Rebirth of an Inherited Medico VFQ Foursquare Pot

(DadsPipes) Often when we think of family heirloom pipes what comes to mind is Grandpa’s collection of Patent-Era Dunhills or a complete set of Peterson Sherlock Holmes pipes, but the truth is that the vast majority of pipes sold during the Golden Age of pipe smoking (roughly the 1950s through to the 1970s) were relatively inexpensive, factory-produced pipes. Two such inherited briar smoking companions arrived at the shop recently – today’s Medico VFQ Foursquare Pot, and an LL Bean Bent Billiard I will cover in another post. Continued

Repairing a Horn Stem on an Heirloom Czech-Made Bavarian

(DadsPipes) Every now and again I get the particular pleasure of working on a family heirloom pipe, a treasured part of someone’s family history they wish to preserve for display or their own use. This Made in Czechoslovakia Bavarian style pipe is one such piece, first owned by the current pipe steward’s grandfather. Continued

Freshening a Dr Plumb’s 5091 Bent Billiard

(Dad's Pipes) The Dr Plumb’s brand has been around since 1925 when it was introduced by GBD as a budget line aimed primarily at the North American export market. First produced in France, Dr Plumb’s pipes are now made in the UK and stamped accordingly. Continued

ROUGH RYDER TOBACCO BONE PIPE DOCTOR KNIFE

The History, Manufacture, and Use of Clay Pipes

(Smokingpipes.com) Long before meerschaum and briar were utilized as pipe-making mediums, clay was the primary material used to make pipes. Clay pipes were at one time ubiquitous, often smoked in taverns, churches, and homes, and even after meerschaum became available, they were the choice of many because meerschaum was expensive. 

Clay pipes have been smoked for centuries and modern incarnations are nearly identical to early examples from hundreds of years ago in regard to the materials used and manufacturing methods. In addition to their classic appeal, clay pipes require no break-in and are renowned for their high level of heat resistance and flavor-neutral smoking qualities. Continued

THE DUNHILL FOUR - They're Really THAT Good!

Vintage Tobacco Tins

Cleaning/Restoring a 1962 Dunhill Shell Briar Billiard

Pipe and Tamper: A short history on the Radice Tobacco Pipe.

Another Christmas Vacation Restoration – A GBD London Made in London England C789 Pot

(rebornpipes) ... I remember acquiring this GBD Pot a few years back from an eBay seller from Cave City, Arkansas. She had a few different pipes on the auction block and in the end, we were able to work out a bundled agreement which was mutually beneficial. The bundle included GBD London Made, Selection Italy, GBD Americana, Dr. Grabow Omega and No Name Algerian Briar. Continued

History of Dr. Grabow Pipes

A New Stem and a Good Waxing for a Capped Meerschaum Author

(DadsPipes) The range and diversity of meerschaum pipes never fails to impress me. From traditional shapes to intricately carved designs and figurals, there is a meerschaum pipe to meet any taste. The pipe on the worktable today is a traditional smooth Author with a bit of Teutonic flare in the shape of a crowned nickel wind cap. It came to me with a cheap, ill-fitting plastic stem better suited to a corncob pipe that melted when I attempted to polish it on the buffer. I quickly tossed it in the bin, which left me with a stummel in good but dirty condition. Continued

Rebirthing a Lovely Peterson’s Kapruf 86 Made in Ireland

(rebornpipes) ... The grime was ground into the grooves of the sandblast finish on the bowl sides. The contrast of the brown stains gave the blast a sense of depth. It was stamped on the flat underside of the shank and read Peterson’s [over] Kapruf. To the left of that on the heel was the shape number 86. To the right of the Kapruf stamp it read Made in Ireland. This pipe must have been a favourite as it had been well smoked. There was a moderate cake in the bowl a light overflow of lava and darkening on the thin rim top. Continued

New Life for a Barling’s Garnet Grain Oval Shank 9001 Bent Billiard

Robert Benchley

(rebornpipes) The next pipe on the work table was purchased on Ebay in 2017 and came to us from Latgale, Latvia. 

The pipe is smooth, nicely grained Bent Billiard pipe with an oval shank and an acrylic, saddle stem. The pipe is stamped on left side of the shank and reads Garnet Grain. On the right side of the shank it is stamped England. On the underside of the shank it is stamped with the shape number 9001. The stem has the Barling Cross logo on the top of the saddle. There was a lot of grime and dust ground into the smooth finish. Continued

This long shank Bulldog really came out looking amazing

(rebornpipes) The next pipe on the work table is one that came to us from a pipe hunt that Jeff or I did and we cannot remember where and when we picked it up. Our memory is that it has been sitting around for a while waiting to be restored. It does not have and stamping on the left side of the shank. On the right side it reads Made In [over] London, England. The vulcanite saddle stem has no identifying marks that help with identification. The pipe has an interesting mix of grain – swirls, birdseye and cross grain around the bowl and long shank. Continued

UPDATED VERSION OF “THE TOBACCONIST HANDBOOK” RELEASED

Walter Cronkite

(halfwheel) The second edition of “The Tobacconist Handbook” from Jorge Armenteros, the founder of Tobacconist University, has officially been released. This second edition is a hardcover that checks in at 264 pages and features a number of updates from the original version, which was published in August 2009, including improved photos and updated content. Continued

Replacing a Bone Screw Tenon on a Petite Lady’s Head Figural Meerschaum

(Dad's Pipes) Today’s estate pipe restoration is a bit more esoteric than some of my recent posts. I’m working on a rather petite figural meerschaum pipe carved into the likeness of a lady’s head. I would tentatively date this pipe to the latter half of the 19th Century, though there are no markings on the pipe or case to confirm this. Continued

The History of Pipe Design: France and England

(Smokingpipes.com) ... We start in St. Claude, France, c. 1850. The Comoy's pipe factory, established by Francois Comoy roughly 30 years prior, had made a name for itself fashioning pipes from clay and boxwood for Napoleon's armies. Around 1850, however, the factory began producing pipes out of briar, having recognized the wood's superior smoking qualities and unknowingly establishing a precedent for pipe making that would endure turns of centuries. From that point, St. Claude would become the source of briar-pipe making through the rest of the 19th century, with tributaries eventually expanding to other cities and into other countries. Continued

Restoring and Restemming a MALAGA Canadian

(rebornpipes) The next pipe on the table is a “Malaga” pipe that Jeff picked up from an online auction from Alden, Michigan, USA. It is a nice looking Canadian with an oil cured finish and some great looking grain around the bowl and shank. The pipe is stamped on top of the shank and reads MALAGA. Continued

Cleaning up a new brand for me – a Cowan’s Hand Made Custom Bullmoose

(rebornpipes) The next pipe in the queue came to us from a recent pipe hunt that Jeff and his wife did in Utah. It is one of five pipes that he found in a new spot that he visited. All of the pipes have a similar pattern of rustication around the bowl and shank. It combines both smooth and panels of rustication in a unique pattern. Continued