1915-192(?) BBB Umbria Restoration (And a Bit of History) [pic heavy]

[piffyr]

When I first laid eyes on this pipe, I kind of fell in love with it. I thought the flow of the curve from the bowl to the button, the pinched oval shank, and the dark color combined to give it a svelte and classy appearance. The briar was completely flawless and the grain orientation provided an almost perfect compliment to the shape. To top it all off, the pipe weighed in at a paltry 24 grams. I felt like I needed to put a book on top of it to keep it from floating away. The unfortunate thing is that the pipe didn’t belong to me. It was sent to me for some restoration work by a good friend. I’m tellin’ ya… With friends like these…
The pipe appeared to have been only lightly smoked. There was only a very thin and even layer of cake in the chamber. Of course, there was just as much cake on the rim, but the pipe was otherwise undamaged. A judicious clean and polish was all that would be required to bring the pipe back into good working order.

 

[piffyr]

I wasn’t familiar with the Umbria line. So, I did a little research and dug up some interesting and, I believe, little known BBB history.
The earliest reference I could find was from a local tobacconist ad posted in the 1919-1920 issue of the Cornell Alumni News...
https://books.google.com/books?id=36lDAQAAMAAJ

Next, a short article in the July 27, 1922 issue of a weekly trade paper simply titled, Tobacco, established the history of the line and the fact that they were assembled here in the states along with BBB Own Make pipes for US distribution. As a guy with an interest in pipes made for the American market, I found that little bit of previously unknown to me information to be very interesting...
https://books.google.com/books?id=jJRDAQAAMAAJ

The article also included a peek inside the factory…

Finally, in that same issue of Tobacco, there was a BBB ad that referenced the fact that the Umbria line of pipes were assembled using imported French bowls…

I’m still not sure how long the College Point factory remained in existence, but I think it’s a safe bet that the doors were shuttered by 1930. At some point, prior to becoming part of S.M Frank in 1937, WDC took over the manufacturing of BBB pipes for the American market and the Umbria line faded into history.

 

[piffyr]

Aaaanyway… Enough with the history lesson already. You’re probably curious about whatever happened to that pipe. Well, there really isn’t much to say concerning the work. As I said, it was in solid condition for a pipe that was roughly 90-years-old, give or take a decade. So, the work isn’t defined so much by what you do, but moreso by what you don’t. In any case, I think it turned out pretty nice…

Here’s where the story takes a twist though… After finishing the pipe up and informing the owner that it was ready to come home, I learned that this whole thing had been a clever ruse. His intention all the while was that the pipe would stay with me. He suspected that if he just gave it to me in its original condition I’d thank him for it, stow it away in a box, and start working on someone else’s pipe instead. Of course, he was right. So, thanks, buddy! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a date with a curvy, French-American girl with an oddly British family name.

 

[ashdigger]

Very very nice work. I really enjoy Resto-Porn and history lessons. :clap:

 

[bluegrassbrian]

Very nice cleanup!
"Where there's a white man, you will find a BBB pipe."
Did I read that right?

 

[piffyr]

Very very nice work. I really enjoy Resto-Porn and history lessons.

Thanks. I guessed that this post would tax some attention spans, but context is key with this one.

Did I read that right?

Again, it's all about context. That's definitely an offensive statement by today's standards, but keep in mind that the article was from 1922. Less than 60 years after the American Civil War.

 

[hiplainsdrifter]

Gorgeous.

 

[georged]

Couldn't have been done better, imo. :clap:
.

 

[alexnorth]

Amazing resto job, really!!

 

[agnosticpipe]

Great story, great restoration, and a great ending! :clap:

 

[kcghost]

Real nice story and an even better friend.

 

[didimauw]

Nice pipe. Good restore. Interesting history. Awesome story. Even better ending! Thank you.

 

[dmcmtk]

"Where there's a white man, you will find a BBB pipe."
Did I read that right?

I think the context to keep in mind was the British Empire, on which the "Sun never sets..."

 

[mortonbriar]

Beautiful clean up!

 

[ssjones]

Fabulous pipe, excellent research and beautiful work. I love the surprise ending, enjoy that curvy wench.

 

[georged]

"Where there's a white man, you will find a BBB pipe."

Did I read that right?

I think the context to keep in mind was the British Empire, on which the "Sun never sets..."

Exactly this and nothing more. My grandfather was born in 1888 and continued to refer to situations, policies, and social constructs in early 20th century terms throughout his life. No finer, more fair-minded man ever lived.
[pushback=on]
Though I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to find some 21st century Social Justice Warrior who would demand that all BBB catalog reprints be burned and their owners pilloried, it would just be knee jerk, narrative-pushing silliness. History simply is, and must be viewed in the context of its time. All attempts to establish thoughtcrime by such puppets should be rejected.
[/pushback]

 

[voorhees]

That was a fine cleanup and a gem of a pipe.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Excellent story and fabulous pipe. Looks like the chamber can hold a _____ load of tobacco. The curves are terrific.

 

[jackswilling]

Seriously, getting the vapors over some old ad copy.
Whitey on the Moon

Gil Scott-Heron

Lyrics

A rat done bit my sister Nell.

(with Whitey on the moon)

Her face and arms began to swell.

(and Whitey's on the moon)

I can't pay no doctor bill.

(but Whitey's on the moon)

Ten years from now I'll be payin' still.

(while Whitey's on the moon)

The man jus' upped my rent las' night.

('cause Whitey's on the moon)

No hot water, no toilets, no lights.

(but Whitey's on the moon)

I wonder why he's uppi' me?

('cause Whitey's on the moon?)

I was already payin' 'im fifty a week.

(with Whitey on the moon)

Taxes takin' my whole damn check,

Junkies makin' me a nervous wreck,

The price of food is goin' up,

An' as if all that shit wasn't enough

A rat done bit my sister Nell.

(with Whitey on the moon)

Her face an' arm began to swell.

(but Whitey's on the moon)

Was all that money I made las' year

(for Whitey on the moon?)

How come there ain't no money here?

(Hm! Whitey's on the moon)

Y'know I jus' 'bout had my fill

(of Whitey on the moon)

I think I'll sen' these doctor bills,

Airmail special

(to Whitey on the moon)

Songwriters: Gil Scott-Heron

Whitey on the Moon lyrics © Carlin America Inc

 

[jackswilling]

The pipe resto is freaking awesome as was the ad provenance