Here is a WDC Milano I just finished up. I believe this one is a Hesson guard. Its stamped Hess followed by a patent number. It also appears to say Granny Briar. I found the patent year to be 1930 so I assume the pipe was made in the 30s or 40s.
I did the normal ream and salt/alcohol treatment. I soaked the stem in oxiclean and to my surprise it didn't have much oxidation. The stem had some deep tooth dents that I was able to get mostly out with some heat and sand paper.
Before pictures. Note how the rim is rounded off. The previous owner probably used a table as a knocker.
I topped the bowl to get it nice and flat again and touched up the rim with a stain pen.
The stinger was all covered in gunk. I sanded it down with some 500 grit and buffed it with brown tripoli.
Last I buffed the stem with brown tripoli, assembled the pipe, and waxed with caranuba.
Here's how it ended up
I did the normal ream and salt/alcohol treatment. I soaked the stem in oxiclean and to my surprise it didn't have much oxidation. The stem had some deep tooth dents that I was able to get mostly out with some heat and sand paper.
Before pictures. Note how the rim is rounded off. The previous owner probably used a table as a knocker.
I topped the bowl to get it nice and flat again and touched up the rim with a stain pen.
The stinger was all covered in gunk. I sanded it down with some 500 grit and buffed it with brown tripoli.
Last I buffed the stem with brown tripoli, assembled the pipe, and waxed with caranuba.
Here's how it ended up
