Found a Couple Pipes by Lee…

[Briar Lee]

I learn something new on this forum every single day.

There really was a man named Lee, who had to borrow or beg a small fortune in 1946 to pursue his dream.

I hope he ran around New York City in a Packard convertible, or at least a Coupe De Ville.

There were other Lees, in America.

One was Jack H. Weinbereger, who was a lawyer during the forties and fifties.

When he tried to retire he got into making expensive freehand pipes and wound up being called the American Sven Iversson, and taught Mark Tinsky, and others, how to make pipes.

I occasionally exceed my $30 suggested limit, this pipe was $50.

Let’s see how Weinberger compares with Lee.



I am getting out of pipe restoration because of my age and health condition. So my vast collection of mostly high class pipes will be auctioned here in small batches.
People who used to buy from me over last 17 years know that I mostly dealt in high class pipes like Dunhill, Charatan, Sasieni, Comoy, Danish etc.
I also have 100% feedback.

All pipes (there will be around 150) are NOT CLEANED!!! There could be some minor handling marks.

If there are cracks or other major issues I will state them.



Extra large Jack H. Weinberger pipe. Bent Lovat shape. Thick walls, no bite marks.



Dimensions

Length 6-1/2"
Bowl height 2-3/8"
Bowl diameter 1-7/16"
Bore diameter 15/16"


Nomenclature

Shank JHW

—-

For one thing if I ran around with that huge thing clinched people would say Hey Sherlock, where’s Waston.

Lee pipes are still fashionable wearing a suit and tie, one that’s not changed much since Lee wore his for his photograph.

This medium Lovat Three Star Lee is about as big a Lee pipe as I own.


A pipe is a hunk of briar and piece of hard rubber, fashioned into something to be proud of.

Buy them right and you’ll smoke them for free, selling any time you want your money back.

 

[PipeIT]

Absolutely. While I don’t hold Lee’s pipes in the same esteem you do his story is definitely not without interest. I’ll put a summary together when I have the chance.

In the meantime here’s a photograph of him from around the time he launched Pipes by Lee.

View attachment 104501

It would be nice to have someone update Pipedia.

Lee - Pipedia

pipedia.org

@Briar Lee you’re selling off some of your Lees? That Lovat looks nice, I’ll be keeping an eye out in the Pipe Sell section.

 

[jpmcwjr]

And a spiffy de-luxe rack to mount on the dashboard of my Cadillac when I’m motoring around town…

View attachment 104287

Ah, this photo shows it all, and is the first full on showing of what a great rim job you did! Beautiful.

 

[Briar Lee]

It would be nice to have someone update Pipedia.

Lee - Pipedia

pipedia.org

@Briar Lee you’re selling off some of your Lees? That Lovat looks nice, I’ll be keeping an eye out in the Pipe Sell section.

I’m not selling. And unless they are big, and perfect I’m not buying either.

A Pipe by Lee reminds me of my old 30 foot Avion travel trailer I owned years ago. An Avion was an improved Airstream. It was better.

Lee never advertised it, but he just had to boil his briar in sweet pixie oil. Every single one smoked sweet as a nut and cool from the first light.

On the first 7 pointed star series pipes, you’ll occasionally find imperfect inlaid stars. It helps to take a jeweler’s loupe to examine them, and what happened was those gold stars were poured into the cavities. Some were overfilled, and there’s a splash.

Then later, when Kaywoodies are getting sorrier and cheaper our man Lee improved the star. The second 5 point series are always perfect, and he upped the carat of the gold. The briar is better, the workmanship was already great and it gets better, too.

But even the very last push stem Lee pipes, where the stars were just shallow stampings, use that same great tasting Lee briar.

One thing is for certain.

If an early 7 of 5 point star Lee has a stem replacement it’s obvious.

The early Lee star grades had a far superior trade mark than any other pipe on earth.

 

[sablebrush52]

Ah, this photo shows it all, and is the first full on showing of what a great rim job you did! Beautiful.

You shouldn't feed me straight lines like this, you really shouldn't.

 

[Parsimonious Piper]

Absolutely. While I don’t hold Lee’s pipes in the same esteem you do his story is definitely not without interest. I’ll put a summary together when I have the chance.

I have a fairly extensive collection of Lees (including 5-star and 1-star pipes), Briarlees, and a couple Gold Coasts. Not because they’re particularly valuable but because it’s fun. I’d be very interested in any original source info you have on them. All I’ve found is an early catalog and a magazine article on the Trailblazer (which I also own).

 

[hawky454]

Honestly, I have never heard of Pipes by Lee until @Briar Lee joined and posted rather frequently about them. Those two you got look nice. They remind me of a bunch of pipes I have. (I forget the name… “St. -something-“ I am told they are Sasieni seconds, if anyone knows the name please remind me. The nomenclature have all worn or been buffed off my pipes.)

