Cleaned up an old WDC Wellington.
- Thread starter RustiePyles CPG
- Start date
Beautiful!
I really love seeing the old come back to life.
Nice job!
I really love seeing the old come back to life.
Nice job!
When I look at those old Wellingtons, I’m reminded there’s nothing new, under the sun.
At the turn of the last century, WDC was selling a truly universal smoking pipe that to this day, cannot be improved as a smoking machine, not considering changing fashions and styles.
It didn’t really need the metal shank cap or the flange on the stem.
But the entire thing was machine made, the stems were moulded, and even though they might have used unbelievable quality Algerian briar, they varnished the low grades and shipped them.
There were Wellingtons made and sold until not that many years ago. Not considering style, it was the best factory pipe ever made.
At the turn of the last century, WDC was selling a truly universal smoking pipe that to this day, cannot be improved as a smoking machine, not considering changing fashions and styles.
It didn’t really need the metal shank cap or the flange on the stem.
But the entire thing was machine made, the stems were moulded, and even though they might have used unbelievable quality Algerian briar, they varnished the low grades and shipped them.
There were Wellingtons made and sold until not that many years ago. Not considering style, it was the best factory pipe ever made.
Nice job! You have any tricks for cleaning up the vulcanite?
Over the three quarters of a century the Wellington was made the makers had who can count how many briar (and even some Bakelite) suppliers, metal cap blank suppliers, and vulcanite vendors.
But until supplies ran out they advertised French (Algerian) briar guaranteed for life against burnout or cracking. The hard rubber used was at least commercial grade, and the metal caps were stamped out like ammunition casings.
I have what might be the smallest “50 cent” size at my farm, and it smokes as well as any small Peterson system pipe.
The ones to buy if available are the big ones, the one I pictured is 11 inches.
One good thing about bringing one back is the entire pipe was machine finished as much as possible, so there aren’t any nooks or crannies to worry about.
But until supplies ran out they advertised French (Algerian) briar guaranteed for life against burnout or cracking. The hard rubber used was at least commercial grade, and the metal caps were stamped out like ammunition casings.
I have what might be the smallest “50 cent” size at my farm, and it smokes as well as any small Peterson system pipe.
The ones to buy if available are the big ones, the one I pictured is 11 inches.
One good thing about bringing one back is the entire pipe was machine finished as much as possible, so there aren’t any nooks or crannies to worry about.
oxy-clean-800g, oxy-clean-1000g, oxy-clean-1500g, oxy-clean-2000g, un-sewn Muslim wheel & Tripoli @ 1725rpm, flitz and micro fiber, & a big ass can of elbow grease. When they’re that bad it takes a lot of work to get em back black & shiny again without destroying them. But lots oxy-clean soaking and sanding will do it.
I reamed it back to briar so I’ll let ya know once it’s broken in. But so far it smokes as well I expect any 50yo well pipe to smoke which is pretty good.