Posted by Mike Jackson on May 05, 2003
D. BernhardtI used to buy a lot of quills and had some stored up from the last purchase, but we need to buy a few new ones now. Which ones are the best now? French Masters? I could ask Andrew Mack which ones he sells the most, but I'd like to hear from the group here.
Thanks,
Mike Jackson
Mike JacksonHi Mike...yuppers the Duck geese..crows and the whole flock in general are great brush...everyone swears by them....myself...i swear AT them. Just can,t get used to them. You can tell they are a quality product, have a set of them in the tray at work and end up always going to my Raphael browns
Doug AgainHi Doug,
I looked up Handover brushes on Google and found places in England that sells them, but I haven't really found a US supplier. I called Mack Brushes, but they really only sell Mack Brushes and were not interested in importing Handover. I tried calling Esoteric2 a couple of times, getting no answer. Where did you get your Handover brushes?
Does anyone have a US source?
Mike Jackson
Roderick Treece - Remember Issy PosnerHi Mike, Got mine from Rick of course...but I'd have no hesitation to go to the Limeys. That friend of Dave Smith's we met several years ago at Conclave will have em! I think he is Hanover.
P.S. Studdley swears by his and showed me a few he had since before coming over here. They are in oil of course and looked and worked better when broken in.
Harry MalicoatAny body remember Izzy Posner. He used to sell brushes out of the back of his car circ.1950-1960? Im sure he's dead but made be somebody took it over. Thats who I'd buy from if I could. If any one has any pictures I'd be interested.
Harry OreskoIt was a great loss when Izzy retired. He sold the business to a striper from LA area. He moved to Washington state in the early 80s then flaked away. No word of him for decades. Izzy spent his time on his music. He died quite a few years ago.
Harry MalicoatIZZY MADE ROUNDS TO MOST SIGN SHOPS HERE IN THE
L.A. AREA. I BOUGHT HIS BRUSHES. HE ALSO CARRIED AROUND SOME GOLD LEAF SAMPLES. KIM & ED TOOK OVER HIS ROUTE. DARRYL PINNEY SOLD HIS BRUSHES WHILE
LETTERING & STRIPING HERE IN BREA CA.
Dave SmithHi Mike,.... none of the quills today are quite as good as the old French Masters (including the new French Masters). Mack has some very nice brushes that they import rather than make (they are French), but there are very nice brushes from most of the old companies. The most difficult thing is to order brushes without being able to pick them out. I have restocked by drawer each February at Esoteric during the conclave. After saying HI to all the old friends, my next move was always to hit the brush trays before they got picked over. BTW, have you tried the Hanover sable quills from England. I like them a lot. They take a little breaking in, but last for years and keep their shape beautifully.
Mike Jackson - Which model of Handover Sables?Harry
Handover Brushes are some of the finest brushes
I have used, The quills are nice to work with,they keep there shape well, great choice of brushes.Try these out mike! I think you will like them.
HANDOVER BRUSHESDave,
Which series Handover brush do you like the best?
It appears there are several different ones availavle.
Mike Jackson
http://203.147.159.24/sign/brushes.htm#gild&gold
Harry Malicoat
Mike JacksonMike,...... the ones I am using are series 2116. The sizes will seem odd because they are not numbered. They are sized by the quills. The smallest is a crow and is approximately like a 1 - 2. A small duck is about a 3. A duck is a 4. A large duck is a 5. A small goose is a 6. A goose is a 7 - 8 and a large goose is about a 10. They take a little breaking in, so don't lose patience if you don't like them the first day.
Mike JacksonI've never used Handover Brushes. Who carries them now? Andrew Mack? I'll have to order a few and give 'em a try.
Thanks,
Mike Jackson
Danny BusselleHi Harry,
I used to buy my brushes at the Conclaves and also at the big Letterheads meetings where Mack was displaying their wares. I the last big one I went to was in Boise, so the brush supply has dwindled. When I have to order, I will just have to depend on the people at Mack to try to pick out a few good ones for me. They know what we are after. I'd feel better ordering from him than someone that has never lettered a sign at a place like Dick Blick.
Thanks for the reply,
Mike Jackson
Billy BobHi to all on this BB. Harry mentioned Handovers. BDFG turn me on to them, funny names to get used to but think about it. England is cold and wet most of the time, they take paint stright form can and use it wow. they have the snap of a sable water color brush, if you have done a lot of show cards. After useing them for several years now, its like I had blinders on when I used french masters or Raphials. John the RED coat Studden also uses them. Small are "crows" then "ducks" is what i use most. Just got to break them it.
Regards to all.
Roderic Treece - Issy Posner/Ed "Big Daddy" Roth/Robert CurryA long time ago an old fellow used to stop by the shop where I worked, and sold brushes from the trunk on his car. ( I miss those days) Later, Ken Millar used to vend 'em at Letterhead meets and turned me on to "Cosmos" red sable quills. These are my all time favorite, but alas, not available any more.
I need some now too, and those ones fron Britain sound like "da kine".
Thanks Billy Bob for your posting. The "old Fellow"was Issy Posner. I was just with an old freind the other day, Robert Curry. He worked at Knott's for my dad when "Big Daddy was there. He told me that when Issy Posner came by one day all the guy's where out there and Robert say's to Big Daddy "which one should I buy "and Ed asked him" How long do you think your gonna be doing this cause if your serious you gotta have one of each". Robert told long time so Ed picked out all the brushes he thought Robert would need and loaned him the money. Which even back then was very expensive. Robert still has those brushes as do I.
I can't think of a better memory than looking into the trunk of that car and seeing all those beautiful brushes. It makes me wonder how many people decided right then to become a sign painter.
Billy Bob thanks again for your posting . Where was it that you saw him.
How many people would buy brushes like that again? I'd like that job!
Roderick
Billy Bob
Roderick - Issy WorldThe brush man drove a big car w. a big trunk. And when he showed up, it was like when the ice cream man arrived (ringing his bell) when I was a kid. Exciting! This was in the early '80s in Richmond, Va.
If someone tryed to sell brushes that way these days, most current sign shop vinyl jockys wouldn't know what the brushes were for!
Lee LittlewoodThis is so great! Just how big was that trunk? I thought I was the only kid who got his first brushes from Izzy. At that time I thought that had to be the second coolest job in the world after painting signs. It is very interesting to me to find out how big his route was. I think he went to Europe to get some of his brushes but I don't know. Theres got to be some photo's of him some where. John Stodden told me he bought his old panel truck from him and he has a photo of that. I'd only sell to people that knew what the word "brush" meant.
Roderick
Around 1980 (I'd have to look it up but I could) a guy came through Portland Or. in a big car, maybe a panel truck. It had stripes but nothing very fancy. He said he had bought Izzy Posner out and was selling brushes. I think he was selling French Masters, but what I really remember and I bought was a 3" watersize brush. I'd never seen one so big. Took awhile to get it wet, it just felt so nice brushing it against your cheek...
I don't remember his name, might still have an invoice filed away. He didn't return to Portland I don't think. He says, "If you sight down a straight pinstripe you can see little bumps in the line, that's the pulse in the striper's hand." Lovely image, is it true??
Denver Chapter of the Letterheads