How does the Rooney 3/1 compare to the Duke 3?
Rooney Brushes
- Thread starter Mitty
- Start date
totally different brushes. the Rooney 3/1 is not as dense, but much softer and opens up more.
the Duke 3 is more dense, might have some scritch and will use more product.
handles are completely different too. the 3/1 is more suited for bowl lathering, the D3 more for face.
Given the choice of Rooney or Simpson, similar handles, similar knot size, I'll take Rooney 99/100 times
What would be an ideal rooney face lathering brush similar to the D3 dimensions and characteristics except softer?
It's a smaller knot. The 3/2 may be closer. The handles feel different. The style 3 Rooney handle is pretty sweet. I recall being surprised at thinking the Duke 3 handle was smaller than I had imagined.
They are both great brushes. Alas, I owned both, but sold both.
They are both great brushes. Alas, I owned both, but sold both.
I'd jump in a heartbeat if i could find a 3/1 with the old lettering. Something about the new loopy style that throws me off.
Yeah? Man. My Paypal funds need to hurry up!
Last edited:
Wetfred-Gotta ask you, is that Kenny F'n Powers?!!!
Ok, back to brushes. One of the things I wished I had jumped into was a better brush at the START of my wetshaving odyssey. Looking at a Rooney in the future, so I appreciate the learning thru your post
Ok, back to brushes. One of the things I wished I had jumped into was a better brush at the START of my wetshaving odyssey. Looking at a Rooney in the future, so I appreciate the learning thru your post
Hell yea that's Kenny F'n Powers!
I'm also learning a lot about Rooney brushes in this thread. Thanks Mblakele.
Just got my brush in from Gareth at the handlebar supply, with a nice hand written note on the invoice, and some Sample Geo F Trumper Cream samples. Box sticker and invoice all point to a Stubby, and not a Stubby XL. I will follow up with caliper measurements after Santa brings them .and photos well, might have to wait a while on that. SBAD kicked me up and down the street this year and I need to throttle back, I gave the brush to SWMBO to give to me some time in 2014.
Lucas
So I've wondered this, it seems that there are several different letterings. Off of eBay I got a great Rooney brush with the old lettering. It is the best brush I own (Simpsons CH1 Super, AOS Brush, Frank, other cheaper brushes...)... by far.
I'm more confused now that the brushes on handlebar supply seem to be going for $200+ and the ones from Vintage Blades used to go for something like $100. Are they the same brushes? I got mine for like $70 (off eBay no one seemed to know what it was...) and it far outpreforms the simpsons. The simpsons is a thick knot and very soft, but there is something about the Rooney that.... is magical.
Anyway are all the Rooney's really the same manufacturer?
I think some of the price difference is market segmentation. Vintage Blades separates the brushes into two lines: Rooney and Rooney Heritage. Compare http://www.vintagebladesllc.com/shop/Rooney-Heritage/ to http://www.vintagebladesllc.com/shop/Rooney-Products/. Handlebar seems to only offer the high-end Rooney brushes, while Vintage Blades offers both lines.
Almost all the Rooney brushes we talk about on B&B are from what might be called the Sabini era, under the management of Lee Sabini. I think this covers both the block-letter "ROONEY" brushes and at least some of the newer brushes with the script-letter logo. The data at https://opencorporates.com/companies/gb/06615558 and https://opencorporates.com/companies/gb/05093105 suggests that the Sabini era began ca. 2004. That fits with what I have read about the history of the Rooney brand here on B&B, including the Finest brushes. At about the same time Lee became associated with the Morris & Forndran brand.
Rooney brushes made before 2004 might be called "pre-Sabini". The history of the company is not clear, but https://opencorporates.com/companies/gb/01341427 shows a predecessor incorporated in 1977 and dissolved in 2005. Lee Sabini was one of the final directors, appointed in 2003. The other final director bore the Rooney surname. To me this suggests that Sabini acquired the brand from the previous owners, which were the Rooney family. The ceramic brush in this fox-hunt set was probably made by Rooney, and almost certainly pre-Sabini. Other examples have surfaced with catalin or glass handles.
