I have had a pretty good couple of weeks. The B&B LE and a NOS Simpson.

**BigFoot** · 06-28-2011, 05:15 PM

Here is a picture of my NOS Simpson Case after a couple of uses. The hair is Pure Badger, it is unbelievably soft yet has a bit of back bone as well. This is a Simpson brush I am proud to own.

**Greyfox** · 06-28-2011, 05:21 PM

It's a beauty. Congrats and enjoy it.

**franz** · 06-28-2011, 05:36 PM

That is awesome Scott. The Brush Fairy promised me a NOS Somerset Simpson if I'm a good boy. Still waiting.

**brianw** · 06-28-2011, 06:08 PM

That brush puts current production to shame..... awe some

**ssultan** · 06-28-2011, 06:15 PM

Cute little fellow...NOS somerset simpsons...a very rare breed indeed! Congrats!

**beginish** · 06-28-2011, 07:01 PM

That's a beauty, Scott. Somersets in Pure are not scratchy at all.

Pjotr · 06-28-2011, 07:04 PM

Originally Posted by brianw

That brush puts current production to shame..... awe some

To me it looks identical to the current production.

**beginish** · 06-28-2011, 07:09 PM

Originally Posted by Pjotr

To me it looks identical to the current production.

Except for the lampe black.

**brianw** · 06-28-2011, 07:12 PM

The old pure badger is said to compare to the best badger of today.... In IMHO it surpasses the best badger of today.

What's your opinion Scott, you have tried both in the Case model ???

**BigFoot** · 06-28-2011, 07:23 PM

Originally Posted by brianw

The old pure badger is said to compare to the best badger of today.... In IMHO it surpasses the best badger of today.

What's your opinion Scott, you have tried both in the Case model ???

There is no comparison. The Pure Badger is softer, it has more back bone, I also think it holds more lather with less product. Plus it is a Somerset and not a Vulfix.

Pjotr · 06-28-2011, 08:03 PM

Originally Posted by HDStreetGlide

There is no comparison. The Pure Badger is softer, it has more back bone, I also think it holds more lather with less product. Plus it is a Somerset and not a Vulfix.

Interesting. The whole bager hair grade thing has always baffled me. Just on looks (aside from the lampe black) the old and the new appear identical and it's even hard to tell the difference with their Best. My pure brush (an el cheapo Omega travel brush) is almost black and scritchy.

**Antique Hoosier** · 06-28-2011, 08:04 PM

A Simpson is always an excellent choice. Enjoy yours.

**beginish** · 06-28-2011, 08:13 PM

Originally Posted by Pjotr

Interesting. The whole bager hair grade thing has always baffled me. Just on looks (aside from the lampe black) the old and the new appear identical and it's even hard to tell the difference with their Best. My pure brush (an el cheapo Omega travel brush) is almost black and scritchy.

It's funny. I have some Somersets in Pure, and they have some scratch to them, but are a step up from today's Pure. They are close, but do not equal today's Best, IMO. Most Pures that I see today have knots that are pretty uniformly gray, but my Somerset Rover has clear banding. If you go to Jarrod's site and look at his side by sides of different models, you will see similar variation, and they are all IoM stock. There are some clear grade differences, but the lines do blur a bit.

Pjotr · 06-28-2011, 08:42 PM

Not being particularly a brush dude I'm not sure where Jarrod's site is. Have you got a link? Thanks.

**djh** · 06-28-2011, 08:50 PM

Nice brush, Scott!

Originally Posted by Pjotr

Not being particularly a brush dude I'm not sure where Jarrod's site is. Have you got a link? Thanks.

Here you go, Pjotr...... The Superior Shave

Pjotr · 06-28-2011, 09:39 PM

Dooooooooh. I should have known. I've dealt with Jarrod before.

**beginish** · 06-28-2011, 10:19 PM

Originally Posted by Pjotr

Dooooooooh. I should have known. I've dealt with Jarrod before.

Superior Shave

**BigFoot** · 06-29-2011, 03:24 AM

Originally Posted by beginish

It's funny. I have some Somersets in Pure, and they have some scratch to them, but are a step up from today's Pure. They are close, but do not equal today's Best, IMO. Most Pures that I see today have knots that are pretty uniformly gray, but my Somerset Rover has clear banding. If you go to Jarrod's site and look at his side by sides of different models, you will see similar variation, and they are all IoM stock. There are some clear grade differences, but the lines do blur a bit.

This is my only Somerset so I have no other's to compare to. The pure on this brush is like rubbing velvet on your face. Interesting that some of yours in pure are scritchy. There must have been hair differences even back then.

**Bestarrkin** · 06-29-2011, 03:53 AM

Originally Posted by beginish

It's funny. I have some Somersets in Pure, and they have some scratch to them, but are a step up from today's Pure. They are close, but do not equal today's Best, IMO. Most Pures that I see today have knots that are pretty uniformly gray, but my Somerset Rover has clear banding. If you go to Jarrod's site and look at his side by sides of different models, you will see similar variation, and they are all IoM stock. There are some clear grade differences, but the lines do blur a bit.

I couldn't agree with you more. My Somerset Berkeley and Eagle/88 are both in Pure but they have different hair characteristics as you said. Berkeley's hair is scritchy and somehow irritates my face unlike Eagle/88. 88 feels soft with decent backbone like Best(not equal but reminds it).

**johnniegold** · 06-29-2011, 04:29 AM

I have a Rover 1 and a Rover 2 both in Pure and a Eagle 2 in Pure. All Somersets.

I was pleasantly surprised by my inability to distinguish between the Pure and the Best with the exception of their coloring.

As for being prickly, I would lean towards being a tad scritchy but nothing so drastic that prevents me from using aggressive circular motion while lathering. I guess the fact that these Pure Somersets are in my regular rotation is my barometer that they are every bit as comfortable as my Best brushes.