Bought an Estate Worth of Pipes

[Brig]

Had no idea how many pipes we're truly in this collection when offered to me, came home today to find a massive box filled with about 200+ pipes and 8 or 9 vintage pipe stands.

Some broken, as expected when shipped in a giant box together. I really can't complain though because there was more than I anticipated.

Former owner doesn't seem to have been a stem chewer, either, though several items are loose or have tenons wrapped in tape. Many can probably be tightened up with water or wax.

About half a dozen Turkish meters. I'd say about 75% of pipes are marked, and of that percentage 80% are actually branded. Sadly, very very few pipes in this collection are of styles I actually favor to smoke out of, so I will be cleaning most of these up over the next several weeks (months, probably) to move on.

Just a little teaser of the collection until I have time to lay them out. Bottoms of boxes were giving out and my dog, who normally hates the smell of all things alcohol or tobacco related, was enthralled with smelling this pile.

 

[sablebrush52]

Former owner doesn't seem to have been a stem chewer, either, though several items are loose or have tenons wrapped in tape. Many can probably be tightened up with water or wax.

There's a MUCH better way to tighten up a stem. Vulcanite has memory, so the following video, by Walt Cannoy, shows how to restore the tenon to its original proportions:

 

[Brig]

There's a MUCH better way to tighten up a stem. Vulcanite has memory, so the following video, by Walt Cannoy, shows how to restore the tenon to its original proportions:

Thanks. I'm new to sprucing up estate meers so definitely have homework to do before I get started. Some of the pipes are named, all to the same guy, and dates seem to range from the early 1950s until about 2020ish. All are smoked.

Probably nothing super rare or valuable but they don't seem to be dime store pipes, either.

Top right bin are the ones that are damaged or just parts, and I'm sure when I get a chance some of those parts marry up

 

[Auxsender]

Wow! That’s a whole lotta pipes.
Looks like a super fun situation for the avid piper.
Enjoy the process.

 

[Sobrbiker]

That’sa bunch!
After deciding what to keep, I’d refrain from attempting restoration if your intent is to move them. If new to restoration, and it interests you, I’d advise keeping the worst aside for practice, and just a light cleanup if necessary on the ones you are looking to move.

 

[Brig]

That’sa bunch!
After deciding what to keep, I’d refrain from attempting restoration if your intent is to move them. If new to restoration, and it interests you, I’d advise keeping the worst aside for practice, and just a light cleanup if necessary on the ones you are looking to

That's what I was thinking, maybe use the broken ones to practice on and clean the rest.

 

[metalheadycigarguy]

That's definitely a lot of pipes. If you can clean up the pipes you like and enjoy them for yourself, and move the others along and recoup your money or come out ahead, then it's a win, win! Have fun cleaning/restoring the pipes.

 

[Brad H]

You bought an estate sale, or a going out of business pipe shop! Jeeze.
Really love how your dog is helping you sniff out the good ones in that picture.

 

[Sig]

Thanks. I'm new to sprucing up estate meers so definitely have homework to do before I get started. Some of the pipes are named, all to the same guy, and dates seem to range from the early 1950s until about 2020ish. All are smoked.

Probably nothing super rare or valuable but they don't seem to be dime store pipes, either.

Top right bin are the ones that are damaged or just parts, and I'm sure when I get a chance some of those parts marry up

Some dime store pipes are fantastic smokers. Most old pipes were made with care and with great briar. There was a lot of competition back prior to 1970s. Dr Grabow, Kaywoodie, Medico, Yellobole, Yorkshire.....
They can be very collectable too.

 

[Brig]

I think the se

You bought an estate sale, or a going out of business pipe shop! Jeeze.
Really love how your dog is helping you sniff out the good ones in that picture.

I think the seller bought a storage unit or estate or something. He just wanted to unload them as a group

 

[wyfbane]

Congrats! That is a mighty score. Looking forward to more pics in the future, once you have some time to organize them.

 

[badbriar]

You are really going to have fun!

 

[Brad H]

Did you find any good hidden gems in them?

 

[waterbelly]

I wouldn't even know where to start! I have too many as it goes...Thanks for sharing.

 

[Brig]

Did you find any good hidden gems in them?

I haven't had time to start sorting yet, and I'm not overly familiar with brands yet. Relatively new to pipes. Just pulling a handful off the top I see a Vauen, some Petersons, some cheaper Mr Broggs.

A lot of them seem to have tape wrapped around the tenons to tighten them up, so I suspect a lot of loose stems that need the heat treatment above.

 

[OzPiper]

If you need hints on How To......
Look up Rebornpipes.
Lots of useful hints with before and after photos.
Al @ssjones posts his cleanups there

 

[Sobrbiker]

I haven't had time to start sorting yet, and I'm not overly familiar with brands yet. Relatively new to pipes. Just pulling a handful off the top I see a Vauen, some Petersons, some cheaper Mr Broggs.

A lot of them seem to have tape wrapped around the tenons to tighten them up, so I suspect a lot of loose stems that need the heat treatment above.

Or just need to be smoked. The heat and moisture of smoking may fix the problem.

It’s easy to mess up a good pipe stem trying the heat treatment (ask me how I know).

Always (and it’d be in caps if it wasn’t a forum rule not to) try the methods with the least risk of damage. Some guy on YouTube may seem expert at what he’s saying, but he may just be regurgitating crappy info (not directed at the heat treatment above specifically).
Get good techniques you can rely on by practicing on the crappiest pipes first!

 

[Choatecav]

Gadzooks, man!!! You've hit the mother load. Bound to be some "gems" in there.

 

[Brig]

Or just need to be smoked. The heat and moisture of smoking may fix the problem.

It’s easy to mess up a good pipe stem trying the heat treatment (ask me how I know).

Always (and it’d be in caps if it wasn’t a forum rule not to) try the methods with the least risk of damage. Some guy on YouTube may seem expert at what he’s saying, but he may just be regurgitating crappy info (not directed at the heat treatment above specifically).
Get good techniques you can rely on by practicing on the crappiest pipes first!

There's a few broken pipes in the pile, seem like perfect ones to experiment on.

I'm surprised there's so many loose stems given how clean most of them appear to be

 

[Brig]

First ten pipes chosen at random to clean up. Actually I chose twelve, because two had mismatched stems that were either replaced of inadvertently swapped out. Hoping to stumble on the correct ones as I sort.

5 of these had loose stems, but it seems that their sitting around for a few years was the culprit in most. 3 tightened right up after a washing and I expect they'll do more so after a smoke, other two are still a tad loose. 5 were firm from the get-go

Photo is pre-cleaning. I found the following markings on them:
-Golden Gate 304
-Handmade May 2020 (no Hallmark)
-Falcon AN10 Made in England
-H Warobiec 156 Poland Handmade
-Passatore Made in Italy
-Mr Brog #37 Viking
-Muxiang 207-2BH Handmade Sept 2020
-Unmarked with a decal that looks like Trump's head maybe
-D Brand 107
-Kaywoodie Handmade Imported Briar

Tracking the unmarked, Brog, and Falcon aren't anything special, from my cursory research it seems the Kaywoodie is the best of the bunch but doesn't seem to be any gems in this fistful. Which is fine, since there's another 190 or so to go