eBay Wins

[toby67]

G'day all, I just won 3 pipes on eBay auction they are
- VINTAGE UNSMOKED COMOY'S CHRISTMAS 1981 BENT BILLIARD PIPE - $55 USD
- ESTATE MAURO ARMELLINI EUROPA SMOOTH LARGE BENT BILLIARD WITH HAND CUT STEM - $66 USD
- RARE VINTAGE 1930'S KBB YELLO-BOLE HONEY CURED BRIAR STRAIGHT APPLE WITH BAKELITE STEM - $26.50 USD
Are these good purchases?

 

[toby67]

I have had lots of communication with the seller and he has 2998 with 100% feedback score and only sells pipes

 

[woodsroad]

Are these good purchases?

That will be for you to determine once you get the pipes in hand.

 

[toby67]

Here are pics of the pipes
Pipe pics in order of mention above.

 

[beefeater33]

Nice Pipes! I'm not a fan of bents, but I really like that Yello-bole. A pipe like that will hold its value. I like how the yellow stem contrasts with the dark stained bowl-- I'd say you did Ok my friend, hope they are good smokers. Congrats!! :D

 

[toby67]

If I were to break in the Comoy's and have a bowl or three from it, being an unsmoked 1981 Christmas edition, would it harm the resale price at all?

 

[woodsroad]

An unsmoked pipe will always be more valuable and salable than one that has been smoked. Unless it is Albert Einstein's pipe.

 

[wyfbane]

Those are good deals if the pipes are as listed. I have bought from him. He is fine. Just be careful of Shinypipes.

 

[jeepnewbie]

All three look pretty nice, I agree on the Yello-Bole with the contrasting stem. The Armellini looks super clean, I don't know much about those pipes but it looks pretty amazing. I like the the Comoy to, if you ever decide you want to get rid of it hit me up, thats the year I was born.

 

[toby67]

This is the only guy I will be buying pipes from on eBay. He has a very good reputation and his descriptions and ample photographs from every angle is good .. Also he pays for return shipping as long as the pipes are in the same condition as they left him. I think he is in the Chigago Pipe Club and has a history of over 30 years collecting and restoring pipes.
Anyway, they last two I am bidding on are
ESTATE ALBERTO BONFIGLIOLI LARGE SMOOTH BENT BILLIARD WITH LEATHER PIPE SLEEVE
and a
VINTAGE KNUTE OF DENMARK FREE FORM BENT DUBLIN WITH PLATEAU TOP
will post pics if I win them, also bidding on a nice 20 Pipe Stand (or was it 24) ... Lol

 

[toby67]

I forgot to mention the two Kaywoodie's I purchased from mwreschke on eBay, all 5 pipes arrived today.

Your right, the YelloBole is a wonderful pipe, it has some teeth marks on the stem but for a pipe from the 1930's it in beautiful condition. It's the first pipe I have seen with the metal condenser (or whatever it's called) reaching all the way to the base of the pipe chamber.
The Comoy's Christmas 1981 is a beautiful pipe but could do with a good buff to bring a shine to show off its grain.
The Mauro Armellini is better than I expected, the hand made stem is actually part of the pipe and separates about half an inch into the stem. It's a bit larger than I thought and the stem is wide but it just adds to its beauty.
The two Kaywoodie's as pictured are very nice and have identical carving, one is larger than the other (top) and the chambers are slightly different.
I have smoked from the larger Kaywoodie only and its a very nice smoker. Overall I am very pleased with the start of my collection, actually I guess the start of my collection was the 1850's London Imported pipe for the Damman Tobacco Company in Melbourne, Australia. A nice piece of early Australian history.
I have a few more pipes on the way but my collection is coming together slowly but in general I am a happy man. ::

 

[sallow]

That Comoy's is sharp. For that price it sounds like a hell of a deal.

 

[toby67]

Yes it is, nice grain but you can see what I mean about what a good polish and buff would do for it. Would also help protect the pipe I guess.
I was 14 when that pipe was made, lol

 

[toby67]

Just had a smoke from the KBB YelloBole and what a damn fine smoker ... No wonder pipes like this last 80+ years in very nice condition... Getting happier with every bowl of these pipes

 

[toby67]

The 2 Kaywoodie's are a Standard and an Embassy and both smoke great, the Standard has a little bit of chatter but all good as Im regularly smoking it anway, will get the rubber protection tips for the pipes in my rotation I think

 

[fnord]

Toby:
I buy burners to smoke but I'll flip them in a heartbeat if they don't appeal to me. I've never purchased NOS that didn't get more than a few handfuls Nightcap pushed through them.
Haven't lost money yet but, of course, YMMV.
Buying pipes, smokes, wine, etc. as a hedge is riskier than hell. Thirty plus years ago even mid-range Danish burners were the rage Stateside. Now, they're going for a song. If you ended up with the Knute of Denmark please check back in with your review. Karl Erik Ottendahl either designed or laid hands on that burner and he's one one of my all time Danish pipe carving heroes.
Cheers,
Fnord

 

[dmcmtk]

I think you bought yourself a great group of pipes. Three classic Americans, a beautiful hand made Italian, and a very fine English!
Dave

 

[cmdrmcbragg]

Love those old Kaywoodie/Yello-Bole pipes. I have two of them.

 

[okiescout]

Great score, man! Love the bents.

 

[toby67]

Yes I have started branching out to other sellers but only after checking their feedback and also how well photographed the pipes are as well as their description.. I'm currently bidding on a couple of Pete's and other assorted pipes. Will check back with any I may win.