Antique Mall Finds - 6 Pipes, $18.75

[lgoldberg]

I went to the local antique mall after work, mostly to just move my creaky body around a bit after a hard day of sitting. I'd been to this mall in the last couple of months, so I didn't really expect to find anything good. But today, I was moving slowly, and really peering into every locked case; that wasn't full of sports memorabilia or beanie babies, anyway. Taking my time made a big difference, because even with going slow, I almost missed this find.

It was a wooden box, and surrounded by other things, so it wasn't anything that normally would have caught my eye, but the fact that I saw a couple of pipe stems sticking up out of it did! Got the guy to unlock the case for me, and spent a few supervised minutes pulling stems off and sizing it all up. Turned out the wooden box was a pipe rack and tobacco box. The lot was marked $25.00, but the vendor had an "everything's 25% off today" sign, hence $18.75. Even if it all looked like garbage, I wasn't going to miss out on the possibility of getting a good smoker on the cheap.

Please let me know your thoughts. I'll post pics of each in its own reply below...

 

[lgoldberg]

First up is a Peter Kent "Antico", made in Italy. I really like the look and feel of this one. The internet seems to know about Peter Kent pipes' existence, but Pipedia doesn't. There's an old post here on BoB from someone asking about the brand, but they got no reply. Peter Kent

 

[lgoldberg]

Number 2 is this Hickory Wood pipe from a defunct company called Beuscher's, from Washington, MO; a MM competitor. This is the only one of the six that are unsmoked. I have no idea whether hickory is a good wood to make a pipe out of or not. Any experiences to share?

 

[lgoldberg]

Number 3 is a Jost's Thames pipe, Made in England, marked J185. Turns out Jost's was a St Louis Pipe and Tobacco shop that closed in the 90's. This is another one I really like the look and feel of.

 

[lgoldberg]

Number 4 is almost identical to the first pipe I ever found in an antique mall, a Mastersen Freehand. Only difference is the finish is a little lighter and the stem isn't bent sideways like my old one. It'll be a good smoker.

 

[lgoldberg]

Number 5, a Kaywoodie 96, also have seen it referred to as Prince of Wales. I think that's flame grain, right? It has the metal stinger thingy, which I will give a chance, but it may get sawn off. I like this one a lot.

 

[lgoldberg]

And number 6, this is a Darby, another pipe shop house brand , this one from Illinois. Marked "Imported Briar", in case we didn't know - isn't ALL briar imported??? Anyway, this is the only throw-away in the lot. The stem is chewed right through, which is a shame because I like the stem, and the nice D engraved on it.

 

[lgoldberg]

Okay, that's all of them. Looking forward to hearing how good or bad I did. And any ideas on replacing that Darby stem? Who's got a Darby with a burned out bowl sitting around? lol.

 

[Charley Scanlan]

You know what I've been doing that works really well for carbon on the rim, wet your fingertip with saliva and scratch at the carbon with your fingernail. Keep doing it. You can see the grain again, which is nice. And nice haul by the way.

 

[Niblick]

The centennial is not showing to be listed in the catalog from 1968 to 1969 so that may be when they dropped that line of pipe. Pipe was made between 55 to 68. Very nice pipes you got and great looking grain on that Kaywoodie.

Table 3. 1955 Kaywoodie Pipe Grades and Prices

• Meerschaum Character Pipes: $100.00
• Block: 15.00-50 (According to size)
• Meerschaum Twin Bowl: $35.00
• Meerschaum/Flame Grain Twin Bowl: $25.00
• Sandblasted “Doctor’s” Pipe: $25.00
• Centennial: $25.00
• Coral Meerschaum: $20.00-25 (According to size)
• Gourd Calabash: $15.00-25 (According to size)
• Ninety-Fiver: $20.00
• Oversize: $10.00-25(According to style and finish)
• Connoisseur: $15.00
• All Briar w/Meerschaum Inlaid Bowl: $12.50
• Flame Grain (Meerschaum Inlaid)a: $12.50
• Export Pipes: $5.00-15 (According to grade)
• All Briar (Briar Bit): $10.00
• Flame Grain: $10.00
• Fit Rite: $10.00
• Silhouette: $10.00
• Carburetor: $7.50
• Relief Grain: $7.50
• Chesterfield: $5.00-15 (According to grade)
• Chinrester: $5.00-10 (According to grade)
• Stembiter: $5.00-10 (According to grade)
• Streamliner: $4.00-10 (According to grade)
• Super Grain: $5.00
• Carved Super Grain: $5.00
• White Briar: $5.00
• Standard: $4.00
• Filter Plus: $4.00
• Drinkless pup: $3.50
• Drinkless Tuckaway: $3.50
• Drinkless In-Between: $3.50
• Two-Pipe Companion Setsb: $10.00-25 (According to grade)
• Matched Grain Set (4-Pipes): $50.00
• Matched Grain Set (7-Pipes): $125.00

 

[Balisong]

Nice haul! Charley is right about saliva cleaning the rim. After time I clean pipes I wet the tip of my finger anf deposit some on each pipe, let them sit for a minute and wipe with a paper towel. Chewed stems can be repaired, I've seen info on the internet, it worth the search.

 

[DrT999]

Number 2 is this Hickory Wood pipe from a defunct company called Beuscher's, from Washington, MO; a MM competitor. This is the only one of the six that are unsmoked. I have no idea whether hickory is a good wood to make a pipe out of or not. Any experiences to share?

I had one a long time ago, and didn't care for the 'feel' of it (but then, most straight pipes don't), but if I remember correctly, it smoked ok but not great. Good luck with all these!

 

[Idlefellow]

Nice! I talked with Banjo once about repairing lightly charred rims and he recommended a finger or a cloth soaked with coffee. I've used it since; it works.

 

[Blackhorse]

You know what I've been doing that works really well for carbon on the rim, wet your fingertip with saliva and scratch at the carbon with your fingernail. Keep doing it. You can see the grain again, which is nice. And nice haul by the way.

There’s an enzyme (salivary amylase) in human saliva that dissolves the tarry gunk. Old school cure. Also…nose oil…from the crease between your nose and cheek…arguably the best oil with which to polish your briars. And it’s always handy!

 

[Ranger107]

Nice haul for the money. Maybe on the Darby just cut off the end, the button part, polish it with a fingernail file and put on a softee rubber?

 

[lgoldberg]

Nice haul for the money. Maybe on the Darby just cut off the end, the button part, polish it with a fingernail file and put on a softee rubber?

Good idea!

 

[Balisong]

Also…nose oil…

When I worked in a photo darkroom we called it "nose grease" and would use it to fill scratches on old negatives before printing, it made the touch up after printing easier.

 

[EZONSLOW]

That was a good find ! Even if you only get a couple of good smokers,it`s certainly a STEAL...

 

[Swede]

Number 5, a Kaywoodie 96, also have seen it referred to as Prince of Wales. I think that's flame grain, right? It has the metal stinger thingy, which I will give a chance, but it may get sawn off. I like this one a lot.

Mighty fine that one, what a deal.

 

[Timbo]

Nice finds, wish I could be so lucky.

Betting the Darby smokes really well if has been so abused, someone really liked to smoke that pipe.