So I extended beyond my normal comfort zone and got this DUNHILL "INNER-TUBE" PIPE PATENTED IN 1915, FIRST YEAR OF WHITE SPOT. It does not appear to come with the inner-tube, which is merely a metal tube. From what little I know, you can smoke them just fine without the tube. I got it primarily, because it is a Zulu and it appears to have a of lot Bird's-Eye and is a fine specimen of briar. Also I like the condition and the year-one status on the "White-Spot." I am sending it out to get cleaned-up, but it looks to be in remarkable shape for a 100 year old pipe. Should I try and get a couple/few inner-tubes or just smoke as is? Here is a link, I have been unable to post pictures. If one of the mods wants to throw me a bone and put up a photo, I would appreciate it and edit this post accordingly. thanks in advance.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DUNHILL-INNER-TUBE-PIPE-PATENTED-IN-1915-FIRST-YEAR-OF-WHITE-SPOT-PIPESTUD-/391386845035?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&nma=true&si=cXKDOjs7j%252FTAoLsSMsLRZcESlWg%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc
STAMPED & ITEM DESCRIPTION - Stamped: as shown in the photo section of this auction. You can super size the photos to get a really up close look. As Dunhill experts know, it just doesn't get much rarer than this! I used both the 1984 R.D. Field and the 1997 John Loring Dunhill dating guides as my references in determining the age and rarity of this pipe. The early Dunhill pipes with the "Inner Tube" and Patented in March 9 * 15 stamp were made in either 1914 or 1915. But, since the famous Dunhill 'White Spot' was unveiled in 1915, this pipe had to be made that year because it has the 'White Spot' and that adds to the rarity of this piece as it is first-year 'White Spot' production.
Close scrutiny of this pipe indicates to me several things; It has a solid bowl interior with little to no thinning of the inner walls. The top of the rim appears to have been buffed to remove or minimize scratching. There also remains some rim darkening. There is a loss of crispness around the inner rim but I consider that to be minor, particularly when taking this pipe's age into consideration. The nomenclature, as you can see in the photos, is still totally readable, although quite faded. And finally, the stem is not oxidized and for the most part remains shiny black with only scratching and no bite marks. I do detect a very slight impression on the top of the stem near the button. I have also included up close photos of the top and bottom of the stem and also a photo of the pipe taken apart to allow you to see the tenon and the button. No sign of any alterations at all. It is my belief that this is indeed a first year 'White Spot' Dunhill "Inner Tube" pipe from 1915 after using the aforementioned reference materials from two of the most famous Dunhill historians of our time (Field and Loring). I am certainly no Dunhill pipe expert myself and hope I have represented this pipe fairly and accurately.
APPROXIMATE SIZE & WEIGHT: Length: just over 5-inches. Bowl height: 1-1/2 inches. Rim width: 1.2 inches. Chamber width: .70 inches. Weight is 25.3 grams.
STEM MATERIAL - Vulcanite.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DUNHILL-INNER-TUBE-PIPE-PATENTED-IN-1915-FIRST-YEAR-OF-WHITE-SPOT-PIPESTUD-/391386845035?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&nma=true&si=cXKDOjs7j%252FTAoLsSMsLRZcESlWg%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc
STAMPED & ITEM DESCRIPTION - Stamped: as shown in the photo section of this auction. You can super size the photos to get a really up close look. As Dunhill experts know, it just doesn't get much rarer than this! I used both the 1984 R.D. Field and the 1997 John Loring Dunhill dating guides as my references in determining the age and rarity of this pipe. The early Dunhill pipes with the "Inner Tube" and Patented in March 9 * 15 stamp were made in either 1914 or 1915. But, since the famous Dunhill 'White Spot' was unveiled in 1915, this pipe had to be made that year because it has the 'White Spot' and that adds to the rarity of this piece as it is first-year 'White Spot' production.
Close scrutiny of this pipe indicates to me several things; It has a solid bowl interior with little to no thinning of the inner walls. The top of the rim appears to have been buffed to remove or minimize scratching. There also remains some rim darkening. There is a loss of crispness around the inner rim but I consider that to be minor, particularly when taking this pipe's age into consideration. The nomenclature, as you can see in the photos, is still totally readable, although quite faded. And finally, the stem is not oxidized and for the most part remains shiny black with only scratching and no bite marks. I do detect a very slight impression on the top of the stem near the button. I have also included up close photos of the top and bottom of the stem and also a photo of the pipe taken apart to allow you to see the tenon and the button. No sign of any alterations at all. It is my belief that this is indeed a first year 'White Spot' Dunhill "Inner Tube" pipe from 1915 after using the aforementioned reference materials from two of the most famous Dunhill historians of our time (Field and Loring). I am certainly no Dunhill pipe expert myself and hope I have represented this pipe fairly and accurately.
APPROXIMATE SIZE & WEIGHT: Length: just over 5-inches. Bowl height: 1-1/2 inches. Rim width: 1.2 inches. Chamber width: .70 inches. Weight is 25.3 grams.
STEM MATERIAL - Vulcanite.
