The next pipe on the worktable is a classic Custombilt, a brand that always recalls a campfire in a rustic setting for me. It came to me in February 2019 in a Lot of 68 pipes from a seller in West Hartford, Connecticut. This Lot of 68 pipes has provided and continues to offer up …
Continue reading Unraveling the Nomenclature of a Custombilt IMPORTED BRIAR Panel
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
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 …
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
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
This Kiko came to me in January 2018 on an online auction block from a seller in Hillsdale, Indiana. I was attracted to it not only because it was a Kiko, but mainly because it was in desperate shape. The leather had potential and hope extended to what I assumed was an intact Meerschaum lining …
The next pipe on the worktable is an Amphora X-Tra of Holland which came to me via the online auction block in December of 2017, from a seller in Fort Meyers, Florida. The bid was sufficient for the day and the Amphora Poker made its way to the For “Pipe Dreamers” ONLY! online collection. Gary …
Continue reading Restoring a Gubbels Amphora 815 X-tra of Holland Poker
I love the Season of Christmas when most of the world celebrates the fact that Christ was born. When I consider the shape of the world, and our prayers for the people of Ukraine, I am thankful for a reason to celebrate something that is good news. The next pipe on the worktable was commissioned …
I’m glad to be back at the worktable after a hiatus where my wife and I traveled from Colorado to the eastern side of the US. We traveled for 2 months putting 7546 miles on the car while pulling our small travel trailer. The primary purpose of our journey was to visit churches which have …
Continue reading Bringing a KBB 1940s-1955 Yello-Bole Filter Brush Panel back to life
The classic Gourd Calabash on the table came to me a few days before Christmas in 2018, when my wife and I were in the US from Bulgaria to celebrate the holidays with family. I was anxious to do some ‘pipe picking’ and so the family went on a ‘picking’ day together. One place we …
Continue reading Mending Shank Cracks to Revive a Gourd Calabash – Austria
The Pipe Steward 