Dr. Grabow Pipes.

[weezell]

Every one knows I am a Meer smoker. Next up are MM Cobs. After that it usually is a Sav 320,or one of the 5 Grabows I own.Don't have any pricey/fancy briars because the ones I have meet my needs...

 

[didimauw]

You can send Grabow pipes to the factory and have the plastic stems replaced with vulcanite.

Wait ....what?

 

[verporchting]

Really??!! That changes everything! I’m very interested in this idea. I have two very serviceable Grabows that I quite enjoy but the stems aren’t wonderful. If they could be exchanged with vulcanite I’d be very happy indeed.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Wait ....what?

Do they not anymore? You used to he able to send a pipe in and for less than $20 they would clean the pipe and replace the stem, ABS or vulcanite.

 

[yohanan]

Dr Grabows used vulcanite stems until the early 90's, they haven't always been called "cheap" [enjoy this video from the days of my youth.] The Sparta Pipe factory was Kicking Butt in the mid 70's. (any of you remember this?) I do!

J. D. Higgins singing, and Kermit Pruitt playing guitar for the Dr. Grabow song, for those interested.

 

[verporchting]

I sense a great disturbance in the force, as if millions of people suddenly cried out, “Kevin, don’t give up on that abused Grabow - send it in!”

 

[Bowie]

I sense a great disturbance in the force, as if millions of people suddenly cried out, “Kevin, don’t give up on that abused Grabow - send it in!”

"1 Grabow for 1 Decade"

 

[trubka2]

I kind of like the plastic stems on mine. They're soft, but I have regular human teeth, so no problemo.

 

[didimauw]

Do they not anymore? You used to he able to send a pipe in and for less than $20 they would clean the pipe and replace the stem, ABS or vulcanite.

I'm going to have to look into that! As much as I despise vulcanite, that maybe very interesting.....

 

[verporchting]

I'm going to have to look into that! As much as I despise vulcanite, that maybe very interesting.....

Well for the price you wouldn’t actually have to faff about with it much; when it gets ugly just send it in and get a new replacement!

 

[anantaandroscoggin]

Last year I got a stem replaced by Dr. Grabow, of an eBay pipe that had had the stem chewed through entirely. Cost was $13.00. They only accept orders by mail, and only by check or money order (still livin' in the 1950s?)

 

[whsergent]

I had a dublin with a vulcanite stem and a stinger. The stem screwed to the shank.

I smoked it a lot, it was my favorite take to work and out doing errands pipe.

I would still be smoking it, but one day in a very cold winter, the stem froze and wouldnt unscrew. I guess cleveland weather extremes finally got to it.

It was a good pipe, idk what the finish was but no amout of rain, cold and abuse even penetrated it stayed shiny.

 

[mso489]

If you can do acrylic stems, just buy Dr. Grabows in the Royalton series and they'll last a lifetime, for a few bucks more, as mentioned in my earlier post. They're not heavy pipes, so the hardness of acrylic won't work on your teeth. I'm always pleased at the quality smoke they deliver at such an exaggeratedly reasonable price.

 

[augiebd]

I have some new Dr. Grabow and some much older. Not being much of a clencher and also with the normal human teeth, not many issues, good serviceable pipes. The stem replacement information is useful to have.

 

[Swampdragon69]

Dr Grabows used vulcanite stems until the early 90's, they haven't always been called "cheap" [enjoy this video from the days of my youth.] The Sparta Pipe factory was Kicking Butt in the mid 70's. (any of you remember this?) I do!

That is why all my Dr. Grabows have vulcanite stems. They are all estate and old as dirt. Cheap too. Most that I have paid is $7. Have to clean and decake like a rabid woodchuck but they look alright now.