This older Brigham pipe came to me in a mixed eBay estate lot, and at first glance I took it for a basic Billiard. Closer examination and a shape number unrelated to Brigham's Billiard pipes changed my mind. Ultimately, I've labelled this pipe a Straight Brandy Sitter as the bowl walls taper inwards from base… Continue reading Restoring a 1960’s Brigham 127 Straight Brandy
Twice a year there is a large antiques and collectibles show in my area. I love digging through the stalls at events like this, and though I've noticed a decided turn away from actual antiques towards "upcycled" or "gentrified old stuff" at this particular show, I still managed to come away with a few interesting… Continue reading A Good Cleaning & Stem Repair for a Peterson Kapmeer 24S
A pipeman from Canada's Far North sent me a few pipes from Iqaluit, Nunavut to clean up for him. One of those pipes was, he said, was his favourite old Blatter Bros briar. After years of restorations and repairs, I've seen quite a few favourite pipes and enjoy what they can tell me about the… Continue reading Cleaning Up a Favourite, and Slightly Unorthodox, Blatter Bros Author
I am continually impressed by the seemingly endless array of pipe shapes out there - Billiards, Pots, Bulldogs, Apples, Rhodesians, Canadians, Blowfish, Ramses, Cavaliers and so many more! "Pure", or easily classifiable, pipe shapes are fascinating enough; then there are the many crossover or hybrid shapes that seem to encompass characteristics of several classic pipe… Continue reading Another New Shape – Freshening a 1990s Vintage Brigham 360
Over the past few months I've received several emails from readers asking about the specific products I use for my repairs and restorations, so I thought I'd write up a quick post on the subject. Most of the questions deal with adhesives, so I'll start there. Happily, all of these products can be found at… Continue reading Which Products and Why – Adhesives & Abrasives for Pipe Restoration
Sourcing the correct materials to restore vintage pipes is a constant task, and one made more complicated as the years go by. The youngest of the Canadian-made Brigham pipes are now nearly 20 years old, production having shifted to France and Italy in 2001. At about the same time the original aluminum tenon/filter holders were… Continue reading Tenon Transplant and New Stem for a 1970’s Brigham 113 Prince
Although some pipe retailers out there carry estate pipes, many of us find our vintage briars at antique shops, garage sales or similar places. Sometime, however, a new pipe smoker will inherit a cherished pipe from a family member. Such is the case with this Chacom Auteuil Bent Billiard, which belonged to the current owner's… Continue reading Saving a Burned Out Heirloom Chacom Auteuil 115 Oval Shank Bent Billiard
Today's restoration is really more of a very good cleaning. This Brigham 321 (which Brigham called a Woodstock shape but other may label a Zulu) was well cared for by its previous owner as evidenced by the lack of dents, dings and scratches in the briar and vulcanite. The pipe had certainly been previously enjoyed… Continue reading Quick Refresh of a 1990’s Era Brigham 321 Woodstock
I dug this old Bewlay Reject out of my refurb box recently, and puzzled over it a bit as I couldn't quite recall where or how I acquired it. I think it must have come to me in an eBay lot, but the details have completely escaped me. According to Pipedia's page on Bewlay, the… Continue reading Revitalizing a Bewlay Reject 23 Billiard
I received an email from Peterson pipe aficionado Mark Irwin of Peterson Pipe Notes recently, with a request for some help restoring the stem on an intricately carved bulldog shaped pipe. The brand is a new one for me. As Mark explained in his note, the fellow who owned the tiny BPL (Briar Pipe Line)… Continue reading Restoring an Irish Made BPL Carved Bent Bulldog
