In 1893, one Jack Stallard was in something of a pickle. A seafarer by trade, he had found himself abandoned in the port of Tokyo, Japan, by his callous former captain. With little money, and no English vessel to which he could sign on currently in port, Stallard resolved to spend his time in Japan profitably. Heading deeper into Tokyo, he searched for opportunity – a job, an opportunity to invest his meagre funds, or really anything at all to pass the time and make some money! There was just one problem – Jack Stallard spoke no Japanese, and had exactly forty-five minutes’ worth of experience in Japanese culture and customs!
After two days of fruitless searching, Stallard had succeeded only in depleting his savings in dockside taverns, in order to eat and have a roof over his head at night. Worse, on the third day he took a wrong turn down a dark alleyway, and found himself confronted by a gang of thugs, intent on taking his remaining coin. Handy with his fists, Jack gave a good account of himself, but in a five-on-one mugging, there could only be one outcome. Beaten to within an inch of his life, Jack Stallard’s story seemed like it had come to an end.
As he lay bleeding in the street, it seemed that all was lost… until a mysterious figure appeared in the alley. Lifting Jack to his feet, he carried the half-conscious man through the streets to his house, fed him, and tended his wounds. Speaking no English, he nevertheless cared for the wounded Englishman for several days, and arranged for his passage back to Europe on a passing tramp steamer, asking no payment in return. Stallard could see that the man was clearly a master craftsman, for his house was filled with woodworking tools and beautifully carved items – among them a great many paintbrushes, with long, elegant handles. For several weeks, Jack watched as the man worked, and began to assist him in whatever small ways he could – carrying water, sharpening knives, and cleaning up wood shavings – to pay his keep.
When the time came for Jack to depart, the mysterious stranger bade him farewell, and pressed into his hands a paintbrush, masterfully crafted, bearing the legend ‘Kazuhiro Ohno – Paint Tamer’, although of course our hero, unable to read Japanese, could not read it! Jack Stallard sailed for England, never to return to Japan, and would in time go on to marry and raise a family. The beautiful paintbrush was put away, and over the decades slowly forgotten…
A century passed, and more. Generations of the Stallard clan came and went, until one day one John Stallard, founder and CEO of Warlord Games, was clearing out some space in his cavernous hobby room. At the bottom of an enormous pile of Marlburian infantry, he came across a small wooden box, clearly antique. Within, he discovered a paintbrush so beautiful and elegant that he instantly knew that no other brush in his vast collection could compare. Having tested it, he knew that he had to spread the word of this legendary implement far and wide. Handily, owning a wargaming company gave him exactly the platform he needed!
For weeks, John raved about his magical brush to anyone who would listen, extolling its many virtues – the beautiful workmanship, the incredible comfort of the ergonomically designed handle, and the incredibly fine point – and demanding that people try it for themselves. All who did were astounded, and demanded to know where they could get one for themselves – at last, John was lost for words, as he simply did not know! Resolving to find out, and bring these legendary brushes to the world, he embarked on an epic journey…
Being blessed with modern technology, John was quickly able to translate the inscription on the brush, but the internet was utterly devoid of any information save a mysterious Tokyo address associated with the name Kazuhiro Ohno. Mr Stallard knew that he would have to travel to Japan – and so he did! Arriving in Tokyo, he was dismayed to find that the address seemed to be a multi-storey car park! Refusing to give up, our intrepid exploring Mr Stallard searched the entire neighbourhood, determined to find the origin of the brush. For an entire day, he hunted high and low, asking everyone he came across if they had heard of a brush maker in the area, to no avail. At last, as the sun set, and the shadows loomed long across Tokyo, he spied a small alleyway, one that he had not noticed previously. With some trepidation, he ventured down it, and was greeted by the site of a tiny workshop. Over the door hung a sign bearing the same characters as his brush!
Knocking on the door, he was greeted by the kindly face of a man who seemed immediately familiar to him – and helpfully, who spoke English! Introducing himself as ‘Kazu’, he welcomed John into his workshop, and the Warlord CEO knew he had found the right place. Brushes just like his were piled on every surface, each as beautiful as the one he had found, and over the course of the evening, Kazu explained that his family had been making them by hand for centuries, passing down the secrets of their craft from father to son, and providing limited quantities to only the finest artists. John begged Kazu to allow him to bring his brushes to the wider market, but the master craftsman refused – only those who were worthy could possess them. It was then that John deployed his secret weapon. Revealing his possession of the antique brush, he showed Kazu the models he had painted with it. Astounded at what had been achieved with a single brush, and coming to a sudden realisation, he left the room without a word. When he returned, he held a painting – completed, he said, by his great-great-great grandfather in 1893. Depicted was a European sailor, who bore an unmistakeable facial resemblance to John, and the piece was titled ‘A Worthy Man’. With much rejoicing, the two men struck a deal – wargamers would be recognised as worthy of these legendary brushes, and John would be the one to sell them on Kazu’s behalf across the world! Even better, Kazu would refine his family’s designs to produce brushes specifically for the requirements of miniature painting!
With the deal done, John returned to England, and shipments of the brushes soon followed – finally available to everyone! John Stallard, Kazu, and Warlord Games are proud to bring the world…
Legendary craftsmanship meets fantastic value in the Paint Tamer brush series. Handmade in Japan, these synthetic-bristle brushes provide fantastic control and tip retention, and their ergonomic handles make handling a joy. The Paint Tamer range is perfect for new and experienced painters alike, and is a great choice for anyone looking to upgrade their synthetic brush selection!
