I've bought quite a few of reborn's pipes from his website and auctions, and he has also restored (to perfection) all the estates I have bought. But I had never met him in the flesh, until yesterday. He and his other half (I should now say 'better half! LOL) were in Scotland for a wedding, so we arranged to meet up in a suitable pub for a pint and a pipe then to meet the ladies for dinner.
Peter, who runs the Edinburgh Pipe Club, joined us in the pub. Entre nous Reborn drinks EXTRA COLD Guiness - sacrilege! - as an Irishman he should be ashamed!! LOL. Between them they know a huge amount about British pipes, Peterson's in particular. So I showed them my two recently-bought Peterson's that I considered imperfect and I will report their views in the appropriate existing thread - very interesting they are too.
After dinner reborn and I repaired with our better halves (certainly true in my case) to my place for some port and more smokes. We discussed my 'Dunhill DR' saga (the auction had 4 hours to go at that point), and again I will post the outcome in the appropriate existing thread - Mods please note! LOL
Anyway, I showed him one of my 'patent era' Dunhill Shells which I thought had a fill. Reborn has handled and restored more old British pipes than anyone I know. He confirmed my suspicions and said he had never seen another example of such! It doesn't bother me as the pipe is a perfect smoker, and I will never sell it. But maybe it adds to its rarity and would attract a premium?! LOL
Anyway, he proved to be great company as well as a 'Ninja' pipe restorer and scholar. All in all it was a grand day and I learned at least three things about British pipes that I didn't know before.
Peter, who runs the Edinburgh Pipe Club, joined us in the pub. Entre nous Reborn drinks EXTRA COLD Guiness - sacrilege! - as an Irishman he should be ashamed!! LOL. Between them they know a huge amount about British pipes, Peterson's in particular. So I showed them my two recently-bought Peterson's that I considered imperfect and I will report their views in the appropriate existing thread - very interesting they are too.
After dinner reborn and I repaired with our better halves (certainly true in my case) to my place for some port and more smokes. We discussed my 'Dunhill DR' saga (the auction had 4 hours to go at that point), and again I will post the outcome in the appropriate existing thread - Mods please note! LOL
Anyway, I showed him one of my 'patent era' Dunhill Shells which I thought had a fill. Reborn has handled and restored more old British pipes than anyone I know. He confirmed my suspicions and said he had never seen another example of such! It doesn't bother me as the pipe is a perfect smoker, and I will never sell it. But maybe it adds to its rarity and would attract a premium?! LOL
Anyway, he proved to be great company as well as a 'Ninja' pipe restorer and scholar. All in all it was a grand day and I learned at least three things about British pipes that I didn't know before.