Castello Sea Rock
- Thread starter NVFireFighter
- Start date
It's 100 to 135 euros depending on the stem length and you'll have to pay shipping both ways which I believe is roughly $25 reading it on ebay per Italian sellers on there...
I did a lot of research on that when I obtained an older one. I guess it was probably around the late 70’s early 80’s is my best estimate.Back when they first imported Castello to the U.S. there was already a pipe brand cqlled "White Bar" that had a logo just like the Castello bar. The "diamond" was created for imports to avoid any conflict.
I had a newer one and then an older one with the diamond.
For not much more you could probably get a "real" diamond put in the stem. I'm sure that would make it smoke much better....
I warned you that it was not inexpensive .......
I think it's a reasonable cost. Assuming they'll do a excellent job, that's something that they won't do in fifteen minutes like some hackers. I'm just guessing but let's say two hours labor and material. Material is a low factor in the price but the labor is costly. Every hour someone works on a repair is a hour not on a production pipe. Unless they have a designated team just for repair. Still, $50-$75/per hr. is not unreasonable. For me, I wish I could make one in two hours. It's all about attention to detailI warned you that it was not inexpensive .......
I agree Larry. I don't think it's unreasonable, considering it takes time away from regular workshop things. That being said, if a pre smoked pipe was purchased for ... say $100.00 .... then the cost to have a "correct" stem made will not increase the value down the road.
So far I've sent two pipes to have "correct" stems made by Castello. Both had great sentimental value, so for me, it was worth it. It was also a damn good lesson in being more careful and not dropping a pipe!!! hahahahahaha
So far I've sent two pipes to have "correct" stems made by Castello. Both had great sentimental value, so for me, it was worth it. It was also a damn good lesson in being more careful and not dropping a pipe!!! hahahahahaha
I don't know much about it, but I believe they quit using the diamond logo quite a while back. There may not even be anyone who knows how to do it.
Back in 1965 I broke a Castello stem with the diamond. My local pipe shop sent it to Castello for repair and it came back with a white bar. That was the first white bar Castello I even saw. Notice below, no diamond. (I still smoke it all the time and she's over 60 years old.)
Back in 1965 I broke a Castello stem with the diamond. My local pipe shop sent it to Castello for repair and it came back with a white bar. That was the first white bar Castello I even saw. Notice below, no diamond. (I still smoke it all the time and she's over 60 years old.)
Castello still uses the diamond logo so they can retain the trademark for the logo. On occasion they do make pipes ( currently ) with the diamond stem logo. IF one were to send a pipe, to Castello, for a new stem and you wanted the original style stem logo, I'd suggest that you put that in the request. If you were just to send a bowl with a black replacement stem, Castello would not know what it's original stem logo might have been. Even when the US imports carried the diamond logo, all other countries received white bar logo's. Thus even a "vintage" US import Castello that entered the US prior to the US stamp, on the shank, Castello would have no possible way of knowing if it originally had a white bar or diamond logo.
All I can say is that whenever you send any pipe for repair, the more information you provide the repair person the better the results will be.
All I can say is that whenever you send any pipe for repair, the more information you provide the repair person the better the results will be.
Pre K grading. Late 1950’s to mid 1960’s the pipe carried stamps which indicated sizes. These were as follows; SA, SB, SC, and SS. SA being the smallest and SS the largest.
K grading begins. In 1969 Franco ( Kino ) Coppo joins the firm. In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s the company began the use of the K grading. The upper case large K, was used for non smooth pipes to designate size. For smooth pipes to indicate a combination of grain quality and size. These are also the years that Castello switched from machine made pipes that were hand finished to completely hand made pipes.
Switch from large K to small k in an oval. In 1982 the company changed from the use of the large upper case K grading to a small lower case k within an oval ( 2 k or greater ) or circle for single k grades.
1984 – 1985 Franco ( Kino ) Coppo takes over the running of the firm. The Kino “knickname” given to Franco by Carlo Scotti, and is a shortened version of his full birth name, Franchino.