 

[OzPiper]

The Surgeon General has now categorised this obsession with Lee Pipes an official disease - under the classification "Mass Delusional State(s)"

 

[craig61a]

Honestly, I have never heard of Pipes by Lee until @Briar Lee joined and posted rather frequently about them. Those two you got look nice. They remind me of a bunch of pipes I have. (I forget the name… “St. -something-“ I am told they are Sasieni seconds, if anyone knows the name please remind me. The nomenclature have all worn or been buffed off my pipes.)

They smoke well enough. From what I've been able to determine they were catalog/mail order pipes sold through magazines back in the late 40's - 50's, at a premium no less. If I had to guess they were probably manufactured by New Jersey Pipe Company, an outfit that made promo and private label pipes and was bought out by S.M. Frank in the late 50's. Prior to that they were distributed by Stewart-Allen Co, Inc., NY.

 

[Ahi Ka]

Honestly, I have never heard of Pipes by Lee until @Briar Lee joined and posted rather frequently about them. Those two you got look nice. They remind me of a bunch of pipes I have. (I forget the name… “St. -something-“ I am told they are Sasieni seconds, if anyone knows the name please remind me. The nomenclature have all worn or been buffed off my pipes.)

Not comoys St Ives?

 

[craig61a]

They remind me of a bunch of pipes I have. (I forget the name… “St. -something-“ I am told they are Sasieni seconds, if anyone knows the name please remind me. The nomenclature have all worn or been buffed off my pipes.)

Probably St. Claude, French made pipes that have nothing to do with Sasieni...

 

[TheIronMonkey]

A few things come to mind after reading this thread. What if Briar Lee's unsmoked five star Lee in sleeve was the last unsmoked Lee pipe in the world, and therefore the rarest Lee ever, until he smoked it? Would it be tragic that the man that loved Lee pipes more than anybody had the rarest, most unique pipe ever in his possession and in an instant turned it into just another Lee pipe?

Over the years, with mystery book collecting, there have been certain authors known to sign everything under the sun, prompting jokes that finding an unsigned copy was rarer.

As a collector of many things, I'm often torn when it comes to things still pristine in original packaging surviving unused for so many years. What circumstances did it take for something to remain in its factory issued condition for fifty, sixty, or more years? It seems a shame to use it when there are probably so many used examples out there that can be used and "enjoyed" instead. It makes me think of the Beatles' Yesterday and Today album. So many pasted over LP sleeves got peeled over the years to reveal the "Butcher" cover, that an unpeeled copy is going to be one of the hardest states of the album to find in the future. With toy collecting, my solution has been to buy two. Leave one in the packaging and open the other. I wrestle with smoking a NOS vintage pipe when I sometimes get them. I know they're meant to be used and enjoyed. But, it seems a shame to ruin something that lasted so long in an unadulterated state, especially if a used version could be had and used easily.

 

[Briar Lee]

I have a fairly extensive collection of Lees (including 5-star and 1-star pipes), Briarlees, and a couple Gold Coasts. Not because they’re particularly valuable but because it’s fun. I’d be very interested in any original source info you have on them. All I’ve found is an early catalog and a magazine article on the Trailblazer (which I also own).

I accumulate Lee pipes (along with a few Briarlee and Pipe Maker) pipes today instead of Kaywoodies for these reasons:

1. Lee pipes, are cheaper.

2. Lee pipes are more commonly found in higher condition than a Kaywoodie.

3. Kaywoodie pipes begin a long downward slide in quality about the time of three hole stingers, but Lee pipes were high quality until the end.

Some things about Lee pipes are mysterious but they were a very high quality American made, oil cured, luxury brand.

The majority of used Lee pipes found today were Three Star grade, which sold for the same price as a Kaywoodie Flame Grain.

The greatest mystery about Lee pipes is, I think, that how did Lee sell so many $10 (later $15) grade pipes by mail order to a customer who could walk into any large drugstore and select a Flame Grain Kaywoodie and handle and see what he was buying first?

The existence of so many Lee pipes, prove he did.

 

[craig61a]

I see a lot more Kaywoodie pipes floating around that I have seen Lee pipes.

I have yet to see any mention of this mysterious Mr. Lee in any documentation I have come across.

I would postulate that the people who bought these catalog pipes were probably not pipe smokers, bought into the hype, and purchased these as gifts for people whom they knew that happened to be pipe smokers.

 

[Briar Lee]

A few things come to mind after reading this thread. What if Briar Lee's unsmoked five star Lee in sleeve was the last unsmoked Lee pipe in the world, and therefore the rarest Lee ever, until he smoked it? Would it be tragic that the man that loved Lee pipes more than anybody had the rarest, most unique pipe ever in his possession and in an instant turned it into just another Lee pipe?

