35+ years ago I was an assistant manager at a tobacco shop. This was one of two full time jobs. I was 25, had just welcomed my second daughter, and was trying to make ends meet. The shop sold a nice range of pipes from Peterson, Savinelli, GBD, and Dunhill to name a few. I owned around 5 pipes at the time; 2 Grabows , 2 baskets, and 2 Savinelli Romas. The Roma’s I had acquired at the shop. After all, I could not be seen smoking a Grabow and try to sell a Dunhill 
. Working around an assortment of awesome pipes, I developed a huge case of pipe envy. My financial realities told me that these were literally “pipe dreams” and the possibility of me actually owning a GBD or a Dunhill was not going to be in my cards anytime soon. Two pipes that I really desired were a Dunhill Billiard and a GBD Canadian.
Life went on, as they say. I really did not start adding significantly to my array of pipes until I remarried, 15 years ago. A few years back I was able to acquire my first Dunhill Billiard, through site sponsor the Danish Pipe Shop. It was a birth year (1961), Tanshell. I have bought 2 more Dunhill Billiards, a Shell Briar and a Bruyere, both birth year pipes. I have monitored eBay over the years and still was not able to find the “just right” GBD Canadian.
I have three estate GBDs. I purchased each off of eBay auctions. All of these are great pipes, just not that “dream“ pipe. Last week, an unsmoked, pre-Cadogan GBD Virgin Collector #263 Canadian with a Perspex stem came up for auction on eBay. This was my dream pipe. I took the strategy of not bidding but just watching until the end of the sale. Up until the last minute the several bidders had not even bid to the reserve. I came in with a large (for me) snipe bid at the last seconds of the auction and bought the pipe for what, I believe, was probably only the reserve. To say that, I was/am elated is an understatement. The pipe arrived yesterday and I was able to get a few pics today (sorry for the quality, I have not had the time to improve my photo skills).
The PAD never seems to relent. There are pipes I would still like to add, like another Tinsky commission, a new (non-estate) Dunhill, a Bill Taylor Ashton, and a few more older Comoy and Saseini models. However, as retirement nears (and I am sure some necessary frugality) I may not get all, or even any, of these. Nonetheless, I have reached a wonderful status of pipe completion. I have acquired that “Bucket List” pipe.
I will probably just admired this pipe for a bit and have that inaugural smoke reserved for a special occasion. We’ll see…
I know that some of the forum members are where I was 35 years ago. I just want to let you know that, “Pipe Dreams” really can come true.
. Working around an assortment of awesome pipes, I developed a huge case of pipe envy. My financial realities told me that these were literally “pipe dreams” and the possibility of me actually owning a GBD or a Dunhill was not going to be in my cards anytime soon. Two pipes that I really desired were a Dunhill Billiard and a GBD Canadian.Life went on, as they say. I really did not start adding significantly to my array of pipes until I remarried, 15 years ago. A few years back I was able to acquire my first Dunhill Billiard, through site sponsor the Danish Pipe Shop. It was a birth year (1961), Tanshell. I have bought 2 more Dunhill Billiards, a Shell Briar and a Bruyere, both birth year pipes. I have monitored eBay over the years and still was not able to find the “just right” GBD Canadian.
I have three estate GBDs. I purchased each off of eBay auctions. All of these are great pipes, just not that “dream“ pipe. Last week, an unsmoked, pre-Cadogan GBD Virgin Collector #263 Canadian with a Perspex stem came up for auction on eBay. This was my dream pipe. I took the strategy of not bidding but just watching until the end of the sale. Up until the last minute the several bidders had not even bid to the reserve. I came in with a large (for me) snipe bid at the last seconds of the auction and bought the pipe for what, I believe, was probably only the reserve. To say that, I was/am elated is an understatement. The pipe arrived yesterday and I was able to get a few pics today (sorry for the quality, I have not had the time to improve my photo skills).
The PAD never seems to relent. There are pipes I would still like to add, like another Tinsky commission, a new (non-estate) Dunhill, a Bill Taylor Ashton, and a few more older Comoy and Saseini models. However, as retirement nears (and I am sure some necessary frugality) I may not get all, or even any, of these. Nonetheless, I have reached a wonderful status of pipe completion. I have acquired that “Bucket List” pipe.
I will probably just admired this pipe for a bit and have that inaugural smoke reserved for a special occasion. We’ll see…
I know that some of the forum members are where I was 35 years ago. I just want to let you know that, “Pipe Dreams” really can come true.
