Anyone Have Experience With Buying Pipes At Estate Sales?

[azpipe]

Just like the topic says.
I was considering stopping by one for the first time this weekend. Its way out of the way but I thought if I could score some pipes then it might be worth it. No clue on prices and the pictures don't show much detail.
http://fromatozestatesales.com/Surprise

 

[stflorian]

I'd be willing to bet with that many pipes there are bound to be some worth adding to your collection.

 

[wyfbane]

Lucky sonuva.....
I have been going to estate sales for the last 2 years. Shit I work part time for an estate sale company even now...
I have only once seen more than 4 ratty ass pipes at a sale, and they were so trashed I wouldn't pull the trigger.
I know of a guy in California who got a whole estate pipe collection BEFORE a company got their meathooks in it. He sold them off here and on ebay and everyone prospered. We all got good deals, he made a bit of $ and got to keep some of the best pipes.
If those are decent pipes, work with them on a lowball offer on the whole batch and then sell off the ones you don't want.
Make an educated bid, Don't offer $30/ pipe when they are all grabows from the '70s. Look them over and use due diligence with regards to condition.
I am literally drooling at that find.
If you don't get the whole lot, good luck on finding good pipes at even better prices there!
Let us know what you get there!

 

[georged]

No collectables in that bunch that I can see.
I did some estate finds & flips for Barry Levin back in the day (30 years ago), and collections like that one belonged to people we referred to as "tobacco smokers."
If they have any valuable pieces, they're usually few in number---special occasion gifts from friends and family. (A Charatan Exec for his 50th birthday, for example)

 

[azpipe]

I know about enough to be dangerous so I can't say with much confidence that I'd know how to properly negotiate the entire lot. They are advertising it as trains and pipes so I imagine they may be pretty firm on the pipes.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Well, it'll be great to comb through this lot!

 

[jesperff]

Don't forget to ask if there is also some tobacco, they may not have thrown out the boxes with Balkan Sobranie yet.

 

[addamsruspipe]

uuuuuuuuggggggg. Almost had the chance to go to this estate sale. But my trip out from New Mexico got cancelled last night at the last minute. :crying:

 

[mso489]

If we have an estate sale pro here, he'd know. My guess is that an estate sale is a professionalized yard sale, so the values of things might be a little more researched, so you won't find any Dunhills for five bucks, as you might in a yard or garage sale. Unless you plan to go into business restoring pipes, I'd buy a few selectively after looking them over carefully, and take some pipe cleaners to run through them. Pipes tend to stay in your life, so I wouldn't stock up just to store them.

 

[paddypiper]

From my experiences you either find pipes for half to a quarter of what they are worth or you'll find that someone in charge of pricing went and googled "estate pipes", saw one for $300, and decided all the pipes they have must be worth at least $300.

 

[wyfbane]

MSO, You would think that there would be someone that would know, and in a collection that size I am sure someone put some time into pricing. The problem is the time put in is seldom by anyone with an inkling about tobacciana. Therefore you end up with a situation like Paddypiper describes. That has been my experience, minus the some for half of what they are worth. The ones here are always too high and always in crap shape.

 

[azpipe]

Here's what I picked up

From top left:

Sav Bent Pot - $15

Fischer Cutty - $10

Sav 7003 - $15

Sav 316KS - $15

Sav 614? - $15
From Top Right

GBD 1003? - $8

GBD 1751 - $10

Fischer Margate - $5

Franciscan - $15
There was a ton of crap for $10-35. No Dunhills or anything high dollar. I sifted through most of it along with a number of other people who were just throwing pipes into their bag. Im not sure whether they purchased them or wanted to sift through them away from every one else. Not a bad way to spend a bit of time before heading into the office.

 

[azpipe]

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[mso489]

Good picks, for sure. The prices are excellent, and the pipes look in good shape. You might find a flaw or needed repair, but think what you would have paid for these online as estate pipes at retail! I do love a bargain.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Love the Sav third from top left. Have one similar, great pipe.

 

[azpipe]

@jpmcwjr it's the first time I've come across a 4 digit Sav in the wild

 

[wyfbane]

That is a great score, azpipe! Congratulations. Those are some great looking smokers.

 

[drydock]

Awesome picks! I really like that Fischer cutty--looks great! Impressed with your selection.

 

[drydock]

Wait, spoke too soon--that GBD 1751--is that the one that's sort of paneled, and then it transitions into a square, curved shank & stem? That's amazing. That's a really cool pipe.

 

[azpipe]

Yup, it's paneled. Very deep bowl. It's stamped premier conquest.
It's pretty much this pipe but with a full bend
https://www.smokershaven.com/gbd-estate-pipe-premier-conquest-1750-1-8-bent-square-shank-panel-scoop/
It just needs some TLC