The Natural Vergin were issued in 1967 first but only in 1985 they started to be produced in series only on the natural carved pipes.
1987 – the 40th anniversary Castello begins the number within a castle stamp. The number added to 1947 gives the year of pipe creation. ie 50 within a castle = 1947 + 50 = 1997.
1992 – Carlo Scotti passes away.
>>>> 1997 -US stamp begins <<<<<
2007 – KINO stamp begins – 60th anniversary. Kino is Franco Coppo’s nick name.
Larry in 1997, Castello had an "official / authorized " US distributor / agent. At that time every Castello pipe that sold to the US through the US agent was stamped with US, on the shank. Prior there was no designation as far as who imported the pipes. There were however a stamp that some "shops" has that allows one to know which shop originally purchased the pipe. Here is a partial list, or at least a list of the ones I was able to get the correct information on.
Ever wonder where your pipe came from? Which shop had it first? If so, read below;
N1 = Novelli ( Italy )
CZ – Tabaccheria Corti ( Italy )
N = Noli ( Italy )
F = Fincato ( Italy )
LO = Lorenzi ( Italy ) ( this shop has closed and they used to add a * on every pipe )
B = Bonfiglioli ( Italy )
BO = Bollito ( Italy )
B15 = Bollito ( Italy )
V = Agide ( Italy )
SO = Tabaccheria Scarafioffi ( Italy )
JO = Osstermann ( Austria )
R3 = Ruocco Raffaella of Savona ( Italy )
L – Lanzola ( Italy )
US = sold into the US via the US Castello agent
Hope the above helps.
Mike
K grading begins. In 1969 Franco ( Kino ) Coppo joins the firm. In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s the company began the use of the K grading. The upper case large K, was used for non smooth pipes to designate size. For smooth pipes to indicate a combination of grain quality and size. These are also the years that Castello switched from machine made pipes that were hand finished to completely hand made pipes.
Switch from large K to small k in an oval. In 1982 the company changed from the use of the large upper case K grading to a small lower case k within an oval ( 2 k or greater ) or circle for single k grades.
1984 – 1985 Franco ( Kino ) Coppo takes over the running of the firm. The Kino “knickname” given to Franco by Carlo Scotti, and is a shortened version of his full birth name, Franchino.
The Natural Vergin were issued in 1967 first but only in 1985 they started to be produced in series only on the natural carved pipes.
1987 – the 40th anniversary Castello begins the number within a castle stamp. The number added to 1947 gives the year of pipe creation. ie 50 within a castle = 1947 + 50 = 1997.
1992 – Carlo Scotti passes away.
>>>> 1997 -US stamp begins <<<<<
2007 – KINO stamp begins – 60th anniversary. Kino is Franco Coppo’s nick name.
Larry in 1997, Castello had an "official / authorized " US distributor / agent. At that time every Castello pipe that sold to the US through the US agent was stamped with US, on the shank. Prior there was no designation as far as who imported the pipes. There were however a stamp that some "shops" has that allows one to know which shop originally purchased the pipe. Here is a partial list, or at least a list of the ones I was able to get the correct information on.
Ever wonder where your pipe came from? Which shop had it first? If so, read below;
N1 = Novelli ( Italy )
CZ – Tabaccheria Corti ( Italy )
N = Noli ( Italy )
F = Fincato ( Italy )
LO = Lorenzi ( Italy ) ( this shop has closed and they used to add a * on every pipe )
B = Bonfiglioli ( Italy )
BO = Bollito ( Italy )
B15 = Bollito ( Italy )
V = Agide ( Italy )
SO = Tabaccheria Scarafioffi ( Italy )
JO = Osstermann ( Austria )
R3 = Ruocco Raffaella of Savona ( Italy )
L – Lanzola ( Italy )
US = sold into the US via the US Castello agent
Hope the above helps.
Mike
And there you have it,easy as pie, oh but they forgot something
Couldn't matter in any event.
Everyone knows that pipe making is as simple as washing dirty dishes.
You just grab a briar block, squiggle some tools around on it, hold it up for final inspection, and set it on a rack.
