Any Big Ben Pipe Owners?

[aquadoc]

I just won 2 Big Ben Select Sandblasted pipes made in the 80s. I can find nothing on any BB sandblasted pipes. Most of what I found suggests they are good to excellent smokers but the remarks are made about smooth pipes. Thoughts? I bought them because they were a bargain and the top is unsmoked.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I just have one, a smooth dromedary, but definitely love it.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Let's see if I can make your image larger. Those blasts look great!

 

[JimInks]

Nice looking pipes. I have one Big Ben, but it's a smooth pot with nice grain. Very good smoker.

 

[smittyd]

I have one Big Ben . Its a smooth Pickax . I like it but the stem is a bit thin for my liking.

 

[B18]

I have 2 Big Ben's, a smooth and a sandblasted. Big Ben pipes are good pipes, the only thing that bothers me is that most, if not all, new pipes are 9mm filterd. The older pipes (vulcanite) have too narrow slots, so i always widen them myself.

 

[mso489]

Big Ben pipes are made in The Netherlands, I think, and the Dutch are a culture of craft and precision. I own a smooth Big Ben churchwarden, but I would expect that any of their products would be well designed and manufactured. Getting a bargain on two pipes, one unsmoked, is a good catch. I don't think you'll have any problems with either of those.

 

[badbeard]

Funny, I asked that seller for a clearer/brighter photo of those pipes, and they refused.. :roll:
It's not Big Ben branded, but I have an Amphora X-tra made by Gubbels(Same factory as Big Ben), and it's a really nice pipe.

 

[jaytex1969]

My only Big Ben is a year old smooth churchwarden.
I seldom use it because I have to go dig out the long pipe cleaners and I never travel with it, as I envision myself sitting on it or breaking it in some similarly careless fashion.
That said, it's fun to smoke when I do. My only criticism is that, as a small, tapered chamber with not-so-thick walls, even sipping requires care to prevent overheating.
I think I'll give it a go now. At this rate, I'll have it "broken in" in another year or two... ::

Big Ben Elegant 529 Churchwarden