I wasn’t quite sure what I was getting when I bought this lot of pipes on eBay because they weren’t well presented, but the one that caught my eye was a Kaywoodie Super Grain, as I noticed the clover inlaid on the stem and remembered reading at some point that these were older and a bit rare. Now that I have them in hand and have had chance to take a closer look and do some research, I think I might have hit the jackpot. I’ll show you what I got in the lot, and you let me know what you think.
First off, a few general observations. All of these pipes are in great shape, especially since they are all from the 1930s. Minimal carbon in the chambers, just a bit of chatter on the stems and almost no oxidation. The pictures below are as they arrived.
Let’s start with the Kaywoodie Super Grain since I mentioned it earlier. A small billiard with beautiful straight grain all around the bowl. White inlaid clover on the left side of the pipe with KAYWOODIE over SUPER GRAIN. The bottom is marked SYNCHROSYSTEM over PAT.APP.FOR. Right side says AGED BRUYERE over the shape number, 5127. The stem has a four-hole stinger that is marked with DRINKLESS over REG. NO. 213598. My guess is 1931-32.
There are two pipes in the lot with beautiful grain, but with minimal markings. They both simply say STRAIGHT GRAIN on the left side and a shape number on the right, both having push bit stems. The shape numbers match Kaywoodie catalogs from the the 1930s, an 06 Slim Dublin and a 93 President. So they seem to be produced by Kaywoodie, but I’m puzzled by the lack of nomenclature. The grain on these is certainly not that of seconds. In fact the highest grade of Kaywoodie in 1936 was Straight Grain. I’d love to know if anyone had some insight here.
The real stunner in the group might be Royal Comoys pot. Remarkable grain and in fantastic condition. The nomenclature on the left side reads ROYAL over COMOYS and the right side is marked with a circle, MADE on top, IN in the middle, and ENGLAND on bottom; U.S. PAT. over 2001612; and the shape number 126. The bottom is marked *2. The stem was turned in the pictures on eBay, so I wasn’t sure if this was an original stem or a replacement, so I was thrilled to see the three-piece C when I took the pipe out of the box. The stinger is a little strange, having some sort of rubber gasket at the end closest to the bowl. Rebornpipes noted that Royal Comoy originally appeared as the absolute top-of-the-line Comoy in the late 1930s, the Blue Riband before Blue Riband was a thing.
The final four pipes round out the lot:
I’m pretty pumped about this lot of pipes. Let me know what you think. Some of you collectors and experts might have more to add about what I’ve got. My knowledge only goes as far as what I might find on Pipedia and Pipephil. I’d love to get your feedback and to learn more.
First off, a few general observations. All of these pipes are in great shape, especially since they are all from the 1930s. Minimal carbon in the chambers, just a bit of chatter on the stems and almost no oxidation. The pictures below are as they arrived.
Let’s start with the Kaywoodie Super Grain since I mentioned it earlier. A small billiard with beautiful straight grain all around the bowl. White inlaid clover on the left side of the pipe with KAYWOODIE over SUPER GRAIN. The bottom is marked SYNCHROSYSTEM over PAT.APP.FOR. Right side says AGED BRUYERE over the shape number, 5127. The stem has a four-hole stinger that is marked with DRINKLESS over REG. NO. 213598. My guess is 1931-32.
There are two pipes in the lot with beautiful grain, but with minimal markings. They both simply say STRAIGHT GRAIN on the left side and a shape number on the right, both having push bit stems. The shape numbers match Kaywoodie catalogs from the the 1930s, an 06 Slim Dublin and a 93 President. So they seem to be produced by Kaywoodie, but I’m puzzled by the lack of nomenclature. The grain on these is certainly not that of seconds. In fact the highest grade of Kaywoodie in 1936 was Straight Grain. I’d love to know if anyone had some insight here.
The real stunner in the group might be Royal Comoys pot. Remarkable grain and in fantastic condition. The nomenclature on the left side reads ROYAL over COMOYS and the right side is marked with a circle, MADE on top, IN in the middle, and ENGLAND on bottom; U.S. PAT. over 2001612; and the shape number 126. The bottom is marked *2. The stem was turned in the pictures on eBay, so I wasn’t sure if this was an original stem or a replacement, so I was thrilled to see the three-piece C when I took the pipe out of the box. The stinger is a little strange, having some sort of rubber gasket at the end closest to the bowl. Rebornpipes noted that Royal Comoy originally appeared as the absolute top-of-the-line Comoy in the late 1930s, the Blue Riband before Blue Riband was a thing.
The final four pipes round out the lot:
- a beautiful Bulldog marked Grain de Luxe, ALGERIAN BRUYERE with a triangular shaped shank and stem,
- an 8-sided paneled prince, shape 57, marked DEVONSHIRE, a Kaywoodie sub-brand, with a bright red clover inlaid on the top of the push bit stem,
- a Frank MEDICO billiard with an inlaid F on the stem and marked PAT. 1919959 over JULY25, 1933 on the right side of the shank,
- and a square-paneled prince simply marked APS, GENUINE BRIAR.
I’m pretty pumped about this lot of pipes. Let me know what you think. Some of you collectors and experts might have more to add about what I’ve got. My knowledge only goes as far as what I might find on Pipedia and Pipephil. I’d love to get your feedback and to learn more.