(click image for larger version)
Rooney may now be in a post-Sabini era, but the details are unclear. Respected members of B&B have quoted Lee saying he no longer has much to do with Rooney (that is from memory: I was unable to dig up the original post). However the latest company filings still show Lee Sabini as secretary and director, with no other officers listed. That situation may become clearer over time. In any case I hope the quality of Rooney brushes will continue undiminished.
Almost all the Rooney brushes we talk about on B&B are from what might be called the Sabini era, under the management of Lee Sabini. I think this covers both the block-letter "ROONEY" brushes and at least some of the newer brushes with the script-letter logo. The data at https://opencorporates.com/companies/gb/06615558 and https://opencorporates.com/companies/gb/05093105 suggests that the Sabini era began ca. 2004. That fits with what I have read about the history of the Rooney brand here on B&B, including the Finest brushes. At about the same time Lee became associated with the Morris & Forndran brand.
Rooney brushes made before 2004 might be called "pre-Sabini". The history of the company is not clear, but https://opencorporates.com/companies/gb/01341427 shows a predecessor incorporated in 1977 and dissolved in 2005. Lee Sabini was one of the final directors, appointed in 2003. The other final director bore the Rooney surname. To me this suggests that Sabini acquired the brand from the previous owners, which were the Rooney family. The ceramic brush in this fox-hunt set was probably made by Rooney, and almost certainly pre-Sabini. Other examples have surfaced with catalin or glass handles.
(click image for larger version)Rooney may now be in a post-Sabini era, but the details are unclear. Respected members of B&B have quoted Lee saying he no longer has much to do with Rooney (that is from memory: I was unable to dig up the original post). However the latest company filings still show Lee Sabini as secretary and director, with no other officers listed. That situation may become clearer over time. In any case I hope the quality of Rooney brushes will continue undiminished.
Last edited by a moderator:
I love rooney brushes, but they are pretty frustrating to get your hands on. I decided I wanted a stubby 3, and just missed one on vintage blades. I emailed, and asked if I could get on a wait list or something. About 3 weeks later, Jim emailed me and said "I've got one in stock, and if you want one, this might be the last." I bought it, it is awesome, and there hasn't been another. I followed up with him, and he didn't give much detail, but indicated that he was having supply issues with Rooney, and didn't know if he would be stocking them down the road or not. It's a shame, I think they are outstanding
I got a Rooney Stubby 2 recently from Handlebar Supply; it too has the block lettering. I can't figure out if it's new or old or really much of anything. It has a handle with 3 rings which, as far as I can tell, is unlike older Stubbys which have 1 ring and the XLs that have 2.
So new handle but old text?
I really have no idea, but it's a nice brush!
So new handle but old text?
I really have no idea, but it's a nice brush!
^ I believe all the "Heritage" line brushes now have the BLOCK lettering.
It's not old stock or old hair, just the way they make that line of brushes. Unlike the normal line (lower end if you will) which as the script lettering.
A great looking brush and I'm sure a great performing brush, regardless.
It's not old stock or old hair, just the way they make that line of brushes. Unlike the normal line (lower end if you will) which as the script lettering.
A great looking brush and I'm sure a great performing brush, regardless.
That would certainly be logical. Any ideas on why the handle is different? Feels nice in the hand, so it doesn't matter, but I'm still curious!
I'm guessing the rings are just a change up of design over the years.
Weird. My stubby just has one ring. I like the look of that one better than mineI got a Rooney Stubby 2 recently from Handlebar Supply; it too has the block lettering. I can't figure out if it's new or old or really much of anything. It has a handle with 3 rings which, as far as I can tell, is unlike older Stubbys which have 1 ring and the XLs that have 2.
So new handle but old text?
View attachment 410848
First came the single ring. Everybody used one. Then some marketing genius thought, "let's go up to two rings; the first ring is for style, the second provides a better grip." A great seller. Then another marketing guy suggested three rings for "an even better grip, which will help lather up more hairs than a two-." Next comes the four- and five-ring circus.
Similar threads
