Quite the Find in Burgas, Bulgaria: Resurrecting A Lorenzo Spitfire Goliath Oom Paul

This resurrection project cannot be descibed as a mere restoration.  It started in August 2021 when my wife and I returned to Bulgaria a year after leaving this our home of 15 years.  One of our special places we visited and a place of respite during our time in Bulgaria was a little lazy fishing …

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Sprucing Up a Peterson’s System Standard 314 Made in Republic of Ireland

The next pipe on the worktable is a spiffy Peterson’s System Standard 314.  I acquired him in February 2019 in what I have called the Lot of 68 which came from a seller in West Hartford, Connecticut.  The Lot was listed as an Estate Auction and the seller provided a great deal of information.  When …

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An Exquisite Ben Wade Preben Holm Prominence A 4 Hand Made in Denmark Freehand

The next pipe on the worktable came to me from a pipeman in Lakewood, Colorado, who was reducing his collection.  I met him when he placed for sale online a Zero Gravity recliner which I went to check out.  When I pulled into his driveway, he was sitting comfortably in his own chair with a …

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Fashioning a ‘Middle Earth’ Churchwarden from a Rusticated Orphaned Bowl

Middle Earth Churchwardens are cool, and truth be known, I don’t think I’ll achieve either the Hobbit or Wizard standard when this project is completed, but I like to fashion Churchwardens out of the orphaned, tossed away bowls.  A simple search in Google of ‘Pipes in Middle Earth’ produces many Tolkien worthy pipes and Lord …

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New Life for a Pre-Republic Peterson’s De Luxe MADE IN IRELAND 6 Billiard (updated!)

(Hold the press!  Well, I didn't wait long enough and this post went out before I received a note from well-known Peterson expert, Mark Irwin.  Please see the addendum and the conclusion for Mark's comments on the dating of this Peterson's De Luxe) The next pipe on the worktable is a Peterson’s classic.  This is …

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Refreshing an Elegant Chapuis Comoy Sunrise Amber Grain Vintage Briar 159 of France

The next pipe on the worktable is a nice-looking Apple shape that came to me from a pipe man who wished to remain anonymous.  He had seen my restorations in various Facebook groups and because they also helped to support the work of the Daughters of Bulgaria, he reached out to me in 2019.  My …

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A New Start for a Savinelli Capri Root Briar 310 Italy Cherrywood

The next pipe on the worktable is the second of three pipes that N.R. has commissioned.  The first pipe was a Lillehammer GL Super Extra 61 Made in Norway which came out beautifully (New Life for a Classic Lillehammer GL Super Extra 61 Made in Norway – The Pipe Steward).The Savinelli Capri Root Briar that got …

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New Life for a 1954 Dunhill Bruyere 48 F/T Made in England 4 Pat. No. 417574/34 (4) A Bulldog

This is the second Dunhill commissioned from the ‘For “Pipe Dreamers” ONLY!’ collection by United Airlines pilot and pipe man, Jeff.  Jeff lives at Havre de Grace, MD (right at the beginning of the Chesapeake Bay) with his wife and 3 dogs.  Havre de Grace is well known to my wife and me as we …

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Road Trip Restoration:  A Sullivan Powell Burlington Arcade London, London Made 283 Cherrywood

The next pipe in the queue is FINALLY on the ‘mobile worktable’ here at Dale’s Hollow Campground in Tennessee.  My wife and I embarked on a 4-month road trip in April from Golden, Colorado, and we will not return until mid-July.  We are visiting churches that have supported us over the years in Ukraine, Spain …

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