Antique find!

[Laurent]

Gentlemen, I have found 3 very old pipes at a antique shop. With all your knowledge and plus what I’m finding on google, I was wondering if you can fill in that gaps. I bought a Silver Duke Dr Grabow, Tom Howard, and what I believe is a Hawthorne. The what I believe Hawthorne, because I can clearly see the thorne word just the first few letters not so clear. I love the story on Tom Howard. But, hopefully some of you can tell me more. I paid $15 for all three and I’m going to clean them up.

 

[Fralphog]

I learned a lot on the forum by going to the pipe maintenance section. There are definitely some dues and don’ts to learn.
From the few pictures you posted, the pipes look like they’re in decent shape. The stems look intact and should be able to be cleaned up well. Not sure what the inside of the bowls look like?

I also gleaned quite a bit of knowledge from going to a website called
rebornpipes.com
You can read through his blog where he discusses in detail each step he takes to refurbish a pipe and the tools and supplies he uses. Be careful he also sells refurbished pipes, I bought five from him?

Have fun with this project. There is something rewarding about taking an old pipe and bringing it back to life.

 

[Laurent]

I learned a lot on the forum by going to the pipe maintenance section. There are definitely some dues and don’ts to learn.
From the few pictures you posted, the pipes look like they’re in decent shape. The stems look intact and should be able to be cleaned up well. Not sure what the inside of the bowls look like?

I also gleaned quite a bit of knowledge from going to a website called
rebornpipes.com
You can read through his blog where he discusses in detail each step he takes to refurbish a pipe and the tools and supplies he uses. Be careful he also sells refurbished pipes, I bought five from him?

Have fun with this project. There is something rewarding about taking an old pipe and bringing it back to life.

I have been to his website but luckily didn’t noticed he sold them lol. I’m more looking for the historical knowledge. Thanks for the info though. I’m still learning how to operate a forum. This is the first forum that I’ve ever been on or part of. Lol. And I’m 42.

 

[kcghost]

They look like you'll have some fun cleaning them up. Remember to not get the buffer anywhere near any of the markings on the bit or stem.

 

[mso489]

Those could be some real beauties, if you can post "after" photos. I don't know how many pipes you have restored; just be careful and go easy with any reaming. Over-reaming is the quickest way to destroy a fine old pipe, if you are not experienced. It's too much fun to hew away the guts of the briar.

 

[scloyd]

Nice find. Looking forward to the after pics.

 

[Laurent]

So the pipe I thought was a Hawthorne, is actually, I believe now, a George Yale golden Thorne rustic.

 

[RobNYC]

Nice find!

 

[mikethompson]

Older Grabows will smoke wonderfully. Have fun cleaning this up!

 

[Laurent]

First pipe restored. George Yale Golden Yale Rusticated pipe.

 

[RobertLeslie75]

Nice find!! The stem on the Dr. Grabow is upside down. The spade should be pointing up. On the older Grabows, some of the stems were adjustable. Hope that is the case. Enjoy those beauties.

 

[scloyd]

There's something about that kind of rustcation (if that's the correct word) that I like. It reminds me of woodshop in school when we beat furniture with chains to add texture/dents to it.

Good job on the clean up.

 

[Laurent]

Nice find!! The stem on the Dr. Grabow is upside down. The spade should be pointing up. On the older Grabows, some of the stems were adjustable. Hope that is the case. Enjoy those beauties.

I was able to flip it back lol

 

[anotherbob]

First pipe restored. George Yale Golden Yale Rusticated pipe. View attachment 119796View attachment 119797

weirdly my first thought was how hot do you have to smoke a briar to melt it.

 

[Grangerous]

Great price! Antique shops around here get crazy. Spotted an old Kaywoodie and they wouldn’t let it go for less than $55. It was oxidized and had cake so thick a pencil wouldn’t fit. — I argued that if it was professionally restored it might be worth $55. It was butt ugly but I would’ve paid a more reasonable price just to play around with cleaning it up. So rare to find three pipes and for $5 each. Great find!

 

[Laurent]

Great price! Antique shops around here get crazy. Spotted an old Kaywoodie and they wouldn’t let it go for less than $55. It was oxidized and had cake so thick a pencil wouldn’t fit. — I argued that if it was professionally restored it might be worth $55. It was butt ugly but I would’ve paid a more reasonable price just to play around with cleaning it up. So rare to find three pipes and for $5 each. Great find!

There was 4 Kaywoodies there also but whoever smoked them, chewed the ends off. One was even their white briar line of pipes.

 

[jafo1989]

Gentlemen, I have found 3 very old pipes at a antique shop. I paid $15 for all three and I’m going to clean them up.

Ayup. That’s how it starts. “It’s not such a bad pipe, Charlie Brown. It just needs a little love.” ?

 

[jafo1989]

Have fun with this project. There is something rewarding about taking an old pipe and bringing it back to life.

It starts out rewarding. Then it quickly becomes obsessive. ?‍

 

[Laurent]

I finished the Tom Howard pipe. The stem was sealed shut?

 

[Laurent]

Final of the three, Dr Grabow Silver Duke.