A most unusual brush acquisition

So I decided to wait until I sent in payment for the brush, and just sent it in a little bit ago. I'm a bit perplexed as to some aspects of what I just purchased, which might sound strange, but hear me out. I was reminded a few days ago of a Simpson model I had forgotten about for a few years now, The Samson. It was a large display brush. Credit to ben74 for a photo of the brush.



I seem to remember there was no more in stock, but I realized it might be rare for it to sale, and might be a few somehow lingering. Did some internet searching for sites. No luck. So I decide to e-mail Simpson directly seeing if they had any in stock by chance. No go and didn't have any in stock, no offer to make one. Not something I broached as I figured doing a one off wouldn't really be that interesting, and that's fine. Simpson has enough to worry about at this time. They don't need a silly request. At the same time I also recalled I saw the Samson for sale on only one site. I checked there and didn't find it, but knew the website had changed drastically from memory, and thought I'd e-mail them and see if they had some by chance they forgot to relist. No dice on old stock, but here's where it gets interested.

I get a message back saying they spoke with the manufacturers and that they made one for me. It is filled with Super Badger hair, and I was given a quote for the price. Now this was quite intriguing as the Samson model as above was only made in Pure Badger. I also have pictures showing the grade, and also in lampback. I can't credit the person as I didn't save their name to the file, nor do they have a watermark indicating who took it.



I replied to the vendor sending a photo of the model I had in mind when I contacted them that this is what I had in mind, and asked if they could confirm if that was what it was. I didn't even think to ask for photos, but the next response I got back surprised me even more as I got photos of the brush that had been made.





It might not be readily apparent for those that don't obsess over Simpson brushes, but here is the brush I had in mind. The Balmoral. It was a one off for charity, and went for a pretty penny. 



I do have another picture, but a Wee Scot is obscuring the bottom partially. I have two links with info on the Balmoral right now. The one I'm choosing is likely the specs listed from the website when Simpson sold it. They look familiar to me. 

Overall height - 182mm
Handle height - 119mm
Loft height - 63mm
Knot diameter: 32mm

Quite a large brush, but I have nothing to scale next to the photos the vendor sent me. It looks to be a tad smaller, and I wouldn't be surprised by the price, but the price of the Super was quite close to the price when the Samson was being sold which was puzzling. Reading back on old information some info that was shared clicked through to my brain finally, and I decided to peruse a vendor's blog to see what their Simpson Samsons were. Que more shockers.





That second image there was playing tricks on my eyes, but now see it is zooming in on the picture when I click on it on The Gentleman's Groom Room, and it is the same brush in length and everything. I thought there was a shorter, fatter one for a moment, and a longer, skinner one. I had never seen this until this point, and would have seen it sooner if it clicked in my mind to go to the Groom Room earlier. I had seen the signs before but not The Samson in the Balmoral-esque shape. Looking at the Balmoral it still looks wider up in the portion where the logo and engraving go. Going back to the beginning, there is one thing to note. It is printed lettering, and not engraving on the brush. 

My mind is swirling with how big is the brush? Is it more moderate sized? Is it a large sized brush? How's the Super hair as it puts me in mind of Vulfix Super? It actually looks quite good in the photo. What are the dimensions? Will it have the Simpson logo or the Vulfix logo? Maybe a Simfix? Where did this brush design originate from? Is it a Simpson design or a Vulfix design? Perhaps I should ask the vendor more, but I have to stop and ask myself if any of the answers would stop me from buying it? The answer to that is absolutely not! I'll take it however it comes! It's a beautiful brush, and if it somehow ends up only being a display brush, I'll make an exception for that as it is just too interesting delving into this, and I can't but help appreciate the irony in that I went into this looking to hopefully buy a Samson brush and coming away from it all in that for all intents and purposes although it was entirely different from what I was expecting I seem to indeed be buying a Samson brush.

Wow!  I admire your persistence, Joe.  While the first Samson is interesting, the second is quite something.  Congrats.

I got word from the vendor today that they have taken delivery of the brush, and with the added comment that the brush is a monster. That seems to imply this is indeed a large display model!

What an excellent story, and that’s an heirloom brush no doubt!

I thought I would share a photo I was given prior to it shipping. The front has no logo right now. I’m half expecting a Vulfix label on the front with a picture shown of the back resembling their font, but I might be surprised. I will definitely post some photos upon arrival with some other brushes and other items for scale.

Congratulations, Joe and I would be interested to know the final dimensions of the handle and knot, once it arrives.  

That I will do. As the vendor said, I am expecting a monster.

I think I'll take delivery of the brush today, unless it is another brush I ordered also from United Kingdom. I'm doubting that as I chose untracked shipping option for that brush.

It was indeed the large brush. Large doesn't quite describe the size of this brush... It is huge!









There is no model name on the brush. I think it is fitting to call it a Samson as that is what I asked for when looking for it, and to reflect the Balmoral being a one off. The fact that this shape was made engraved with The Samson name it just seems right. Mine is unique in that it has lettering like Vulfix, but a Simpson sticker as well. 

Specs of the brush are:

Weight: 282g!
Handle height: 118.4mm
Bristle loft: 67.1mm
Knot: 35.8mm

The badger hair is quite soft, of good density, and has decent backbone surprisingly feeling it dry. I thought what I call my Big Curvaceous Beauty (right most butterscotch in picture 4, and the name is per drP) was large, but this is in a whole other category. I have been tempted in the past to trying and lather with the Big Curvaceous Beauty, and have some temptation with the Samson.

Wow, Joe! That is an incredibly large handle. The knot would be fine for me as I have a few larger knots. Good luck with the brush.