Are GBD Pipes Good Currently Or Historically?

[mso489]

I've seen a few posts on Forums commending GBD pipes among Britwood brands. Is that recommendation extended to the currently manufactured examples or only to certain historical periods of the brand? Gregg L. Pease is said to be a GBD collector. Are new GBD's recommended, or is it only their pipes from the past, and if so, which ones? Just curiosity. (I live among a bounty of pipes, just not GBD.)

 

[lraisch]

I have not seen many current GBDs recently, but in my opinion the quality went down substantially in the 80s.

Pipes with the original brass GBD logo on the stem are probably a good bet. I have quite a number purchased in the 70s and the Virgins, Granitans, Pebble Grains, etc. are all excellent pipes.

I would never get one with the Perspex stem though, horrible idea!

 

[Chasing Embers]

Perspex

Perspex is just acrylic. Not a fan of acrylic myself but clear perspex gives an interesting look to a pipe.

 

[LotusEater]

I own a dozen or so older GBDs and most of them are (in my opinion) great smokers and pretty good quality all around (for the price).
I have purchased 2 newer GBD estates and both are (again, in my opinion) of quite low quality. I love a GBD but unless it has a rondel I’m probably not interested.

 

[LotusEater]

Perspex is just acrylic. Not a fan of acrylic myself but clear perspex gives an interesting look to a pipe.

Perspex looks cool when the pipe is new but it is very difficult to keep the airway looking clean for very long.

 

[mso489]

You do have to hunt around a little to find new GBD's. They aren't marketed that much in the U.S. I think the customer base must be in the UK or elsewhere in Europe. Sounds like pre-80's is the sweet spot.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

I tried to limit my initial purchases of GBD to pipes with Perspex stems to narrow focus (i.e., slow down PAD), but, now I just get what appeals to me. I haven't bought any of the newer releases.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Perspex looks cool when the pipe is new but it is very difficult to keep the airway looking clean for very long.

Lemon juice soak and whitening toothpaste on a bristle pipe cleaner.

 

[LotusEater]

Lemon juice soak and whitening toothpaste on a bristle pipe cleaner.

Thanks I’ll give it a try

 

[Chasing Embers]

Thanks I’ll give it a try

If you opt for the lemon juice soak, leave it in overnight.

 

[LotusEater]

If you opt for the lemon juice soak, leave it in overnight.

I’m going to soak one tonight!

 

[kcghost]

Haven't seen a GBD in years. I had one back in 1974 and it was an excellent pipe.

 

[lraisch]

After they have been smoked awhile, the Perspex stems look lie an ad from the tobacco Nazis.

 

[Briar Lee]

Last year I wanted a better Oom Paul than the two I had, so I searched EBay and found an unsmoked GBD Collosus for about $100.

My pipe is “modern” and doesn’t have the brass inlay. Although it is a British pipe it came in a St. Claude France silk bag. It has a lucite stem, and it’s stamped MIDNIGHT, which means it’s very darkly stained, probably to disguise less than magnificent grain.

This is among the best pipes I own. It’s perfectly shaped, well made, hangs right (no small concern when dealing with a huge full bent pipe) and has been a cool, sweet smoker from the first bowl,

GBD makes a quality, name brand product.

You won’t be disappointed with one.

 

[craig61a]

I have a handful of GBD’s… for whatever reason it’s not a brand that I became enamored of, so therefore I own very few.

Of those that I do own, which are several decades old, they are good smokers. I don’t know about recent production pipes.

I have no problems keeping my Perspex stems clean, and I like the look. Not a fan of Zima, or any of those other clear products marketed about 15 or 20 years ago though.

 

[captpat]

I have a couple 9438's in different finished and a pot with perspex stem. They're all good smokers.

@Chasing Embers - hadn't heard of the lemon juice trick, is that a full strength or diluted? Does it also work with non-perspex acrylic, I have a couple white stems that I'd like to clean up.

 

[LotusEater]

If you opt for the lemon juice soak, leave it in overnight.

The lemon juice worked pretty well
This pipe was well used and very dirty when I started.

 

[Chasing Embers]

hadn't heard of the lemon juice trick, is that a full strength or diluted?

Full strength

Does it also work with non-perspex acrylic, I have a couple white stems that I'd like to clean up.

Sure does and without the microfractures that alcohol can cause.

 

[captpat]

Full strength



Sure does and without the microfractures that alcohol can cause.

Great, thanks

 

[mso489]

A good trick to know.

When a brand goes downhill, I always suspect it is because someone has taken over who is mostly interested in business and only remotely interested in pipes, if at all. I don't know that's what happened to GBD, but I think it is often the case.

Likewise, when people take over print publications primarily for the profits, the product almost invariably declines in quality if it doesn't go out of business.

You can't fake a passion for the end product. If you don't have it, you never will. And if you do have it, you can't tolerate producing an inferior item.