Every pipe smoker has a favourite pipe. It's almost inevitable, I think, as people tend to find something that works for them - a particular button design, width or height, a bowl with just the right capacity or size to fit their needs the majority of the time. Have a look at any pipe lover's… Continue reading Major Repairs to a Much Loved Peterson Aran 68
The Brigham Norseman (rusticated) and Valhalla (smooth) pipes were first introduced in the 1960s and were produced until the early 1980s when the two lines were folded into the President series. The pipe on the bench today was made in Brigham's Toronto factory right at the end of the series' run. The pipe was sent… Continue reading A New System Stem for an Early 1980s Brigham Norseman
I'm always impressed by the vast array of pipe shapes and styles available on both the new and estate pipe markets. While many pipe lovers enjoy the classic Billiard, Bulldog and Pot shapes, others take great pleasure in the more unusual or esoteric examples of the pipe carver's skill. The French-made pipe on the worktable… Continue reading A New Diamond Taper Stem for an Interesting Grapevine-Carved Bruyere Extra
I have often said that any pipe is restorable if the will to do so exists. This project put that statement to the test as I faced down some significant challenges on this Patent Dunhill Lovat's road to redemption. Sent to me by a Canadian college professor teaching in Massachusetts, the pipe had belonged to… Continue reading Restoration or Necromancy? Reviving a Well Loved Dunhill Patent Lovat
Filtered pipes have been around in one form or another for decades. According to this article on Pipedia.org, the Dr Grabow paper filter was first patented in 1932. This was not the first such paper filter on the market, however; the German firm Vauen introduced the Dr Perl paper filter more than a decade earlier… Continue reading Repairing a 9mm Tenon on a Stefano Exclusive Tomato
One of the things I enjoy most about operating a web-based business is that I never know where my next job will come from. Nearly a decade after first hanging my shingle out, about half of the repair and restoration projects that arrive on the bench are from domestic clients across Canada; the other half… Continue reading Rebuilding a Scorched & Shattered Dunhill Cumberland Dublin
The pipe on the workbench today came in to the DadsPipes shop as part of a larger lot of estate pipes sent to me for restoration from a gent in California. The pipe caught my eye immediately - a larger Oom Paul shape tends to do that, but Peterson is known for its stoutly-carved stummels.… Continue reading Resuscitating a Well Used Peterson XL18 Oom Paul Silver Spigot
A long-standing DadsPipes client contacted me one day with an interesting project. As part of a large and ever-growing collection of pipes, he had acquired a very well used vintage meerschaum pipe carved in the shape of a hand holding a bunch of grapes. The laundry list of needed repairs was extensive - a good… Continue reading Sour Grapes – Rescuing a Vintage Meerschaum
It's always fun to come across an old pipe brand I've not heard of before, and even better if I get to work on a representative pipe. This RBC branded cased Bulldog came into the shop for a cleanup and a new stem and, unlike many pipes of this vintage, it was destined to be… Continue reading Cutting a New Acrylic Stem for a Vintage RBC French Briar Bulldog
I recently wrote about the work done to restore a vintage Frank Bulldog. Today's patient is of a slightly older vintage but where the Frank needed structural work to bring it back to life, this Kaufman Brothers & Bondy pipe arrived in pretty good estate condition. The pipe was in need of a good general… Continue reading Refreshing an Elder Statesman – a KB&B Blueline Bakelite Cased Bulldog
