Hello from Gorgi

Gorgi · Oct 17, 2009

Hello all,

To be honest, I registered here not because I smoke - yet - but because of some pipes were left to me recently. They're a brand I'm unfamiliar with (the usual store brands, like Grabow, I know of). Nothing online turns up on them, that I could find. The brand is Dulcet, and they say made in England. I received three of them, plus one called, I think, Yellow Bole or something like that. I've never heard of either. Anyone here know anything on them, particularly Dulcet?

I'm seriously considering laying off the cheap cigars I smoke sometimes on the way home from work and keeping one of them to light up, as soon as I find a decent tobacco shop in my area (Dayton/Columbus, OH). First thing I'd have to do is learn HOW to smoke one.

Thanks in advance for any insight,

Gorgi

Doc Manhattan · Oct 17, 2009

Welcome, Gorgi!

Yello-Bole pipes are American-made, and akin to Dr. Grabow--pipes one could buy at the drugstore. Dulcet pipes were made by Comoy (according to the response to someone with a similar question in this archival article.)

Smoker's Haven in Columbus is a great place to start.

Everything else, look around, ask questions...

Hope that helps.

Centurian 803 · Oct 17, 2009

Welcome to BoB Gorgi. By all means switch from the cheap cigars to the pipe. I can also recommend Smoker's Haven.

Gorgi · Oct 18, 2009

Thank you both! I will check out the shop in Columbus...was just over there today in fact, but we go about once a month or so. Since I know zero about this, what tobacco would you suggest that (a) would be as agreeable as possible with ladies (my wife, actually), and (b) would be subtler than others, so that residual odor, like in a car's interior, wouldn't be as bad as others? Sorry if that's a vague question but if I smoke something it'll have to be agreeable to her short and long term.

Thanks for the info on the Dulcet; the pipes are a little grubby, do you know if the shop in Columbus cleans pipes as well? I guess I should check if they have a website before I ask, shouldn't I!

Thanks again!

PS The odd pipe I have is actually something called a Willard, not Yellow-Bole, if that means anything to anyone.

Centurian 803 · Oct 18, 2009

An aromatic blend would have a pleasing room note that your wife will appreciate but you should exercise caution here because they often bite. Don't know if Smoker's Haven reconditions pipes but the method to do so is not difficult and is explained in several posts on the web. Google pipe recondition. I've never owned a Willard but I have heard of them. Seems to me they were supposed to be pretty good pipes.

Gorgi · Oct 18, 2009

Thanks for the tip on aromatics...should I assume the usual store brands (Cap'n Black, Prince Charles, Borkum Riff, etc) wouldn't qualify?

Centurian 803 · Oct 18, 2009

Never Smoked Capt Black but I've heard some good things about it. When I first started smoking pipes I smoked Borkum Riff Whisky almost exclusively. It had a very nice room note. My then wife said it smelled like chocolate chip cookies baking. Tried some last year and couldn't abide it. Don't know if the formula has changed or just my taste (I hardly ever smoke an aromatic now).

Doc Manhattan · Oct 18, 2009

G, Willards are another entry-level brand of the mid-20th century. (One site I said had some hearsay that they were sold at PX / NX stores, so there are a lot of used ones out there.) In brief, your pipes aren't a Holy Grail of resale value, but they're old and well-loved and can shape up to be good smokers again with some TLC. (And in any case, if they were left to you, it's a great way to honor the memory of the previous owner.)