Ben Wade ID

[JeremyL]

I'm debating getting a small lot of pipes, wherein the clear gems are two Ben Wade's. It's a remote purchase - which I am very shy of after being a sucker by a (fortunately small) scam so I swore I would not buy remote again... but these kinda catch my eye. I should get to do a video call with him tomorrow.

(And yes, I will be MUCH more cautious this time and not get scammed again...)

Anyway, how do I tell if this is a Preben Holm era (or made by him?) pipe or approx date or ??? They are clearly freehand. I don't know yet if they have a model name - which I imagine would tell you guys - so I'm just trying to know what to look for. I have not yet seen the stampings.

All the pipes would certainly need a good cleaning but that's what why I got into this hobby/habit in the first place... bringing these beauties back to life. I just would like to know that I have some value in the pipe once I'm done... and I like to have as-good an idea as I can what I've got. He did say his wife paid a fair bit for them.

These would be amongst my most expensive pipes (since the rest of the lot is not worth much and he won't separate).
I've read thru pipedia and pipephil on BW but it's not at all clear how to ID.

Thanks!

 

[Waning Embers]

Anyway, how do I tell if this is a Preben Holm era (or made by him?)

Only if his name is stamped on it. He had many now famous carvers working for him.

 

[JeremyL]

Thanks. My working assumption is any Ben Wade freehand is going to be a good quality pipe (or at least originally was). My understanding is during the 'bad times' the machine-made pipes could be lesser pipes but freehands were all made by skilled carvers and briar specs would be pretty top. I guess I'll know a lot more when I see what I can see... one of the shapes is quite appealing to me... the other less so so I would probably clean it up and resell.

 

[Jwebb90]

Thanks. My working assumption is any Ben Wade freehand is going to be a good quality pipe (or at least originally was). My understanding is during the 'bad times' the machine-made pipes could be lesser pipes but freehands were all made by skilled carvers and briar specs would be pretty top. I guess I'll know a lot more when I see what I can see... one of the shapes is quite appealing to me... the other less so so I would probably clean it up and resell.

When I worked at a B&M we had a number of freehands. I was often tempted to get one with my employee discount but the drilling on the pipes prevented me. The ones that I liked were all drilled off center or too high.

I hope the ones you are getting are spot on.

 

[greeneyes]

When I worked at a B&M we had a number of freehands. I was often tempted to get one with my employee discount but the drilling on the pipes prevented me. The ones that I liked were all drilled off center or too high.

I hope the ones you are getting are spot on.

Ditto. They're demanding pipes from the point of view that they're larger, cool smoking bowls, but if you have any moisture you'll be removing the stem over and over to clean it out which, to my mind, kills the whole thing. I've only had three though so who knows.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

As I understand it, all “freehand” Ben Wades were made by Preben Holm. Now, if you’re talking about non-Freehand Ben Wades that’s a whole different story.

Ben Wade was a family owned pipe factory in Leeds, England making traditional English pipes from 1860 to 1965. At that time it was bought by Lane and kicked around between Lane, Dunhill, and Charatan for a few years until ultimately becoming the name for Preben Holms freehands as sold by Lane.

It’s the time between 1965 and Preben Holm that Ben Wades were less than stellar pipes, mostly seconds.

 

[Waning Embers]

As I understand it, all “freehand” Ben Wades were made by Preben Holm.

Winslow and a few others made them for him as well.

 

[Sig]

Preban Holm has quite the story.
He started msking pipes at 15, started selling in his dad's shop at 16, and was contracted for 20-30 pipes a week from Pipe Dan in Copenhagen at 16 years old.
Poul Winslow is the only other Ben Wade carver mentioned in this article, mostly written my Holm himself. Very interesting.

Holm, Preben - Pipedia

pipedia.org

 

[Waning Embers]

Preban Holm has quite the story.
He started msking pipes at 15, started selling in his dad's shop at 16, and was contracted for 20-30 pipes a week from Pipe Dan in Copenhagen at 16 years old.
Poul Winslow is the only other Ben Wade carver mentioned in this article, mostly written my Holm himself. Very interesting.

Holm, Preben - Pipedia

pipedia.org

Hansen and Noltensmeier (S.Bang), Per Hansen, Bo Nordh, and Karl Erik are others.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

Winslow and a few others made them for him as well.

I didn’t know that, but it makes sense. A pretty common practice for most of the Danish Carvers. They rarely ever work alone on label pipes.

 

[Waning Embers]

I didn’t know that, but it makes sense. A pretty common practice for most of the Danish Carvers. They rarely ever work alone on label pipes.

IIRC he had over 40 carvers in his shop. It would be interesting to know who they all were.

 

[Sig]

IIRC he had over 40 carvers in his shop. It would be interesting to know who they all were.

In the article he says he had 44-45 what he calls "journeyman" carvers working for him. That was before he worked for Ben Wade. It doesn't say how many, or who worked under him at Ben Wade. It just says there were several.

 

[Waning Embers]

In the article he says he had 44-45 what he calls "journeyman" carvers working for him. That was before he worked for Ben Wade. It doesn't say how many, or who worked under him at Ben Wade. It just says there were several.

I was just going on what I've gleaned from forums over the years and from a discussion I had with Erik Nording many years ago.

 

[JeremyL]

Ahh, to be a fly on the wall in a that shop. Sadly for me someone snagged this collection before I could do a followup chat with him. Someone came in and offered more than asking price. I shoulda just taken then when I had the chance - I knew there was at least enough value in the lot - but another one escapes. SOMEONE got a very nice lot at a very nice price I think.