I started 'classical shaving' only recently (in 2009) so I don't have old vintage stuff. The first one I bought is a Muehle "Kosmo" pure badger with black resin handle. I'm still using it in my rotation and it holds up pretty well so far. I've had two other Muehle badgers since but those unfortunately had to be relegated to the 'circular file' since they wouldn't stop shedding. I prefer other brands these days for natural hair brushes. Synthetics are different, Muehle's STF are quite ok.
Etsy Boar in a 'found wood' handle. Was extremely disappointed by every aspect of this brush, and it ended up in the trash. I would have PIFd if I had known about PIFs back then. Moved on to a Semogue 1305, SBAD, and so on.
Omega 81230. My Mom bought it for me years ago as a gift, and I never used it. Just sat there on my shelf. When I decided 6 months ago to try wetshaving, part of the reason was that brush just sitting there. Now I have a badger and a synthetic, but I've decided, no matter how many brushes I get, I'm keeping this one. At first I thought I needed to get a better brush to make really good lather, but of course it was just my technique. The Omega works great!
GREAT question! Razors and blades seem to come and go, but brushes - at least for me - engender a bond.
Yes, I still have my first brush. It's a Muhle 33 Silvertip purchased at KaDeWe in Berlin. In fact, I bought it while my first razor (a Merkur 1904) and blades (Personna Blues) were still in the mail.
The 1904 is long gone and I've found other blades I like better, but the Muhle is still a favorite - if not the favorite - in my rotation.
A Perfecto (same class as a Tweezerman) from Amazon. Still have it, but it began shedding so I no longer use it. I have held on to it for sentimental reasons.