Restorations, Uncategorized

A Hand Cut Green Cumberland Ebonite Stem for a BP JUM

BP JUM pipes are a bit of a mystery. On one hand, they bear a striking resemblance to Custombilt pipes, and some speculate they were made by Tracey Mincer. On the other hand, there is, to my mind, a reasonable theory that the maker is actually Biltmore pipes, and that "BP JUM" may be a… Continue reading A Hand Cut Green Cumberland Ebonite Stem for a BP JUM

Restorations, Uncategorized

Restoring and Re-Stemming a 1944 Dunhill Patent Shell 36/1

As any student of the 1940s history will tell you, British production of just about anything not directly in support of the war effort was halted or severely curtailed while the United Kingdom devoted every resource to defeating Hitler and Nazi Germany. The Blitz obliterated a great deal of London, including, in 1941, the Alfred… Continue reading Restoring and Re-Stemming a 1944 Dunhill Patent Shell 36/1

Restorations, Uncategorized

Restoration of an 1850 Meerschaum & Silver Long Pipe Part II

Welcome to Part II of the repair and restoration of an 1850 Long Pipe! Last time, we covered the work completed on the pipe's long Cherrywood shank and unique Ebonite mouthpiece with a flexible leather-wrapped shaft. We also hand cut a new Ebonite bit to replace the original that had been broken short at some… Continue reading Restoration of an 1850 Meerschaum & Silver Long Pipe Part II

Restorations, Uncategorized

Restoration of an 1850 Meerschaum & Silver Long Pipe Part I

After a decade in the business, some pipe repairs and restorations have become routine, but every now and then a project arrives at the shop that is anything but ordinary. I love these projects as they often require outside-the-box solutions for unique challenges, involving methods and materials usually not found in more standard restoration work.… Continue reading Restoration of an 1850 Meerschaum & Silver Long Pipe Part I

Restorations, Uncategorized

Replacing a Triangular Stem on a Kriswill Bernadotte

Today's estate pipe repair project features a Kriswill Bernadotte pipe, hand made in Denmark by the factory founded by Karl Robert Kris in 1947. The Kriswill factory became a chief rival of another Danish brand, Stanwell, especially in the export market, but was hit hard in the 1970s by the worldwide drop in demand for… Continue reading Replacing a Triangular Stem on a Kriswill Bernadotte

Restorations, Uncategorized

New Life for a Peterson Dunmore 406 Prince

The Peterson Dunmore line, first launched in collaboration with Iwan Reis in 1971, was, according to this article by Mark Irwin, an attempt "to modernize the System pipe by removing what was perceived as the old-fashioned nickel mount." The series also featured a faux-Army mount stem and a carved beaded detail at the end of… Continue reading New Life for a Peterson Dunmore 406 Prince

Restorations, Uncategorized

Replacing a Broken Tenon on a BBB Ultonia 442 Rhodesian

BBB pipes are a pillar of old English pipe making, started in 1856 as "Blumfeld's Best Briars" (later "Britain's Best Briars") when an 18-year-old Louis Blumfeld took over the management of the Adolph Frankau Company. The pipe on the bench today, a BBB Ultonia 442 Rhodesian, screams "classic English pipe", and shares a lot of… Continue reading Replacing a Broken Tenon on a BBB Ultonia 442 Rhodesian

Restorations, Uncategorized

Restoring and Re-Stemming an Ascorti Business 2004 Pipe of the Year

Pipes of the Year are a relatively new development in the marketing of smoking pipes. In the early 1980s there were just a few manufacturers putting out limited runs of special edition pipes annually. Today, based primarily on demand from collectors, I'd wager that the majority of established pipe brands participate in at least one… Continue reading Restoring and Re-Stemming an Ascorti Business 2004 Pipe of the Year

Restorations, Uncategorized

Stripping and Refinishing a Patent Era Brigham 302 Billiard

I was recently sent several pipes for refurbishment from a gentleman in Nova Scotia . These were found on an estate pipe hunt through a local antique mall, and while they were in fairly good condition overall, they were all in line for some TLC. The little Billiard on the bench today was the worst… Continue reading Stripping and Refinishing a Patent Era Brigham 302 Billiard