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 …

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

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 …

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

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 …

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

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 …

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

Addressing Chamber Heating Problems with a Ben Wade Made in London England 23 Dublin

I describe this next pipe on the worktable as a Dublin shape.  The bowl is slightly canted and has nice lines. It has beautiful vertical grain and that is the main draw-factor of this pipe.  This is the second pipe that pipe man Bill from Pennsylvania has commissioned.  The first was a Tribune Rusticated Dublin …

Continue reading Addressing Chamber Heating Problems with a Ben Wade Made in London England 23 Dublin

A Striking Søren Hand-Carved Made in Denmark Freehand is Given New Life

One of the things that I have had to learn is that I can’t keep them all.  When I go on the hunt searching for pipes and then find a pipe of great value, I’m ever faced with the dilemma: ‘Should I keep this one for my personal collection?’  Most of the time, I would …

Continue reading A Striking Søren Hand-Carved Made in Denmark Freehand is Given New Life

A Fresh Start for an Unbranded Briar Calabash Made in London England

One of the things that was on my ‘genuine’ Bucket List was to take my wife back to Mexico.  Beth grew up in Mexico where her parents were missionaries in the state of Guererro where the city of Acapulco is located.  During her years there her family lived in Acapulco, but more years were spent …

Continue reading A Fresh Start for an Unbranded Briar Calabash Made in London England

Reviving a 1971 Peterson’s Dublin Sterling Silver Meerschaum of Tanganyika

The next pipe on the worktable is the first pipe that I am restoring from the Lot of 68 pipes that I acquired February 24, 2019.  This Lot came from a seller in West Hartford, Connecticut, and what got my attention was not only the size of the Lot, but also the meticulous listing the …

Continue reading Reviving a 1971 Peterson’s Dublin Sterling Silver Meerschaum of Tanganyika

A Surprising Bee’s Wax Result for a Kiko Countryman Genuine Block Meerschaum of Tanganyika

The next pipe on the worktable has some sentimental value for me.  I remember well seeing a trove of pipes sitting on the vendor’s table in the shadow of Nevski Cathedral in the center of Sofia, Bulgaria.  It was December 27, 2019, and two of my five children were visiting from the US with one …

Continue reading A Surprising Bee’s Wax Result for a Kiko Countryman Genuine Block Meerschaum of Tanganyika

Rescuing a Lowly Mastercraft Pot of Italy from Basket Pipe Oblivion

After pressing through a boat load of flu of some variant, I’m happy to be back at the worktable.  Other than getting well again, I always enjoy this time of the year for football season – both college and NFL.  Since my team has gone on vacation back to Florida (Miami Dolphins) I’ve been pulling …

Continue reading Rescuing a Lowly Mastercraft Pot of Italy from Basket Pipe Oblivion