best of the best.
I found this very interesting old interview from Straight Razor Magazine in 2013. It’s a good read and informative about both the company history and about shaving brushes in general, right at the time when the two-band silvertips that are so popular today were being introduced.
www.straightrazormagazine.com
As sad as this news is, I’m more glad than ever that I have my 4125/4 two-band brush - as typical of the Thäter brand as it gets, and probably the definitive German brush style. I did manage to grab a couple of three-band 4125s from their UK vendor this week since I’ve been wanting a three-band and now is the only time remaining to do it. And I finally ordered the ‘Fünf’ beehive from Bullgoose that I’ve had in my cart so many times, which seemingly was in almost every SotD pic for a couple of years. I expect to enjoy my Thäters for decades to come.
Pröst to H L Thäter, and thanks for the fine shaves. Best wishes to all those who worked there.
Regardless, Thäter made high quality, beautifully made brushes with a distinctive style that will remain in the shaving brushmaker’s collective vocabulary of shapes. As I understand it they have been making shaving brushes since 1966 - more than fifty years - and at times have been considered the best of the best.
I found this very interesting old interview from Straight Razor Magazine in 2013. It’s a good read and informative about both the company history and about shaving brushes in general, right at the time when the two-band silvertips that are so popular today were being introduced.
Interview with Harald Schuldes, CEO at Heinrich L. Thäter GmbH
Straight Razor Magazine visited the Thäter production site to obtain first hand insight into how their brushes are made, what makes them special, and where Thäter are headed.
As sad as this news is, I’m more glad than ever that I have my 4125/4 two-band brush - as typical of the Thäter brand as it gets, and probably the definitive German brush style. I did manage to grab a couple of three-band 4125s from their UK vendor this week since I’ve been wanting a three-band and now is the only time remaining to do it. And I finally ordered the ‘Fünf’ beehive from Bullgoose that I’ve had in my cart so many times, which seemingly was in almost every SotD pic for a couple of years. I expect to enjoy my Thäters for decades to come.
Pröst to H L Thäter, and thanks for the fine shaves. Best wishes to all those who worked there.
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