Here is another pipe from the box of repairs I've been working through recently. This time I'm working on a lovely Peterson Christmas 2012 B11 with a very unfortunate issue - a long crack running up the bowl. Ouch! Here is the pipe as it looked when I first brought it to the worktable. I… Continue reading Pinning a Cracked Peterson Christmas 2012 B11
The Coronavirus pandemic is keeping most of us in self-isolation, and I am no exception. While I am missing my usual wanders through antique shops, I have a fairly full box of estate pipes to work on while holed up. This Brigham 354 is one such pipe, acquired as part of a larger eBay lot.… Continue reading A Quick Refresh for a Stunning 1980's Vintage Brigham 354
Here's an interesting Brigham pipe for those with a penchant for something out of the ordinary. I spotted this 5-Dot on eBay and though I admit that the shape isn't really my thing, I was nonetheless captivated. I entered a bid and won the auction. In due time, the pipe arrived at the house and… Continue reading Stem Repairs for a Unique Late 1980s Brigham 5-Dot
Today's post is another trial of the replacement aluminum tenon/filter holders I designed and made in my shop for use in repairing vintage Canadian-made Brigham pipes. If you missed the earlier post on the development of these tenons, you can find it here. As I've mentioned previously, Brigham moved to the newer composite tenons in… Continue reading Major Stem Repairs and a New Aluminum Tenon for a 1980s-Era Brigham 365 Bent Acorn
I found this Peterson Kildare 01 at a local antique shop a while back and decided it was high time to spiff it up a bit. First a little research. Mark Irwin's exhaustive work on Peterson pipes, The Peterson Pipe Book, provides this information in the section entitled Collector's Guide: Kildare 1965 – First issue of… Continue reading Freshening a Republic Era Peterson Kildare 01
Happy New Year, everyone! This post is deliberately going live after the holidays to avoid spoiling the Christmas surprise for one lucky piper. I was contacted by a lady who was on the hunt for a few vintage Brigham estate pipes to present to her partner as a Christmas gift. Fortuitously, I had a few… Continue reading Reviving a 1990’s Brigham 123 Bent Billiard in time for the Holidays
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 while back I wrote about a Comoy's-made John's Pipe Shop briar to which I fit a new stem. Dating from between 1910 and 1940, I was quite taken with the quality of that pipe, so I was keen to work on another. When I pulled this John's sibling from the refurb box, I knew… Continue reading Restoration of a John’s Natural 532 by Comoy’s
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 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
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