I have about 50 pipes. I keep an index card file for each of the pipes to record the date/Blend/Bowl # smoked (of the blend). Takes me maybe 30 seconds to record for each smoke. That's more for tobacco rather than the individual pipe, I guess.
Do you Keep Records/Details of the Pipes in your Collection?
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Having some time on my hands I decided to put my money where my mouth was and inventory my pipe collection. I added a pipe worksheet, tracking the usual characteristics of interest, to the spreadsheet I use to track my cellar. I haven’t recorded dimensions/weight yet, not sure that I’ll do that as I can measure the pipe if it becomes necessary. I learned a few things along the way:
In the end, it was a useful way to spend a couple of cold and rainy days inside, plus I found I pipe I forgot I had. Future updates to the database will take a lot less time, though the wife has suggested that perhaps I should refrain from additions to the collection.
- I have way more pipes than I thought I did. I found a pipe (Stanwell 191) in the collection that I was actively searching to buy, not any longer.
- While there are some pipes I don’t actively smoke, there are none I regret buying, there are some I’m thinking about selling as they don’t get much use.
- The proportion of estate pipes is larger than I would have guessed.
- More money was invested than I would have guessed; curiously the wife's estimate was almost spot on.
- One head-scratcher — I have a Brebbia box and sock, but no Brebbia pipes; don’t believe I ever had one.
- Archived email, and my personal financial program were most useful in reconstructing dates, vendors, and prices paid. Less helpful were Paypal and eBay records, for example, Paypal only goes back 2 years. Vendor records like SP were helpful, but only when I used my account for the purchase.
- Forum transactions were helpful in the reconstruction process, though I don’t have any PMs from prior to the conversion to the new format, and I lost all PMs from the now-defunct Pipe Smokers Form and some Reddit forums.
In the end, it was a useful way to spend a couple of cold and rainy days inside, plus I found I pipe I forgot I had. Future updates to the database will take a lot less time, though the wife has suggested that perhaps I should refrain from additions to the collection.
Sorry for the old bread bump but thought with all of us noobs it might be a good one to get in view.
I just bought a a little journal today, not as much for cellaring but to track pipes, tobacco (and what type some of them are because i have so many and a lot I’ve yet to try) as well as what I’m smoking in each pipe and how it smokes.
The SPC Plum Pudding Special Reserve in the Comoy today was a spectacular failure yet it was wonderful in a different pipe, hence my buying a journal to track these things until they become second nature
I just bought a a little journal today, not as much for cellaring but to track pipes, tobacco (and what type some of them are because i have so many and a lot I’ve yet to try) as well as what I’m smoking in each pipe and how it smokes.
The SPC Plum Pudding Special Reserve in the Comoy today was a spectacular failure yet it was wonderful in a different pipe, hence my buying a journal to track these things until they become second nature
Since most of my collection is over 100 years old I take two pictures of a pipe and write on one. That’s as far as I go.
A ring binder with printed photos from the websites the pipes were purchased from.
A good offline companion to the excel spreadsheet I think any collector should maintain.
A good offline companion to the excel spreadsheet I think any collector should maintain.
I always take pictures of new pipes when they arrive. I like the see the change. Especially my meers.
I also started saving screenshots of the sizes of the pipes before they arrive.
I keep all the pictures in folders on a flash drive.
I also started saving screenshots of the sizes of the pipes before they arrive.
I keep all the pictures in folders on a flash drive.
It'd be cool if Meer owners also collected data on its weight!
As to o.p., I keep no records at all.
As to o.p., I keep no records at all.
As my pipe/tobacco collection grows I keep mental notes of what taste best in what , keeping a rotation of burley pipes , english pipes, and Va pipes, when I get a ”WOW” pipe and tobacco combo I do indeed write it down in a small notepad and plan on designating a new pipe for that specific baccy once funds permit.
Nope. I tried using that app to log my cellar but eventually lost interest and quit logging. I think you can log pipes on there as well?
I do have a notebook with notes on blends I only occasionally. Same with cigars.
I do have a notebook with notes on blends I only occasionally. Same with cigars.
The idea of having a record of what the original owner(s) smoked in an estate pipe sounds neat. Also, what would be interesting is how much the pipe sold for originally, compared to how much the new owner pays for it.
Same here, I keep an excel spreadsheet of every pipe purchase - cost,date, maker, grade, finish, weight, when it was sold, nomenclature details. Color coded to current inventory. My spreadsheet goes back to 2011 - I just hit 401 pipes purchased (about 55 in current inventory)I maintain a spreadsheet with descriptions, date acquired, provenance, price paid, etc. etc. as well as well as a photo imbedded on each one. I keep it with my important documents.
I figure I am not going to live forever and with my idiot kids (well, idiots in their knowledge of pipes...), they would just stick them on a yard sale table for 5 bucks each and inevitably someone on here would be starting a thread about how they got an Ivarsson or Knudsen or Bang or etc. etc. for just 5 bucks at a garage sale put on by a bunch of idiot kids....
H
Hfinn
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I also like the idea about keeping the images in a separate album. I think when reviewing the picture, all the details associated with this pipe will immediately be remembered. Some details can be placed in the name of each image, for example, if you need the price tag to be always at hand.