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,… Continue reading Rebirth of an Inherited Medico VFQ Foursquare Pot
It's that time of year again, with all the wonder, joy, kindness, caring, stress, anxiety, loneliness and yes, even loss that comes with it. Moreover, it is another COVID Christmas, which adds another, less welcome, dimension to the 2021 Holiday season. Here at DadsPipes, as in many places across Canada and around the world, local… Continue reading Merry Christmas from DadsPipes
This Isle of Man Bulldog, made by Manxman Pipes Ltd, was purchased as an estate pipe by a DadsPipes reader and sent to me for some TLC. The restoration brief included a good cleaning and polishing along with a new stem that would allow the pipe's new steward to avoid having to work around the… Continue reading Saddle from a Taper – A New Stem for an Isle of Man African Meerschaum Bulldog
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. This Dr Plumb Bent Billiard arrived on the worktable for a basic… Continue reading Freshening a Dr Plumb’s 5091 Bent Billiard
Not all estate pipe restorations are long, involved processes requiring specialized equipment - thankfully - yet even simple cleanup jobs can have remarkable outcomes. Such was the case for this Savinelli Extra Lumberman that recently passed through the shop. As this first series of pics shows, the pipe wasn't in bad shape when it arrived… Continue reading A Quick Cleanup of a Savinelli Extra Lumberman
Thanksgiving is traditionally a time to count your blessings and appreciate the people and things, great and small, that bring joy, love and laughter to your life. This year, the second Thanksgiving observed during the global COVID pandemic, I'd like to do just that. Thank you to all those working in front-line jobs across the… Continue reading Take a Moment to Say Thanks
This pipe arrived at the workshop recently, sent in from a pipe smoker in the Prairies for a bit of TLC. The subject is a figural meerschaum in the shape of a Sultan's head. The obvious issue was the broken Bakelite stem, which had snapped off near the shank. Less obvious before a closer examination… Continue reading Rehabilitating a Modified Sultan Figural Meerschaum
This old meerschaum stummel came to me in a lot of bowls I purchased from a pipe friend in the Netherlands. It caught my eye immediately due to its obvious age and deep amber coloration, though it had a few issues that would need to be sorted out before it found its next pipe steward.… Continue reading Creating a Mini-Warden from a Vintage Meerschaum Dublin
Over the years, I have developed a generally good sense of the age of a pipe based on its size, shape and finish, among other details. This Peterson Sherlock Holmes meerschaum, however, surprised me. When it arrived on the work table, the pipe was looking far from its best. The stem was heavily oxidized with… Continue reading Restoring a Hard-Ridden 2006 Peterson Sherlock Holmes Meerschaum
Lockdowns, closures and other by-products of the COVID pandemic have revived (for some) or reintroduced (for others) the "Mend and Make Do" attitude prevalent among the British during World War II. Purchases of new things - cars, clothing, home improvement projects, etc - have been delayed or given up altogether as people tighten their proverbial… Continue reading Rehabilitating a “Repaired” Savinelli Chocolat 122
dadspipes.com 