I found this the other day, but didn't buy it. Had anyone used one of these early gen synthetic brushes, made essentially from fishing line? How well do they work? This is a Rubberset or Ever-Ready.
They aren't all that bad, but the straight bristles don't hold as much water or lather as the squiggly bristles of the newer ones. I replaced the knot in one that my son has with a new one and it's much nicer.
Look at the experienced ones. Many of the better early synthetics did use a squiggly bristle. But even the straight ones work well.
They usually felt a bit strange to me, but many have nice handles for restorations. Before After (not my best work)
They are awful and uncomfortable.... I had one and replaced the knot. It is a fantastic little brush. Before After
I had a synthetic many years ago. It did not hold water worth a hoot. It was decent for face lathering, but too spineless to build a decent lather in a bowl without quite a bit of effort. I only stuck with it due to some bad experiences with very cheap natural brushes, and did not bother too educate myself regarding high quality alternatives. As mediocre as that brush was, it was always better than goop sprayed from a can.
BTW this brush is a Century Plastiset brush. Century being the brand name and Plastiset being the material it was made. Like the one @rmcintyre84 is showing, the Rubberset and other manufacturers have Plastiset written on them.
I wouldn't classify it as vintage but the muhle/EJ silvertip fibre - version 1 is still one of my all time favorites synthetic fibre! I have it in the M, L and XL. I also have the v2 in L but it can't conjugate to the v1 at all!
Many years ago I tried a synthetic Omega (with the white fibres). It was crap. -- Pitralon forever - Real pens have a nib - If it doesn't tick, it's not a watch.