Dr. Plumb Version of GBD International? PICs

[agnosticpipe]

Found this on eBay, and in spite of telling myself I wouldn't buy more pipes, it was too interesting and cheap for me to resist. It's a Dr. Plumb which is as far as I know a GBD sub-brand or second. I had one a while back but it had a weird stinger I couldn't get rid of and it also had a red dot on the stem, unlike this pipe.I don't remember where it was made, but I think it was France, although I believe they were made in England too.

Anyway, I cleaned it up and even though the nomenclature was weak, I could see that it said Dr. Plumb, Flat Grip, and a shape number 9436. No evidence anywhere of where it was made. After a little research I found a GBD International 9436 that had been sold on SPC made in England. They both have the same carved? top on the bowl, although the Dr. Plumb is done differently, and the edges were quite a bit more rounded. I think this is an interesting design for a pipe, because at first glance the bowl top looks damaged, so it's hard to figure where they came up with this idea. Oddly, some other Internationals have smooth tops on the bowls.
As the years go by, I always find some bit of information that makes all that's involved with pipe smoking more and more interesting.
GBD 9436 from Smoking Pipes.

Dr. Plumb 9436.

 

[jvnshr]

Looks nice. Congrats.

 

[jensen]

Orley ! You would enjoy J.W. Coles " The GBD St. Claude Story " ( 1976 Cadogan, 38 Finsbury Square,London)

The best pipe book I have ever read, written by an insider.
Chapter 7: " Dr. Plumb`s Perfect Pipe "
Jørgen

 

[pagan]

Nice looking pipe, most importantly is how does it smoke?

 

[mayfair70]

Both are beautiful pipes. Congrats!

I always find some bit of information that makes all that's involved with pipe smoking more and more interesting

This is one of the very things that keeps me coming back to the forums. There is always more to learn.

 

[papipeguy]

Dr. Plumb is indeed a sub brand of GBD. I believe they were initially made for the Canadian market though I bought mine in Bermuda in 1977. As for the International range the bottom 3 in this picture of some of my GBD's are of that line.

 

[mortonbriar]

I enjoy the family tree of pipe brands...

My first briar was a dr plumb lightweight, a small billiard. I got it new in Canada and it says London, England, the stinger was removable and thrown out long ago.
Isaac

 

[agnosticpipe]

Yeah, I'm liking this pipe. Smoked a bowl of Shortcut to Mushrooms in it and it was fine. Drilling looked good, and I always make sure the shank is opened and cleaned, so it was as good a smoker as most of my other pipes. The rounding on the top of the bowl edge had me puzzled at first and made me think that the top was damaged from banging it on something. But looking at the sellers pics, I could see that it was purposeful shaping. I'll have to read some of the recommend material, and then keep a look out for a GBD International. Not sure why there's no COM stamp, but it's not important as to how it smokes anyway.

Thanks for the info guys!

 

[tuold]

Very cool. I've got a couple and enjoy them. Link---> I'm Liking My Dr Plumb

 

[disinformatique]

Dr. Plumb is a subbrand of GBD.

 

[papipeguy]

I also suspect that the pipe has a replacement stem since I don't see the red dot that Dr. Plumbs have on them.

 

[mawnansmiff]

I just searched for the book Jensen mentioned, J.W. Coles " The GBD St. Claude Story " on Amazon UK and they have a second-hand copy for sale at...£1,650:00 + £2:80 delivery...I nearly fell out of my bed 8O
Regards,
Jay.

 

[gloucesterman]

Dr. Plumb is a Oppenheimer brand. GBD second doesn't really capture the way pipes were merchandised under Codogan (Oppenheimer's subsidiary which managed the pipe brands). All of the brands were supplied stummels from factories owned or operated by Codogan. The better grades went to GBD. Dr. Plumb was a brand that was developed for the French and Continental markets and often marketed the same styles numbers as GBD because they came from the same factory(s) in St. Claude, France. After 1981 all that changed. I have an number in the 9438 Bent Rhodesian style and they smoke as well as any of the better grade GBDs I have. Essentially they are the same pipe with less attention to fit and finish. Enjoy.

 

[ssjones]

@Jay - yep, sometimes that book goes for some crazy money. I picked up a copy via a UK only book seller and forum member Klaus took the shipment and forwarded to me. The book is primarily on the business side of GBD with very little pipe lore. If I thought that I could get $1500 US for it, it would be gone in a hearbeat!

 

[bluegrassbrian]

Stem looks identical to the one on my Digby (another GBD 2nd).
I hate that stem.

:evil: