Ok, this is a very mild defence of Brylon, because I can now see the pluses and minuses of them after spending five bucks on ebay on this Medico Brylon pipe. (I've never owned one before this)
After doing a cleanup of the pipe, I considered which tobacco to try first. I chose Sutliff "Old San Francisco" because it's one the tobaccos I have yet to really enjoy in any of my other pipes. I noticed a very open draw in this pipe which was nice for getting a good charring light. Just a few minutes into the smoke I really started to appreciate this tobacco. It was like a dark filter had been removed for the first time and I could get a nice clear taste. I was impressed. So far, so good.
Many others have remarked how Brylon tends to get hot after awhile. I also find this to be true, but the bowl never got too hot for me to hold. I believe because of the nice draw of the pipe I had good control over the temperature of the burn which was very consistent as well, requiring not one relight for the duration of the smoke.
So my conclusion is, for a five dollar estate pipe I've got a good, if somewhat ugly, (or at least nondescript) well performing and low maintenance tobacco pipe. It doesn't fail by any means.
Its main competition would be a cob which would have the advantage of cost when purchased new as well as lighter weight. The Brylon added zero taste overtones. Can't say the same for the cobs I've smoked which required a short break in period.
I don't think I'd ever buy a new Brylon pipe. But if you do see one cheap at a flea market or on ebay it might be worth trying if you are so inclined. At any rate, I can now say I've given one a fair shot.
After doing a cleanup of the pipe, I considered which tobacco to try first. I chose Sutliff "Old San Francisco" because it's one the tobaccos I have yet to really enjoy in any of my other pipes. I noticed a very open draw in this pipe which was nice for getting a good charring light. Just a few minutes into the smoke I really started to appreciate this tobacco. It was like a dark filter had been removed for the first time and I could get a nice clear taste. I was impressed. So far, so good.
Many others have remarked how Brylon tends to get hot after awhile. I also find this to be true, but the bowl never got too hot for me to hold. I believe because of the nice draw of the pipe I had good control over the temperature of the burn which was very consistent as well, requiring not one relight for the duration of the smoke.
So my conclusion is, for a five dollar estate pipe I've got a good, if somewhat ugly, (or at least nondescript) well performing and low maintenance tobacco pipe. It doesn't fail by any means.
Its main competition would be a cob which would have the advantage of cost when purchased new as well as lighter weight. The Brylon added zero taste overtones. Can't say the same for the cobs I've smoked which required a short break in period.
I don't think I'd ever buy a new Brylon pipe. But if you do see one cheap at a flea market or on ebay it might be worth trying if you are so inclined. At any rate, I can now say I've given one a fair shot.
