I just finished cleaning and polishing the stems an they are all nice and shiny. The bowls are about done with the salt and alcohol treatment. Should have the finished photos up in a day or two.
Just the other day I rediscovered one pipe that's been in hiding for a few years, that had been sent to me by my sister out in Oregon a few years before it went into hiding. It says on the bottom of the stem "MEDICO Sterling," and is very clean on the outside. There is one blob of solder on the rim where somebody apparently reattached a bit of the metal decoration. The cake is so thick that the bowl has only about a 3/8" opening, which is VERY off center.
I remember that when it first arrived, I had picked off a few small pieces of the cake at the top, but the way they came loose gave me concern that if I continued, the whole bowl might flake away with the cake, so I stopped.
@AnantaAndroscoggin - My actual pipe reamer broke apart so I resorted to a small pocket knife that I ground the edge and tip down. I removed probably 95% of the cake in two of the pipes but the other one didn't have much cake to begin with. After that I wrapped sandpaper around my finger and smoothed out the sides of the bowl to where the cake was pretty even.
I just rinsed out the salt and alcohol and letting the pipes air dry. After that I may use a finer grit sand paper in the bowl again.
@thebadgerpiper - I've smoked each of them twice since cleaning. The Big Ben was designed for a filter but I haven't used one in it. The Britannia had a thin stinger which I removed. The Salmon & Gluckstein has a sort of weird bone funnel thing that screws into the tenon. They all pass a pipe cleaner with ease and the draw is just the way I like it.
I've done some research on the pipes. The Britannia was manufactured by Comoy. The Big Ben was made in Holland by Elbert Gubbel. Haven't found anything to identify were the Salmon & Gluckstein was manufactured but the references are to "the largest pipe manufacturer in England."
@woodsman - Correct. From what I've been told, it was the most common pipe smoked in England at one time, sort of like what Kaywoodie was back in the 50s & 60s.
@thebadgerpiper It is still in good condition too with no rust or wear and tear. I liked the Prince Albert because I thought the size was unique. They had PA cans, but those were mostly rusty. The Mac Baren is cool to me because it was my first find in the mall.
My wife and I were perusing an outdoor antiques/crafts show today and I ran across a Savinelli Punto Oro #125 with push bit and silver band. This marks my first Savinelli and I’m looking forward to seeing how she smokes. Couldn’t pass it up!
Thank you, gentlemen! I cleaned it up last night and gave it a first bowl. i have to say it seems like a very nice smoker. It came with a wind screen also, which may come in handy on breezy fishing days.
A pipe I wish I’d gone ahead and gotten from the fellow was an old Wally Frank that was in need of a little more serious reconditioning. Would have been nice to have if only for display. I gather Wally Frank was something like the Sears & Roebuck of pipes in the 1930’s to 50’s.
The design was like this, but again it needed some fairly intense refinishing inside and out -
Finally posting a picture of one of the Arlington’s I found at a local shop. I have to say,after cleaning it up it smokes fantastic still need to polish the silver band.
Comments
Parent pretty now but they will clean up nice.
These are markings on the Salmon & Gluckstein:
I remember that when it first arrived, I had picked off a few small pieces of the cake at the top, but the way they came loose gave me concern that if I continued, the whole bowl might flake away with the cake, so I stopped.
I just rinsed out the salt and alcohol and letting the pipes air dry. After that I may use a finer grit sand paper in the bowl again.
I've done some research on the pipes. The Britannia was manufactured by Comoy. The Big Ben was made in Holland by Elbert Gubbel. Haven't found anything to identify were the Salmon & Gluckstein was manufactured but the references are to "the largest pipe manufacturer in England."
A pipe I wish I’d gone ahead and gotten from the fellow was an old Wally Frank that was in need of a little more serious reconditioning. Would have been nice to have if only for display. I gather Wally Frank was something like the Sears & Roebuck of pipes in the 1930’s to 50’s.
The design was like this, but again it needed some fairly intense refinishing inside and out -