Wizard_Theron
Mac-Valve Maestro!
I've been meaning to post about this one for a while but haven't managed until now. Here's some photos.
Anyone got a clue what the 1 on the front signifies? I mean, I'm pretty sure it's a 1, the same shape being in the serial number but reading more obviously as a 1 there.
This brush is not far off being 100 years old which is incredible really because it doesn't look it to me in terms of its design, which appears more modern. This design was, I think, Charles Burdick's last airbrush design before he left his company Aerograph, I understand he sold up to Devilbiss around 1930. I haven't looked into that in any detail myself yet though, so that may or may not be accurate.
Here is a copy of the patent drawing which he applied for on May 9, 1927:
This particular model has quite a low serial number, 2127 and it has a few features that are different to later versions of the same brush. It doesn't say Model AE or AEA as most do (I am unsure of what the difference is in those two models either so I don't know how to tell which mine is) and the Aerograph Trademark bit on the side of the handle is horizontal, whereas most run round the handle subsequently. Whatsmore, the handle is not the usual aluminum that is common on this model, but is made of some kind of plastic, I'm pretty sure a form of ebonite. Aerograph certainly used ebonite on their early brushes, and this has a rather warm touch to it as ebonite does. It could be a different plastic though, I can't be sure. I know @Kingpin has one practically the same as this, with an even lower serial number.
The trigger is interesting but I actually don't like the trigger mechanism on this brush all that much. It is clever, don't get me wrong, and Burdick designed it so that the paint won't come out until air is first released and won't let the air stop until after the paint is first halted - I think I read the recent H&S Ultra 2024 does something similar, as I imagine a bunch of brushes do nowadays, but this brush was designed in the 1920s... The reason I dislike the trigger is because there is too much friction as a cost for the feature described, at least in this brush. Maybe the later version of this brush with the slightly different looking trigger resolved that, I don't know. But I also don't like the adjuster screw on the bottom. It works perfectly as it should but being where it is, that is right where you want to put your fingers to hold the brush and it's just not comfortable!
In terms of overall quality, it is fine but it is nowhere near the outstanding quality of the earlier Burdick Aerograph I have, or the quality of the later 63s. On my earlier Burdick one, the quality is immensely good in every aspect, whereas this brush feels far more mass produced, the method of construction is obviously different, and it's stated in the patent that Burdick designed it to be cheaper to produce so I guess that was inevitable.
Burdick's patent says it was designed to spray nice fine lines. Does it? Well the needle and nozzle appear in great condition but I've not got around to trying it yet. I keep meaning to put some paint through some brushes. I'll post back when I do.
Anyone got a clue what the 1 on the front signifies? I mean, I'm pretty sure it's a 1, the same shape being in the serial number but reading more obviously as a 1 there.
This brush is not far off being 100 years old which is incredible really because it doesn't look it to me in terms of its design, which appears more modern. This design was, I think, Charles Burdick's last airbrush design before he left his company Aerograph, I understand he sold up to Devilbiss around 1930. I haven't looked into that in any detail myself yet though, so that may or may not be accurate.
Here is a copy of the patent drawing which he applied for on May 9, 1927:
This particular model has quite a low serial number, 2127 and it has a few features that are different to later versions of the same brush. It doesn't say Model AE or AEA as most do (I am unsure of what the difference is in those two models either so I don't know how to tell which mine is) and the Aerograph Trademark bit on the side of the handle is horizontal, whereas most run round the handle subsequently. Whatsmore, the handle is not the usual aluminum that is common on this model, but is made of some kind of plastic, I'm pretty sure a form of ebonite. Aerograph certainly used ebonite on their early brushes, and this has a rather warm touch to it as ebonite does. It could be a different plastic though, I can't be sure. I know @Kingpin has one practically the same as this, with an even lower serial number.
The trigger is interesting but I actually don't like the trigger mechanism on this brush all that much. It is clever, don't get me wrong, and Burdick designed it so that the paint won't come out until air is first released and won't let the air stop until after the paint is first halted - I think I read the recent H&S Ultra 2024 does something similar, as I imagine a bunch of brushes do nowadays, but this brush was designed in the 1920s... The reason I dislike the trigger is because there is too much friction as a cost for the feature described, at least in this brush. Maybe the later version of this brush with the slightly different looking trigger resolved that, I don't know. But I also don't like the adjuster screw on the bottom. It works perfectly as it should but being where it is, that is right where you want to put your fingers to hold the brush and it's just not comfortable!
In terms of overall quality, it is fine but it is nowhere near the outstanding quality of the earlier Burdick Aerograph I have, or the quality of the later 63s. On my earlier Burdick one, the quality is immensely good in every aspect, whereas this brush feels far more mass produced, the method of construction is obviously different, and it's stated in the patent that Burdick designed it to be cheaper to produce so I guess that was inevitable.
Burdick's patent says it was designed to spray nice fine lines. Does it? Well the needle and nozzle appear in great condition but I've not got around to trying it yet. I keep meaning to put some paint through some brushes. I'll post back when I do.
