I stumbled across this Dunhill Tanshell on eBay near the end of the auction period. The (relatively) low bid price told me that there was probably something significantly wrong with the pipe, the auction listing, or both. Curious, I read through the auction description, which was almost ridiculously brief, but accurate as far as it went:… Continue reading Reclaiming a Hard-Smoked 1969 Dunhill Tanshell “K” Apple
I found this somewhat battered meerschaum billiard at a local antique sale recently. It’s unmarked, so I can’t even begin to guess at who made it, but the Bakelite stem with orifice style opening puts the year of production somewhere between 1907 (the year Bakelite was invented) and the late 1920’s when orific stems were… Continue reading Undue Haste Leads to Shank Repair on an Old Meerschaum Billiard
There is still a handful of pipes from the Danish Lot I purchased last Spring waiting for my attention. We’ve already seen one example of a Stanwell Brazilia from this estate collection; here’s the second of three pipes from this series I’ll be restoring. This Brazilia is a Shape 85 Bent Billiard with a few more years… Continue reading Resuscitating a Stanwell Reg’d No. Brazilia 85 Bent Billiard with a Broken Horn
I came across this Chacom 296 Canadian pipe at a local antique market, and though it was in rough shape, it had a few things going for it in my mind. First was the unique leather pipe case it came in that featured a snap closure just like Grandma’s change purse. The case is unmarked,… Continue reading Restoring a Cracked Chacom 296 Canadian
I’ve been sitting on this restoration for a while, mainly because it took some time for me to come to grips with the pipe’s pedigree. The pipe in question is a Stanwell Collectors Piece, a special series of pipes issued during the company’s “Regd. No.” era (roughly 1948 – 1970) and apparently quite rare in… Continue reading A Rare Find – An Early Ivarsson Pickaxe Stanwell Collectors Piece
This is another of my recent antique fair finds. I added this Post-Patent Era (1956-69) Brigham Executive (3 Dot Vertical) 609 Apple to my bag along with the pair of Brigham Norsemen I wrote up last week. It was a good hunting trip! The Brigham Executive grade of pipe, pinned with 3 vertically aligned Dots,… Continue reading Refreshing a Post-Patent Era Brigham Executive 609 Apple
I picked up this pipe at a local antique market for not much money. I think the condition of the piece had scared off more than a few potential buyers, so the seller was happy to make a deal with me. The pipe had been well and truly enjoyed by its previous owner - the chamber… Continue reading Cleaning Up a Well Used Comoy’s The Everyman 533 Panel Billiard
"Step up, lad," cried Silver. "I won't eat you. Hand it over, lubber. I know the rules, I do; I won't hurt a depytation." Thus encouraged, the buccaneer stepped forth more briskly, and having passed something to Silver, from hand to hand, slipped yet more smartly back again to his companions. The sea-cook looked at… Continue reading A Birthday Pipe and a Pirate Curse
Dal has provided a great history of pipemaking in St Claude, France here. A post worth bookmarking, and a pipe restoration to be proud of. Thanks for posting, Dal!
I recently attended a large, semiannual antiques and vintage items sale about an hour away from home. It was one of those outdoor, rain or shine, events and so of course it rained the entire time I was there. Despite a golf umbrella, raincoat and waterproof hiking boots, I was wet to the skin within… Continue reading The Thrill of the Hunt and a Bakelite Learning Curve with a 1920’s Grundel Special Canadian
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