Simpson Brushes Appreciation Thread
- Thread starter Boojum1
- Start date
Teiste
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Another LE for TSN forum was the M6 in Manchurian badger. For my taste wasn't as good as the Phyl8 in best badger but it was a good brush too.
This LE was launched in 2014.
View attachment 37385.webp
This LE was launched in 2014.
Randy
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Damn me Master Teiste
Shaun2
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I took a better photo of my Nimmer Mills Case, mostly for Teiste seeing as he likes this brush as much as he does. It has now been washed and conditioned.
Keen observers will note the 'collaring' - an additional layering of badger hair around the loft to give it better shape and improve its functionality. You'll see this in older Simpson knots. It is not a particularly dense knot, which is actually rather good for a travelling brush, as it dries out more quickly. It is in Best badger as stamped, but has that 'brindled' look/colour about it.
Keen observers will note the 'collaring' - an additional layering of badger hair around the loft to give it better shape and improve its functionality. You'll see this in older Simpson knots. It is not a particularly dense knot, which is actually rather good for a travelling brush, as it dries out more quickly. It is in Best badger as stamped, but has that 'brindled' look/colour about it.
- Height: 84mm
- Loft: 42mm
- Handle height: 42mm
- Knot: 21mm
Teiste
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I must admit that your Case is more stunning than mine. Also, your knot size is bigger, since mine is closer to 18 mm instead of 21 mm. I wonder if Simpson will make the hole bigger to fit the current Case specs (my Case should be arriving at the Isle of Man this coming Tuesday, so we shall see).
I had a Case from 2012 that was quite densely packed with hair. Actually, I would say it was extra packed—even more than my Berkeley 46, despite having a very similar knot size. But at the time, to be honest, I used the Berkeley more for traveling due to its ergonomic handle. I sold the Case for that very reason and regretted it afterward, of course.
This was the previous Case with Best Badger hair:
Teiste
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A little bit of history here.
Back in April 2013, I received the first Simpson "synthetic badger" prototype.
In 2011, Mühle released their first generation of Silvertip Fibre, followed by the second generation in 2013. The second release was a total surprise to the wet shaving community, as the quality of the synthetic fiber had improved dramatically compared to previous iterations.
Simpson saw the opportunity and decided to release brushes under their own brand. Previously, they had only released synthetics under the Vulfix name or for London firms, both using subpar fibers.
This first prototype was a Duke 3, and it was a complete disaster: extra scratchy tips paired with an extremely firm backbone. There were four testers in the US, and we all reached the same conclusion: these fibers could not be used in a proper shaving brush. Simpson went back to the drawing board, and that version was never released.
Back in April 2013, I received the first Simpson "synthetic badger" prototype.
In 2011, Mühle released their first generation of Silvertip Fibre, followed by the second generation in 2013. The second release was a total surprise to the wet shaving community, as the quality of the synthetic fiber had improved dramatically compared to previous iterations.
Simpson saw the opportunity and decided to release brushes under their own brand. Previously, they had only released synthetics under the Vulfix name or for London firms, both using subpar fibers.
This first prototype was a Duke 3, and it was a complete disaster: extra scratchy tips paired with an extremely firm backbone. There were four testers in the US, and we all reached the same conclusion: these fibers could not be used in a proper shaving brush. Simpson went back to the drawing board, and that version was never released.
Teiste
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After the Duke 3 prototype fiasco, Simpson worked hard to find a new synthetic fiber supplier (at the time, fibers were primarily produced by BASF and DuPont). Their goal was to release a brush that could rival Mühle’s Silvertip Fibre V2.0 line while offering a true alternative to their own badger hair brushes.
In December 2013, the same testers who had evaluated the Duke 3 received the new Simpson Chubby 2 featuring the updated fibers. The improvement in quality was immediately obvious: soft tips, better flow, and well-balanced backbone.
It was a genuine pleasure to use, though we explicitly advised Simpson and Mark not to set the loft below 54 mm.
We unanimously gave the green light to the new knot. However, Simpson went on to release production models with lofts under 50 mm, resulting in brushes so stiff that customers routinely complained. The issue was never the fiber itself, but the overly short loft height. This was likely due to production issues, as it was the first time they had manufactured synthetic brushes on a larger scale compared to previous releases.
It took Simpson several years to resolve the problem alongside a series of branding shifts—transitioning from "synthetic badger" to "synthetic bristle," and eventually to "Platinum Fibre."
The supplier of those original "Platinum" fibers is no longer operating, but Simpson has since sourced an alternative that closely resembles Mühle’s 4th-generation Silvertip Fibre.
Still, the true history of Simpson synthetic brushes started right here.
In December 2013, the same testers who had evaluated the Duke 3 received the new Simpson Chubby 2 featuring the updated fibers. The improvement in quality was immediately obvious: soft tips, better flow, and well-balanced backbone.
It was a genuine pleasure to use, though we explicitly advised Simpson and Mark not to set the loft below 54 mm.
We unanimously gave the green light to the new knot. However, Simpson went on to release production models with lofts under 50 mm, resulting in brushes so stiff that customers routinely complained. The issue was never the fiber itself, but the overly short loft height. This was likely due to production issues, as it was the first time they had manufactured synthetic brushes on a larger scale compared to previous releases.
It took Simpson several years to resolve the problem alongside a series of branding shifts—transitioning from "synthetic badger" to "synthetic bristle," and eventually to "Platinum Fibre."
The supplier of those original "Platinum" fibers is no longer operating, but Simpson has since sourced an alternative that closely resembles Mühle’s 4th-generation Silvertip Fibre.
Still, the true history of Simpson synthetic brushes started right here.
Last edited:
Teiste
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They were absolutely terrible, yes.