GBD 9438 - Super Flame

[riff raff]

I'm a big fan of the GBD 9438 and I have nine models in the various finishes, including one City De Luxe. This "Super Flame" was listed on Ebay last week, a line I have never seen or heard of. I have some documents listing the various GBD lines, but there is absolutely no reference to a "Super Flame". GBD's are great pipes, but they just don't have good grain, being machine made. The grain on this one looked really nice as was the condition. I made an off-Ebay deal for the pipe, which is always a little risky. The seller, "provincetradingco" had an excellent reputation and a large number of sales, typically in high end goods. Oddly, when he pulled down the sale, he changed the picture to a generic "old pipe" and the description. I was plenty nervous and quite relived to open the FedEx package and find the 9438 exactly as advertised.

The pipe is in excellent condition, with just a few handling marks. The stem is immaculate. The grain on this one is equal to my James Upshall B grade pipe. I may try and hold out smoking it until Christmas Day...

 

[Brewdude]

You got yourself one helluva nice GBD there Al!

8) 



Cheers,

RR

 

[Fr_Tom]

Looks like a great purchase. It i s a beautiful pipe. Waiting for Christmas may be tough on this one...

 

[RDPipes]

That's a nice one alright Riff, I'm sure it'll smoke as nice as it looks.

 

[herbinedave]

Another fine looking GBD for the stable, enjoy Al!!!!!

 

[riff raff]

Looks like a great purchase. It i s a beautiful pipe. Waiting for Christmas may be tough on this one...

Lestrout may have convinced me to bring it to the December Kaywoodie event in NY, it's close enough to Christmas....

 

[AJ]

Al that is a fine looking GBD. You know who to call if you want your money back.  I have never heard of the "Super Flame" either. Have you been able to find anymore information on them? The grain on yours is really nice. Hope it smokes as good as it looks.  

AJ

 

[riff raff]

Al that is a fine looking GBD. You know who to call if you want your money back.  I have never heard of the "Super Flame" either. Have you been able to find anymore information on them? The grain on yours is really nice. Hope it smokes as good as it looks.  

AJ

Absolutely zero on the Super Flame. It looks like the same pipe was sold in 2011 (or one identical) by Treasurepipes.

I probably overpaid, but I didn't want to chance getting into a bidding war with someone when the auction came to a close (I thought he had it listed pretty high for the opening bid).

 

[Mozjo33]

Beautiful pipe Al. Christmas sounds like a wonderful day to smoke that gorgeous pipe!

 

[pepesdad1]

Gorgeous pipe...grain is really pretty.

 

[RDPipes]

Al that is a fine looking GBD. You know who to call if you want your money back.  I have never heard of the "Super Flame" either. Have you been able to find anymore information on them? The grain on yours is really nice. Hope it smokes as good as it looks.  

AJ

Absolutely zero on the Super Flame.  It looks like the same pipe was sold in 2011 (or one identical) by Treasurepipes.  

I probably overpaid, but I didn't want to chance getting into a bidding war with someone when the auction came to a close (I thought he had it listed pretty high for the opening bid).  

Super Flame is listed in "who made that pipe" as a GBD by Herb Wilczak & Tom Colwell
#6684 page 106

 

[glpease]

Gorgeous example. Congratulations!

I have never seen, nor heard of a Super Flame, either. What a great pipe. I hope it smokes even better than it looks.

 

[monbla256]

THAT'S one DAMN FINE GBD chubby !! Is it one of the newer ones? IE post Codigan production ?

 

[riff raff]

THAT'S one DAMN FINE GBD chubby !! Is it one of the newer ones? IE post Codigan production ?

No, it's pre-Cadogan with "London, England" and the brass rondell.

 

[denholrl]

I understand your interest in focusing in on one shape. I've been always liked by the Celius Shape 12 and put together a sub-collection of that shape in all 5 grades. Now, I've started on the Dunhill 591, Hungarian. I've got the Tanshell and the Shell. Now I just need to find a $1,000 or so I don't need. Arrggh! Have to sell some pipes.

RobD

 

[riff raff]

I understand your interest in focusing in on one shape.  I've been always liked by the Celius Shape 12 and put together a sub-collection of that shape in all 5 grades.  Now, I've started on the Dunhill 591, Hungarian.  I've got the Tanshell and the Shell.  Now I just need to find a $1,000 or so I don't need.  Arrggh!  Have to sell some pipes.

RobD

Its a lot more economical to focus on GBD's vs Dunhills! Steve Laug just restored a 591 on his Reborn Pipes blog.

 

[RobJ]

She's a beaut! Well done Al!

:cheers:

 

[riff raff]

A funny thing happened at the last Richmond Show. At the SmokingPipes table, an employee was smoking a 9438. I asked him what finish and he said "Super Flame, I've never seen another". I pulled mine out of the bag and we both laughed. I should have taken a picture of both pipes.

 

[pipetrepid]

that`a beauty! bill