After working on a few pipes for friends, I decided to pull one of my own out of the refurb box! This 5-Dot Brigham bent brandy is an unusual piece for several reasons. It’s the first example of a Shape 36 I have come across, which is always exciting for me, and the shape itself is somewhat unique in the vintage Brigham lineup. Unlike many … Continue reading Restoring an Unusual 1990’s Era Chunky 5-Dot Brigham Bent Brandy 36
This pipe was sent to me by a friend in Calgary, Alberta for a bit of attention. The owner pointed out that the chamber floor was over-reamed, leaving the draft hole above the bottom of the bowl. I was also asked to look at the stem and give my opinion on what was going on there. These pics show the pipe as it was when it … Continue reading Reviving a Chunky Carved Roxborough Genuine Briar Billiard
The title of this post is a bit misleading – ok, it’s a complete bait and switch. I’m not talking about THAT pot at all (which should, of course, stay as far away from your prized briars, meers and cobs as humanly possible). Rather, I’m writing about a Patent Era Brigham 145 Extra Large Pot that somehow made its way into my refurb box – … Continue reading Showing Off My Pot as Canada Preps for Legal Cannabis
I’m excited to post this blog entry today as it marks the addition of a new shape to my collection of vintage Brigham pipes. Besides satisfying my “gotta get ’em all” fixation, this pipe also hits all the collector’s marks for age, condition and grade. This time I’m working on a Patent Era (1938-1955) Brigham 4-Dot briar in a smooth finish and in Shape 78, … Continue reading Adding a Patent Era Brigham 478 Townsman to the Collection
Hello, everyone, and thanks for your patience while I have been getting settled in the new digs. I’m starting things off with an easy one – a quick tidy-up of a 1970’s Brigham Sportsman. There are a fair few of these not-quite-finished vintage Brigham pipes kicking around, but this one is a bit unique for a couple of reasons. First, it is one of only … Continue reading Easing Into Things with a Quick Refresh of an Unusual 1970’s Era Brigham Sportsman
This is the second of two dilapidated Blatter pipes gifted to me by a pipe friend before Christmas. I wrote about the first restoration here. This pipe is somewhat larger in size and, as you will see, the restoration turned out to be similarly larger in scope. Unlike the first Blatter pipe, this one arrived with its original stem, a nicely cut swirled acrylic job … Continue reading Salvaging a Burnt and Cracked Blatter Select Freehand
Some time ago now, I acquired a box of about a dozen estate pipes in various states of disrepair. Among these wounded soldiers was this interesting square-shanked Brigham pipe. When I brought the pipe to my worktable, I could see that, if it could speak, this Brigham would have had stories to tell. The stem was heavily oxidized a dull green/brown colour, though it fit … Continue reading Reviving a Roughly Used 1990’s Vintage Brigham Square-Shank 273
