I've only actively been smoking and collecting pipes since 2013 and have found to many websites that entice my PAD. I have about 110 last count not counting my Missouri Meerschaums, mostly Petersons.
I didn't start building a collection of pipes until about 4 years ago. At that time I had 3 pipes. Now, I'm up to 38 pipes that are smokers and in my rotation, 4 that are display pieces and I have 3 more that are not smokers (someone gave me 3 Chinese made pipes that I don't know what they are made from). About 60% of my pipes were acquired from antique/collectible shops, street fairs and flea markets. The new pipes are mainly ones I've received as gifts from the wife for birthdays, Fathers Day, Anniversaries and Christmas. I've also managed to win two pipes this year.
I don't have PAD but I think my wife does and she doesn't smoke. She does have a knack for finding pipes for me to rescue though. My favorite rescue pipe is a 1970s era Savinelli Giubileo d'Oro that I paid $3.00 for at a street fair. After it was cleaned and polished, I found out that it was worth about $300 in its present condition.
@joehandyman PAD is Pipe Acquisition Disorder, being addicted to collecting pipes. I got hooked because I just love the look of them and view them as functional art.
@pappyjoe That Savinelli is one heck of a find. I wish I had some of that around by me but the most I find are Dr. Gradbow, broken meerschaums with bakelite stems, or burnt out cobs.
I normally pass on the Grabows and Kaywoodies but I am start rethinking that somewhat. The key is learning how to identify the really old ones that are worth what they are asking for them. And for me, it is important to be able to identify what can be restored to a smokeable condition.
My most recent rescue pipes are a Linkeman's Hollycourt Special 7023 which was produced before they changed the name to Dr. Grabow and a Mauro Armellini Cavalier. I sent a photo to Armellini pipes and received a reply from Vilma Armellini who now runs the company. She said that was an original Mauro Armellini from the 70s.
I've been collecting since the early 70s. Now, at antique shops and flea markets I look for attractive filtered pipes in excellent shape, unusual ones, and Falcons. I've recently bought a set of MM Cobbits because I like the theme and think cobs are excellent smokers.
Well I still have to pay off my Chicago pipe bill. In my circles I'm the new kid, I've been actively collecting pipes for 28 years, in the online hobby for since 1990 and been a regular at shows since 1997. I have a small collection at around 250 pieces about 150 of those are my semi focused Castello collection that I am very proud of. Along with the pipes I collect Castello, Dunhill and other artisan tampers and other Castello/Dunhill ephemera.
@daveinlax I don't feel so bad about my collection now. This may sound weird but I'd love to see a picture of your collection. I've been wondering, and this may be personal preference, are Castello pipe that much better than others?
" I've been wondering, and this may be personal preference, are Castello pipe that much better than others?" There are a lot of good pipes out there, Castello is one. Some like me love them others not so much.
Mine is under control. I have about 30 pipes, plus cobs.I've only acquired 5 this year, and 2 were new cobs, and 2 were Falcons I was given. I'm not really a collector. I like to have a nice rotation, and I pay attention to what I buy, but I'm not chasing anything down.
@daveinlax All of the links worked. Thank you so mush for sharing all the pictures and information. It was very informative and interesting to see the changes that have occurred. That's one of the things that I love of the world of pipes as I have delved into it more and more over the past few years is to see the evolution of different pipe makers.
@daveinlax It seems like I have been hearing a lot of people talking about Castello pipes this past year and I hope run into a great deal on one at some time. One thing I don't think I understand, what do the letters mean for (KKKK, KKK, KK....)
@daveinlax As cool as I find the information about Castellos, I'd recommend and ask if you could start a new thread to share that information. I am sure there are others that would love to read/see it.
I've found myself under the spell of PAD before. You take a glance on a pipe site or ebay, and a pipe calls out to you like a siren. Not having a job at the moment has helped curtail these moments, plus trying to build up my cellar has shifted my priorities. I'm hoping to commission some pipes in the future so I can have more artisan pipes in my collection.
I was really good this year so far and had only gotten a few cobs, a clay, and the Saint Patty's Day Peterson.... then Moonshine Pipes happened. They had a buy one get one free sale yesterday... I was bad
@drac2485 I wanted to get in on that Moonshine deal really bad. I'm trying to just focus on my cellar now, but man that was a great deal John had going on.
@thewanderingdude I was trying to focus on my cellar as well but I got the itch and jumped on it. I've been looking and wanting a Moonshine pipe for a while.
@drac2485 and @thewanderingdude that was a great deal yesterday. Unfortunatly though it looks like he is trying to clean out his stock with the new FDA regs.
My pipe collection is pretty embarrassing compared to you all. I have just a few, my highest end pipe being my OMS poker. However, I don't smoke it that often. As many of you, I've been doing my best to stock up on blends in preparation for the tobacco apocalypse.
@jabraham326 My collection is rather large. I love the look of pipes and view them as art so i like to collect them. I was going through my pipes the other night and I realized, even though about half of my collection is estate pipes I have barely smoked more that 10 of the pipes that I own. I dream of the day that I can get a good rotation going and smoke more frequently but for now I just love the beauty and craftsmanship that goes into making a pipe versus the cheapness so much of the products in our world have become.
Comments
In my circles I'm the new kid, I've been actively collecting pipes for 28 years, in the online hobby for since 1990 and been a regular at shows since 1997. I have a small collection at around 250 pieces about 150 of those are my semi focused Castello collection that I am very proud of. Along with the pipes I collect Castello, Dunhill and other artisan tampers and other Castello/Dunhill ephemera.
This is my pipe cabinet with over 70 pipes that I've smoked for the last 55 years. Best treasure
chest a man could own !
@drac2485 Not a weird request at all. Here are are two albums of Castelllo's along with the handout I used used and recycled for KC2015. I hope these links work.
https://plus.google.com/photos/104611199703561251325/albums/5877073340317230689
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B6S7CCGs1FPCS0tqN3hkOWJRYUE/edit
http://s135.photobucket.com/user/Davesixtythree/library/GKCPC2015
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6S7CCGs1FPCWVpxTElfa1BpdTA/view
" I've been wondering, and this may be personal preference, are Castello pipe that much better than others?"
There are a lot of good pipes out there, Castello is one. Some like me love them others not so much.
As many of you, I've been doing my best to stock up on blends in preparation for the tobacco apocalypse.