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
Tag: Estate Pipe
Stem Repair and a General Freshening of a Carlo Scotti Castello Old Sea Rock Chimney
Pipe smokers can usually be sorted into one of two camps when it comes to pipe maintenance. On one side are the pipe stewards who go out of their way not to damage their pipes in any way. These folks may clean the pipe after each and every smoke, never ream carbon cake with a… Continue reading Stem Repair and a General Freshening of a Carlo Scotti Castello Old Sea Rock Chimney
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
Major Structural Repairs to Save a “Made in Ireland” Peterson Dublin & London 9BC
Peterson's 9BC shape is a true classic of the marque. The Shape 9 bowl is an original Charles Peterson design, part of the Peterson catalog since 1896, and, though the 9BC is out of production, it can still be found in modern Peterson pipes stamped as a 307, 9S or XL90s. The 9BC is also… Continue reading Major Structural Repairs to Save a “Made in Ireland” Peterson Dublin & London 9BC
Repairing a Cracked Shank on a Danish Pride by Ben Wade Freehand
I recently refurbished a number of pipes sent in by a gentleman from Texas. These were mainly freehand pipes in need of new stems, but the pipe on the bench today needed quite a bit more TLC than a quick Ream & Clean. The handsome mixed finish Freehand Sitter pictured below arrived without a stem… Continue reading Repairing a Cracked Shank on a Danish Pride by Ben Wade Freehand
Replacing a Loose 9mm Filter Tenon on a Dunhill Cumberland 4102F
A loose tenon is a fairly common occurrence in the pipe world. Many little things can alter the fit of the tenon over time. For example, removing the stem while the pipe is still hot can compress the tenon, wear and tear can erode the surface of the tenon or the mortise or both, or,… Continue reading Replacing a Loose 9mm Filter Tenon on a Dunhill Cumberland 4102F
Recreating a Unique Twin Bore P-Lip Style Stem for a Rudolf’s Patent Prima
If imitation is the biggest form or flattery, then Peterson should feel very flattered by the Rudolf's Patent pipe on the bench today. Purchased by an avid early Peterson pipe collector, the pipe was sent to me for some much needed rehabilitation. Here are a few pics of the pipe as it looked on arrival… Continue reading Recreating a Unique Twin Bore P-Lip Style Stem for a Rudolf’s Patent Prima
Repairing a Broken Shank and Crafting a New System Stem for a Patent Era Brigham 105 Dublin
A broken pipe is always a tragedy to a pipe smoker, and all the more so when the pipe is out of production. Such was the case of this Patent Era Brigham 105, the smallest of the marque's classic Dublin shapes. A touch of misadventure on a backpacking trip had snapped the shank off just… Continue reading Repairing a Broken Shank and Crafting a New System Stem for a Patent Era Brigham 105 Dublin
Clearing a Tough Shank Obstruction & Re-Stemming an Astley’s Straight Apple
Shank obstructions are a fact of life for many smoking pipes, so much so that a long, thin shank reamer is part of just about every pipe tool on the market. Typically not much more than a length of stiff steel wire, shank reamers are designed to push through a blockage in the pipe's airway… Continue reading Clearing a Tough Shank Obstruction & Re-Stemming an Astley’s Straight Apple
Trash to Treasure? Removing a Broken Meerschaum Bowl Liner from a Lord Rusticated Pot
Meerschaum-lined briar pipes hit the market around the 1960s and were very popular for a time. Indeed, some are still being made today, but this tends to be limited to Turkish brands since the exporting of raw meerschaum was banned in the 1970s. Some consider a meerschaum lining little more than a gimmick, while others… Continue reading Trash to Treasure? Removing a Broken Meerschaum Bowl Liner from a Lord Rusticated Pot
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