This will be my last pipe restoration of 2025 and officially declared to be a ‘Pipe for Christmas’ because of the festive vibe it invites. The ruby red finish, the gold band and the black acrylic stem – all shout, ‘Merry Christmas!’ with promises of a bowlful of Christmas blend. My wife and I will …
Continue reading A Pipe for Christmas – An Yves of St. Claude Made in France 55
The next pipe on the worktable came to me in February 2019 in what I call the Lot of 68 from a seller in West Hartford, Connecticut. This lot has produced a trove of treasures for the For “Pipe Dreamers” ONLY! online collection where pipemen and women commission pipes that whisper their names. The Rusticated …
Continue reading Renewing an Unbranded Seahorse Rusticated Volcano of Italy
It has been fun and a privilege to restore pipes commissioned by Justin which he chose as gifts for 3 good friend in his church home group and his father. All these pipes were ‘picked’ by me in August 2021 in the coastal city of Burgas during a visit to our former home in Bulgaria. …
The next pipe on the worktable is the second of 4 pipes commissioned by Justin who is a fellow follower of Jesus and lives in Alabama. These 4 pipes Justin commissioned are gifts for 3 good friends in his church home group. The other pipe is going to Justin’s father. I told the full story …
Continue reading The Second Gift of Four From Bulgaria: A Denicotea Absorba 2164 Bent Rhodesian
I’m thankful for the Pipemen and women who wait patiently for their commissioned pipes to make their way to the worktable. After ‘officially’ retiring at the end of August, my wife and I continue to be as busy as ever. One of our most enjoyable avocations, which requires the patience of pipemen and women, is …
Continue reading New Life for a Rare, Early 1960s Kaywoodie ‘Tuckaway’ Standard 050B
The Blasted Cherrywood now on the worktable came to me from a generous pipeman who donated it along with 9 others to make a very attractive Lot of 10 – now waiting in “Help Me!” Basket 2 for pipemen and women to commission. This pipeman has commissioned several pipes and I’ve had the privilege of …
Continue reading Exploring the Interesting Heritage of a Drucquer & Sons of Berkeley Cherrywood
The Sculpted Vineyard Meerschaum now on the table came to me recently when Corey from Orange, California, reached out to me concerning a box of pipes he discovered in the attic. The pipes had belonged to his father who passed away 10 years earlier. He did not know that his father had smoked pipes, but …
Continue reading Refreshing a Sculpted Vineyard Slightly Bent Meerschaum
The pipe that is now on the worktable is truly a unique shape. It came to me from a pipeman who donated several pipes to benefit the Daughters of Bulgaria, now called, Spring of Hope. He was also thinning his collection and the benefactors of this are those seeking to commission pipes from the For …
Continue reading A Rim Rescue for a Tennessean Comeaux USA CC S 05 ‘Dublinesque’ Lovat
The next pipe on the table is a workhorse Billiard without doubt. It was found along with a few other treasures November 2021 at The Antique Market in Michigan City, Indiana. We were traveling from Colorado to my son’s home in Dearborn, Michigan for Thanksgiving celebrations. My wife and I always like to explore the …
The next pipe on the worktable was donated from a pipeman who wished to stay anonymous and who appreciates that pipes that I restore help others in unfortunate circumstances. My wife and I co-founded the Daughters of Bulgaria several years ago when we lived in Bulgaria and since then, now residing back in the US, …
Continue reading A Cracked Shank Repair Brings a Comeaux USA 3-00 Canadian Back to Life
The Pipe Steward 