Peterson police on their way to Oz right now………………bailiff lock him up
Interesting Completed Ebay Auctions - British Pipes
- Thread starter ssjones
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I am following this thread super closely and I am doing a ton of reading, but I struggle to deduce the reasons being some of these prices... Don't get me wrong, i am not asking the classic question- "How could this pipes cost so much?" I get that! But for the life of me i can't figure out does one pipe sell for 300$, another for 800$ and a third for 1500$+. While I was doing my research I tried my best to to pick similar pipes (condition, age, brand etc) and fail to find any major price determining factor. Peterson for example seems easy - big and easy distinction between rarity, lines, grades and eras.
Either I am missing a big piece of the puzzle, when it comes to pre-war Britwoods or it's just auction shenanigans and the planets aligning for some of those pipe. I love the super old silver mounted English pipes and I see quite a few of them go by, but not understanding the pricing makes it very hard and stressful to pull the trigger on some of the pricier ones.
If the mods think, that my post could dilute this thread, I would be more than happy to move it.
Either I am missing a big piece of the puzzle, when it comes to pre-war Britwoods or it's just auction shenanigans and the planets aligning for some of those pipe. I love the super old silver mounted English pipes and I see quite a few of them go by, but not understanding the pricing makes it very hard and stressful to pull the trigger on some of the pricier ones.
If the mods think, that my post could dilute this thread, I would be more than happy to move it.
That's what
i get this when it comes to listing prices , but finished auctions too?
This all being said I grabbed a very nice looking pipe last night. I was hesitant since noone seemed to be interested in it even though the price looked extremely reasonable to me.
BBB 1911 Birmingham Pipe In Case Hallmark Silver Antique Smokers Pipe Collectors | eBay.de
The BBB 1911 Birmingham Pipe is a high-quality, antique smoking pipe made of silver. This collectors' item is housed in a protective case and bears the hallmark of Birmingham, adding to its appeal and value. The pipe's design reflects a bygone era of alcohol and smoking, making it a unique and...
ebay.us
When I first started really getting in to pipes I was bewildered. Two straight billiards that looked more or less identical- one was $150, the other $1500! I knew I had a lot to learn.
Brand/carver is the most important factor, for better or worse. Condition and grain are right there with it, I think.
In time I learned how important the nuanced differences in stem shaping were, and how much more desirable a well made stem could make a pipe.
Personal example.. Barlings Make. While I haven’t had the widest range of experience with them, I can definitively say that I’ve never had a bad smoke with a Barling. It’s almost uncanny- but it’s gotten to where I trust that if I buy a family era Barling, I know I’m investing in a terrific smoking experience. To me, that’s worth the extra money they fetch.
Though, compared to some like-aged Dunhills, they’re still quite affordable! - and I’ve had mixed results with patent-era Dunhill.
I just paid $325 for a Barlings Make S-M this week. I was a bit (pleasantly) surprised it didn’t go somewhat higher!- considering its condition, grain, and comparative rarity of the S-M designation.
I prefer smaller pipes, so a S-M Barling is always on my short list.
SPC has a similar era/shape Barlings Make currently. It’s a L size, not nearly as nice grain, and the kicker- the stem doesn’t mount flush with the shank! I mean, it’s glaring.
And they’re asking $425!
So all in all, I feel very good about my $325 purchase.
Thanks for the extensive answer! That's the thing - i know why a pipe would cost up to 300-500$ and then let's say 2000+, but everything in between is the range I have trouble with figuring out.
Not so much for the pricing but the bidding can get quite prideful. It's crazy to watch sometimes. I've seen guys bid on a item higher than they could buy it now, same exact item. I believe some think " I can't let so and so out bid me!"
Yes I have seen this, but here in Germany is considered a place where people sell their junk and where you can buy something valuable for a couple of €. No bidding wars happening here, at least from my observations.
Good for them, they are sensible! They probably don't even know what a snipe is
A lot of action in USA is in the last ten seconds.Oh you are so wrong here- every auction is sniped here… in the US at least you get a ton of action before the snipping, here the pipes stay at 3€ until the last 10 secGood for them, they are sensible! They probably don't even know what a snipe is
Haha. Every now and then I try to toss out some low-hanging fruit for you guys.
I won this auction. I put in a snipe just below what I calculated the market value to be (after tax and shipping), and unfortunately, paid almost that amount. I just can't resist lots like this where I 'need' to get a closer look at some of the pipes. I'll clean them up, sell most, and maybe break even with free labor
I think the driving factors are brand and condition. That includes the condition of the case. If you’re a collector, you might just want a particular pipe pretty badly. The time to buy something rare is when you see it. Price be damned.
But it’s an auction. If you’re flipping pipes, you might buy one, pretty it up and then get 2/3 what you paid when you sell it at auction.
There no guarantee on an increase on your investment.
This will sound like a pat answer, but in that range it really is a matter of supply and demand. Some makes/makers, even at roughly same level of quality, are simply more scarce than others (supply). Meanwhile, some makes/makers, regardless of quality, are more popular/desirable than others for myriad reasons (demand). There really aren't any hard and fast rules to how this shakes out as a price, but you can see how similar pipes sold and use that as a guide.
Take Nanna Ivarsson pipes as an example. They're very well made, but there are lots of artisan pipes that will smoke just as well and have excellent craftsmanship (maybe hers are marginally better than some - I don't know). But her pipes are highly desirable and collectable, partly because her father was a famous pipemaker. But also, she doesn't make a lot of pipes! They sell for several thousand dollars and usually get snapped up very quickly. The inherent quality of the pipe is just part of the answer.
For some collectors I would add 'history' and 'rarity'. Some of us own many pipes that are literally one-of-a-kind (as far as we know). You can place a rough market value on such pipes, but it's easy for me, as a collector, to rationalize paying a ridiculous amount for such a pipe. Same goes for some pipes that aren't unique, but I know I may not see another example for several years.
Right. It’s just what collectors want. The seller is an added factor. People feel comfortable and confident with certain sellers that they will get exactly what they see and it’s as described. At this point Deadman’s pipes seems to have the same cachet as Lloyd’s or Sotheby’s.