Another Generous Gift: A Color Duke at Long Last

[Swampdragon69]

The newer ones I've purchased have had edges on that metal tenon that have chewed up the inside of the mortise, but ones pre 2000 are great. As far as smoking, they're just as good as any artisan piece I own.

I think that Mikes are from late sixties to the seventies.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I think that Mikes are from late sixties to the seventies.

I remember having a white one in the early '90s bought from a Rite Aid. Great pipe!

 

[theloniousmonkfish]

Nice! The color lines started around 66-67 after KW came out with their white briar. By 1980 demand had let up but they put out a white Color Viscount model with the Olympic Logo then. Around 84-85 UST allowed them to write off the excess inventory and $100,000 worth of colored pipes were buried in the sawdust pile at the old factory.

 

[mikethompson]

I seem to remember that the Color Dukes were sold for the Christmas 1971 season.

 

[mikethompson]

Nice! The color lines started around 66-67 after KW came out with their white briar. By 1980 demand had let up but they put out a white Color Viscount model with the Olympic Logo then. Around 84-85 UST allowed them to write off the excess inventory and $100,000 worth of colored pipes were buried in the sawdust pile at the old factory.

Interesting, I didn't know they came out that early. They do have a very late 60s, early 70s vibe. @Swampdragon69 thanks again for sending these, otherwise I'd have to go looking for that sawdust pile!

 

[mikethompson]

Some better shots

 

[jonasclark]

I think these are ugly in a cool way, especially orange ones. When I started collecting as a kid, I had a Grabow that was green, a bent rhodesian a pipe guy told 8-year-old me was called a "squad bulldog." Bought it at a drugstore, and I wish I still had it.

 

[mikethompson]

I think these are ugly in a cool way, especially orange ones

I tend to agree. I've always had a soft spot for the green ones, but the orange bulldogs look interesting as well.

squad bulldog."

Is that like what a cliquey cool group of dogs are called?

 

[jonasclark]

Typo. SQUAT bulldog. Of course, kid me pictured a dog squatting... doing what dogs do when they squat. My mom thought that pipe was ugly. She thought the same of the other one I got there, a straight billiard Yello-Bole that was called "Tweed," and was painted gray with little black and white paint squiggles. Wish I still had both of those.