The next pipe on the worktable came to me in a Lot of 35 pipes from Corey from Orange, California. He reached out to me after discovering a box of pipes in the attic. The pipes had belonged to his father who passed away 10 years earlier. The amazing thing that Corey shared with me …
Continue reading Rescuing a 1940s/50s Marxman Big Horse Made in Italy Figural
The next pipe on the worktable showcases the craftmanship of one of the US’s most respected pipe makers, Robert Eugene (Mic) Burns. This is what the Micoli website says about the name (About Micoli): Micoli or "Mic" as he is called by family and friends, has acquired the reputation of being one of the best …
Continue reading Mending a Snapped Tenon for a Micoli Artisan Freehand
The Bulldog now on the worktable came to me from a very generous donor who did the leg work for me. Nancy and her husband Mark are from Johnson City, Tennessee and attend Westminster Presbyterian Church, a church that prayerfully and financially supported our work in Europe for over 30 years. Over the years, we …
Continue reading A Pipe for Commemoration: Breathing New Life into an Unbranded Bent Bulldog
The next pipe on the worktable is a beauty. It is perhaps one of the most striking Freehands that I have had in my inventory. It came to me from a pipeman in August 2021 who I met in neighboring Lakewood, Colorado. One never knows when he’ll happen upon a trove of pipes! I was …
The next pipe on the worktable is an interesting Charatan’s Make. It came to me on the eBay auction block in February 2019 along with 67 other pipes in what I call the Lot of 68. The seller of this Lot was in West Hartford, Connecticut and when the final tick of the eBay clock …
The next pipe on the worktable came to me as a donation from a pipeman in the Kansas City area. I appreciate that his hope was that the pipes he sent would help to benefit the Daughters of Bulgaria, now called Spring of Hope. One day in our travels, I hope to take him up …
It’s been a long road getting back to the worktable to work on the next pipe. I DO appreciate the patience of pipemen waiting for their commissioned pipes. The trip my wife and I finished the beginning of the February took us to Southern California where we celebrated Christmas and New Year's with family and …
Continue reading An Upgrade for a Whimsical Lorenzo Hourglass Matera Studio 807 Italy
The next pipe on the worktable came to me in November 2021 when my wife and I were on a road trip. As we were cruising through Des Moines, Iowa on I-70, we saw the sign for the Brass Armadillo – a huge antique mall. We decided to stop and see what treasures we could …
Continue reading New Life for a Barontini Lite 22 Italy Bent Dublin
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
Another interesting pipe has been commissioned coming from the Lot of 68. I saw this Lot of pipes on the eBay auction block in February 2019 from a seller in West Hartford, Connecticut. The time ran out and my bid was the last one standing. These pipes eventually made their way to the For “Pipe …
The Pipe Steward 