$27 Parker Purchase

[Briar Lee]

I just won this auction (I do really well when I’m the only bidder) for this Parker:

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What intrigued me was the seller’s description:

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Parker rusticated billiard pipe.

A nice old Parker rusticated billiard. The rustification has worn smooth giving testimozny to many years of faithful service. ThE bowl rim is slightly out of round buT nothing disastorous. The pipe is a full six inches long, 1 1/2" bowl height and 1" bowl width. Stem still has the faint P in a diamond. The bottom of the shank is stamped Parker Super Bruyere Bark and Made in London England, a 4 in a circle, and 152.

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Can anyone tell me what I bought?

I’ll bet it’s sandblasted, not rusticated.

 

[doctorbob]

I don't understand your question. It's pretty clear that you know you purchased a Parker pipe.

 

[Briar Lee]

Driving the daily total up to $41.50, in a bidding war I paid $14.50 delivered for what might be a Ben Wade.

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This is the description on this one:

What I know about the pipe: According to Wiczak & Colwell this is a Ben Wade Pipe. No markings other then Natural Grain over Algerian Briar on one side of the shank. Made in France on the other. Looks like a replacement stem. No other issues. Check all the photos and my feedback.

Length 6 "

Height: 1 3/4"

Width: 1 1/2" OD 1" ID

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It’s Algerian briar, it’s a big un’, and the stem likely needs turned right side up.

A Group 4 Parker and a large French Billiard should scratch my pipe buying itch for today.

 

[Briar Lee]

I don't understand your question. It's pretty clear that you know you purchased a Parker pipe.

A 4 in a circle likely means a Group 4 bowl size.

Parker Super Bruyere Bark means it’s blasted.

What does 152 mean?

When did the spelling of Bruyere become Briar?

This is likely a modern era Parker.

 

[fMf Piper]

Looks like a beautiful billard pipe to me! I only have MM cobs so far, but I am pretty sure my first briar is going to be a billiard. I just really like the classic styling and smooth lines. Nice find.

Unfortunately, I am not going to be much help in solving your mystery.

 

[Briar Lee]

Looks like a beautiful billard pipe to me! I only have MM cobs so far, but I am pretty sure my first briar is going to be a billiard. I just really like the classic styling and smooth lines. Nice find.

Unfortunately, I am not going to be much help in solving your mystery.

I learn something new about pipes nearly every day, after fifty years of smoking a pipe.

Since you want a briar pipe, and don’t have one yet, I recommend one of the cheap Algerian briar pipes online.

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For no more than a cob you get your first real briar, and while those aren’t much to look at, none smoke better, and few as well.

 

[fMf Piper]

Since you want a briar pipe, and don’t have one yet, I recommend one of the cheap Algerian briar pipes online.

Thanks, those look right up my alley. While I can appreciate an expensive briar as much as the next guy, for me what matters is if it smokes well and I enjoy smoking it. Feel the same about my tobaccos. I like what I like.

 

[crashthegrey]

All sandblasting is rustication, but not all rustication is sandblasting.

 

[Piping Abe]

Parker’s are great pipes at a great price. I purchased one on a visit to Scotland. They only sell them across the pond. Look on some UK sites for more. Like I said, great prices

 

[Briar Lee]

All sandblasting is rustication, but not all rustication is sandblasting.

Yes, but when it’s a Parker Super Bruyere Bark it was blasted.

Here’s one I have with a tiny 2 stamp that means it was made in 1925. I have no idea what 24 means. A shape number?

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[captainsousie]

There is so much wrong here I'm not really sure how to respond without resorting to language that would earn me another vacation from this site...even though the premise of this thread is what earned me my first one. Carry on.

 

[crashthegrey]

Yes, but when it’s a Parker Super Bruyere Bark it was blasted.

Here’s one I have with a tiny 2 stamp that means it was made in 1925. I have no idea what 24 means. A shape number?

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Likely a shape number. Sandblasting is still a rustication technique, just a very specific one that we often call blasted. Just being a bit pedantic.

 

[Briar Lee]

There’s no way I thought a $75 bid would win this Preben Holm Ben Wade Matt but this morning I woke up a huge Danish hand made to the good, and I’ll have $74 less in my farm account.

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Three days into March, and I’ve spent $27, $14.50, and $74 already on three pipes.

Next Tuesday I hope to take my wife and youngest son and a friend of his out to eat someplace and the tab will be about a hundred and I always tip a twenty.

Young people who take up pipe smoking should know, that you can build a wonderful stash of genuine London made sand blasts, fine French made Algerian smooth billiards, and famous maker Danish Freehands for about $30 each for smaller pipes and a hundred for large ones.

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[Briar Lee]

Thanks, those look right up my alley. While I can appreciate an expensive briar as much as the next guy, for me what matters is if it smokes well and I enjoy smoking it. Feel the same about my tobaccos. I like what I like.

I just checked my eBay and this six inch paneled squat Algerian Bulldog I paid $16.50 for will be in my mailbox when I get home.

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The seller must have bought a car load of these direct from Algeria.

These pipes are brand new, unsmoked, crudely made, but it’s been a very long time since genuine Algerian briar pipes cost about fifteen bucks.

The advantage a beginner has buying a new pipe is he won’t likely get cheated.

I doubt there’s much of a warranty on $15 pipes, but for the price of a big breakfast it’s not much risk.

 

[Briar Lee]

My Parker came in today.

It was spotlessly cleaned, carefully reamed, and has been smoked a zillion times. Yet, it’s still an excellent smoker.

To me, it appears this Super Briar Bark #152 Group 4 was once upon a time sandblasted like my 1925 Parker, but it’s been worn almost slick carrying around. The rear part of the bowl was burned down and redone.

It doesn’t have a date number, which means it was made after 1957. But I see now why folks rave about Dunhills and Parkers. The quality of the vulcanite, the bark finish, and the fit and shaping look like this thing was hand made by elves.

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