City De Luxe bowl shape query.

[mawnansmiff]

Hello one and all. Below is a recent acquisition for restoration. It is stamped City De Luxe 'Tiger' and is a shape that I am unfamiliar with though the brand I am familiar with. I have checked oodles of pipe charts but have drawn blanks. It vaguely resembles a bulldog though obviously taller.
Any thoughts anyone?
Thanks in advance,
Regards,
Jay.

 

[papipeguy]

I'm sure that ssjones will have some idea about what you have there. Is there a metal silver star on the stem?

 

[bonehed]

Looks like a previous owner may have done some sanding and reshaping...

 

[mothernaturewilleatusallforbreakfast]

I'd call it a bent rhodesian.

 

[gloucesterman]

City Deluxe was an Oppenheimer Brand and shared most of its shapes with GBD but featured the "twin Bore" Tuskan bit. You can probably find information on a GBD shape chart. I have a copy of the 1938 Oppenheimer catalogue (digital) and it doesn't show that shape for City Deluxe. If you can find the shape number on the stummel here is a link to the GBD shape numbers.

http://www.perardua.net/pipes/GBDshape.html

 

[papipeguy]

Does anyone know when they what years the City de Luxe pipes were made? I have a Canadian #254 but no idea about its age.

 

[doctorbob]

Up until the 1970's, I believe.
Doc

 

[mawnansmiff]

Alas it has no shape number & the only thing on the stem is a mass of nasty oxidation :crying:
Regards,
Jay.

 

[gloucesterman]

City Deluxe pipes had Made in London over a style number on the right side of the shank and the stems had a star embedded on the left side. That pipe also appears to have some sort of shank extension on it. That's something I have never seen on a City Deluxe. I suspect but can't say with certainty that stem is a replacement and that extension used to decrease the usually large original tenon diameter. Oppenheimer brands were managed by Codogan and shared shapes was quite common across the brands. I looked at a number of shape charts for GBD but couldn't find any resembling yours. I think your best approach would be to try and find as many GBD and/or Comoy shape charts for the last half of the twentieth century and look for a match. Sorry I couldn't be more help.

 

[doctorbob]

It really does look like that pipe has been reshaped at the top of the bowl. Closer pictures will help.
Doc

 

[ssjones]

I'm no City DeLuxe expert, but I can't recall seeing one that didn't have a corresponding GBD shape number. Without a visible shape number, who knows. Is there an embedded star logo on the stem?

 

[mawnansmiff]

Thanks for your input chaps. First off, there are no other stampings on the pipe other than 'City De Luxe' over 'Tiger', there is nothing at all stamped on the stem, the (thick) brass ring is not covering any crack or defect on the shank, the sanding that can be seen is myself starting to remove the varnish coating & many dings on the bowl and the shape is original.
Looking at the shank via the mortice I see the entry of the mortice is bevelled inwards as one would expect. The pipe is 15cm long. I have studied Comoy's & GBD shape charts as suggested and have again drawn a blank.
This is certainly one mystery pipe!
Regards,
Jay.

 

[gloucesterman]

Welcome to the world of Oppenheimer pipes. Not only is it often very hard to date them, sometimes it's impossible to even properly identify them. The brass band may be a clue. GBD did a series with a band like that. I'm not home so I can't check the finish designation but will be in the next day or so. I'll send you that style name when I get there. What I can say with certainty is that style was made in the post Comoy/GBD merger period (after 1981). During that period Comoy and GBD pipes shared common shapes with slight variations and the stummels were made in Britain not St. Claude but it was not an uncommon practice for British marques of that period to purchase stummels from other firms when needed. So you might never be able to pin it down with certainty.

 

[mawnansmiff]

Cheers for that Gloucester, I am much obliged you taking the time. I am part way through the restoration so when done I shall post fresh images. Interesting is that it has no country of origin.
I think you would have to admit, it is a pretty unusual shape, perhaps unique so hence not listed on any of the 'popular' shape charts. It reminds me of a Bessemer converter!
Regards,
Jay.

 

[mso489]

I'd go with mothernature's post. Although it has no bead line, it certainly has a Rhodesian shaped bowl, and a round shank. When the bowl has a waist at its widest point, it usually falls within the Rhody or bulldog shape category. The round shank makes this a Rhody by most shape charts.

 

[mawnansmiff]

MSO, thanks for your input. Yes, I do see a Rhodesian in there but it is sufficiently different to warrant a name itself. I'm hoping Gloucesterman will be able to come up trumps once he is back at base.
Regards,
Jay.

 

[gloucesterman]

The GBD series with the brass band was known as Garland. The example I have has a stem type that was used after the Comoy/GBD consolidation which was in 1981 so Comoy shapes for that period would also be similar. Because of the known relationship between City Deluxe and GBD it's fair to assume that if it was included in the GBD line it would have also found it way into City Deluxe. I'd say the best bet for identifying it would be by using a later Oppenheimer catalogue. Good luck, Oppenheimer brands can be difficult to pin down.

 

[mawnansmiff]

Right then folks, as promised here are fresh pictures now the pipe has been cleaned up, though essentially the same as the previous ones, only of a tidier pipe. Having followed much advice offered here I have yet to find any pipe of any manufacturer remotely akin to what I have here. Also, it appears that all City de Luxe pipes have a COM stamp whereas mine clearly doesn't. Most very odd methinks.
Regards and thanks for your help on this,
Jay.

 

[newbroom]

That is the rarity known as the Bulldesian. :rofl:

Excellent refurb!

 

[mawnansmiff]

Very good OldBrush :wink: