First Ever Pipe Restoration (Dad's Dr. Grabow Ajustomatic Eldorado)

[alaskanpiper]

So a few days ago, I was polishing the silver band on a 1945-47 Peterson 208 (Canadian chart) that I got on ebay, and my dad walked in. He asked what I was doing, and I told him. The next day, he surprised me by pulling out a HORRIBLE looking pipe from his desk at work and asking me if I wanted it. He told me he used to smoke it in the 1970s when he worked in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska in the oilfields (as I did working my way through college/grad school from 2004-2012). Apparently, he inherited it from a deceased family member some time before that. It looked really rough. Insane amounts of cake around the rim and bowl, the stem as oxidized as I've ever seen, after sitting in his desk for 30 years, and some deep rough scratches around the bowl, where it had clearly been set down on a rough surface on the same side over and over and over. Not surprising for a Prudhoe Bay work pipe.
Well, under all that mess was a Dr. Grabow shape 11 Ajustomatic Eldorado. So I figured it was as good a time as any to begin trying my hand at restoration. I'm kicking myself for not taking before pictures, but here she is after plenty of sanding, staining, waxing, oxi-clean bathing, etc.
I never even knew my dad smoked a pipe, so I am thoroughly excited to finally light this puppy up and see how she smokes, now that she is looking so much better! Also, as mentioned, I am a total n00b at restoration, so if any experience folks see something I could have done better on, improve on, or any other recommendations, I am all ears! Next up is a post transition barling, butz-choquin rallye windcap, and an old castello with a repair band and replacement stem.
Let the journey begin...

 

[puffermark]

Bang up job, I'd say. But be cautioned: This resto thing is VERY addictive.

 

[alaskanpiper]

This resto thing is VERY addictive.

I can see how that would be the case. I'm already itching to get to work on the others.

 

[mikethompson]

Good luck! Looks like a good first restoration! What's in your 'kit'? I found that micromesh pads, and mineral oil were good investments.
Nice to be working on a family pipe too, it will have special meaning for you now that it is all done.

 

[scloyd]

Great story about the history of the pipe. Nice restore...well done.

 

[p40warhawk]

Well done, looks great! ALOTTA history for that Pipe, enjoy!

 

[jttnk]

I am not what you would call patient or handy. But, the idea of working on pipes intrigues me. I like the whole restoration process and watching something old a worn become a piece of art again. If you haven’t been to Rebornpipes.com It’s a must read. Good luck on the next batch.

 

[frankrem]

Looks good man - Love the family history in the pipe. Makes it all that more meaningful.

 

[anantaandroscoggin]

nice looking pipe, great provenance story.
Had a shipmate once who picked up a T-shirt declaring that "Prudhoe Doesn't Pump, Valdisease Sucks!"

 

[alaskanpiper]

What's in your 'kit'? I found that micromesh pads, and mineral oil were good investments.

So far just have a couple colors of leather dye, a pipe cloth that came in a Neerup cleaning kit along with mortise/stem/bowl brushes and a couple reamers. I used some Carnauba wax and Halcyon wax the clerk at the local B&M loaned me (I'll be buying some today online), and a stem polish compound I got for a couple bucks. In addition to various sandpapers, I also bought an $11 buffing kit that attaches to a drill that came with 3 different wheels and some tripoli, rouge, and one other compound. I have some mineral oil laying around (we have butcher block counter tops in our kitchen) but I didn't use it this time. I will probably give it a go on some in the future just to see if the results vary any.
Currently working on the cheap Barling and Butz-Choquin, with a Castello (with repair band and replacement stem) I found in rough shape for $60 to follow. After that I'm probably going to pick up some more cheap Grabow/Kaywoodie/Medico/Yellow-bole stuff to play around with on ebay and experiment with different methods. After I have my process nailed down maybe try to find some higher end stuff in rough shape to restore and either smoke or flip.
Really this all got started with Dad's pipe, and getting my wife, who implemented a pipe buying freeze for me a few weeks ago, to acquiesce to allowing purchases if they are cheap restoration projects that can increase in value, hahaha.

 

[alaskanpiper]

Had a shipmate once who picked up a T-shirt declaring that "Prudhoe Doesn't Pump, Valdisease Sucks!"

Haha, yeah there are various iterations of all kinds of these little sayings, many of them "home made." I think my favorite one I saw up there was "Prudhoe Bay: Harvesting shit out of mother nature's asshole since 1968"
There are also green septic trucks that constantly scurry all over the field emptying camp toilets. I once saw one with a phrase written into the ever present layer of dust on the side that read simply "I haul your corn to pay for my porn"

 

[mau1]

Alaska, from all your postings and pictures in the past, I suspect you have built yourself quite a nice (and large) collection of newer/better-than-average pipes. Smart move on going to the cheap estate pipes. Keeps the passion burning and finding a diamond in the rough is the cats pajamas.

 

[alaskanpiper]

Alaska, from all your postings and pictures in the past, I suspect you have built yourself quite a nice (and large) collection of newer/better-than-average pipes. Smart move on going to the cheap estate pipes. Keeps the passion burning and finding a diamond in the rough is the cats pajamas.

Yeah, she is not wrong. I probably have 45-50 pipes kicking around, maybe 10 of which are Castello/Dunhill/Artisan and another 10 or so that have yet to be smoked. It's enough, for now anyway, but "enough" is certainly a relative term :D
This project was fun as hell, and doing some restorations will certainly keep me entertained for the near future at a reduced cost that's for sure.

 

[mso489]

Fine looking pipe, nice job. What does the "Adjustomatic" name denote? Is there something adjustable in the airway? I've heard of it but don't remember.

 

[alaskanpiper]

The mortise has a permanent screw in stinger that the stem is screwed on to, but apparently the stem can be rotated even after it is tight, allowing the user to always be able to align the stem with the bowl.
At least that is what I have read so far. Mine line's up fine so I haven't bothered to see if it will keep turning. Especially with those metal parts being 40 or 50 years old.

 

[mikethompson]

Alaskan you are correct, mine does this.

 

[upnorth1]

I have a Grabow adjustomatic and it lines up. I've never tried to rotate it further. That'sa beautiful pipe and the history of it is great. I have several of my Dad's and Granddad's pipes and they are family mementos that will be passed to my pipe smoking son.

 

[burleyboy]

I really like, how this Dr G. came out and and look forward to see your further projects!

I found that micromesh pads, and mineral oil were good investments

I am also planning to buy those micromesh pads, but before I'd place an order, could somebody please tell me, for how many pipes one set of the pads might approximately last?

 

[alaskanpiper]

I am also planning to buy those micromesh pads, but before I'd place an order, could somebody please tell me, for how many pipes one set of the pads might approximately last?

Yes, and maybe provide a link to a specific product/source? Thanks!

 

[burleyboy]

Those are the ones, that I found. I think they look similar to the ones, I've seen in use on rebornpipes. In my opinion, they are quite expensive, but the price would be fine for me, if they'd last for a while.
Also "micro-mesh" seems to be a protected trade mark. So I assume, that all those micro-mesh products come from the same manufacturer and differ only in size or grit.