Over the years, with mystery book collecting, there have been certain authors known to sign everything under the sun, prompting jokes that finding an unsigned copy was rarer.

As a collector of many things, I'm often torn when it comes to things still pristine in original packaging surviving unused for so many years. What circumstances did it take for something to remain in its factory issued condition for fifty, sixty, or more years? It seems a shame to use it when there are probably so many used examples out there that can be used and "enjoyed" instead. It makes me think of the Beatles' Yesterday and Today album. So many pasted over LP sleeves got peeled over the years to reveal the "Butcher" cover, that an unpeeled copy is going to be one of the hardest states of the album to find in the future. With toy collecting, my solution has been to buy two. Leave one in the packaging and open the other. I wrestle with smoking a NOS vintage pipe when I sometimes get them. I know they're meant to be used and enjoyed. But, it seems a shame to ruin something that lasted so long in an unadulterated state, especially if a used version could be had and used easily.

As to signed versus unsigned books, my grandmother Myrtle “Ma” Cahow Agee at the urging of the producers of The Beverley Hillbillies wrote an original book in 1963 entitled Remunishuns of an Ozark Hillbilly, and hired an illustrator named Nannie Jenkins, a renowned artist and superintendent of schools to illustrate it.

For forty years, as an employee of The Index newspaper published at Hermitage Missouri she’d penned a weekly column featuring a hillbilly family named Ma, Pa, and their children Saydee and Sy Thomas that somehow caught the attention of Hollywood and served as the inspiration for Granny, Jed, Ella Mae, and Jethro.

All the words my grandmother ever wrote for The Index were not hers to sell. Her 1963 book, was copyrighted only in her name. Nannie Jenkins sold her the illustrations for a nominal sum.

There are today an astonishing number of counterfeit unauthorized editions found. The book only sold for $2, as a first edition. She lived until 1980 and sold the last editions for $5.

An unsigned first edition probably does not exist. She signed every one of the two thousand sitting at a table with my mother and Nannie Jenkins helping her unpack and repack the books (which are really only little 32 page tourist rack pamphlets).

A thousand went uptown to The Index and she sold the other thousand out of her home, and all those were dedicated to the purchaser by name.

The first edition sold out in weeks.

Later authorized editions have Nannie Jenkins illustrations. and many were signed.

The producers of The Beverley Hillbilles had pre ordered the first 200 copies at $2 each, which covered all the costs of printing the 2,000 copies of the first edition. But only The Index had whatever plates or impressions that were used in 1963 to publish the illustrations, and all other copies are spurious.

One good thing about accumulating Lee pies is, I doubt anyone ever has faked the trademark.



On the other hand, this one can be faked by any jeweler on the earth.

 

[Simmerdown☕️]

If God had wanted man to fly......

He would have given him wings Mr. Kidd!

Wint & Kidd from Diamonds are Forever.

Love the reference. These guys have a small cult following too. ??️

 

[BROBS]

As to signed versus unsigned books, my grandmother Myrtle “Ma” Cahow Agee at the urging of the producers of The Beverley Hillbillies wrote an original book in 1963 entitled Remunishuns of an Ozark Hillbilly, and hired an illustrator named Nannie Jenkins, a renowned artist and superintendent of schools to illustrate it.

For forty years, as an employee of The Index newspaper published at Hermitage Missouri she’d penned a weekly column featuring a hillbilly family named Ma, Pa, and their children Saydee and Sy Thomas that somehow caught the attention of Hollywood and served as the inspiration for Granny, Jed, Ella Mae, and Jethro.

All the words my grandmother ever wrote for The Index were not hers to sell. Her 1963 book, was copyrighted only in her name. Nannie Jenkins sold her the illustrations for a nominal sum.

There are today an astonishing number of counterfeit unauthorized editions found. The book only sold for $2, as a first edition. She lived until 1980 and sold the last editions for $5.

An unsigned first edition probably does not exist. She signed every one of the two thousand sitting at a table with my mother and Nannie Jenkins helping her unpack and repack the books (which are really only little 32 page tourist rack pamphlets).

A thousand went uptown to The Index and she sold the other thousand out of her home, and all those were dedicated to the purchaser by name.

The first edition sold out in weeks.

Later authorized editions have Nannie Jenkins illustrations. and many were signed.

The producers of The Beverley Hillbilles had pre ordered the first 200 copies at $2 each, which covered all the costs of printing the 2,000 copies of the first edition. But only The Index had whatever plates or impressions that were used in 1963 to publish the illustrations, and all other copies are spurious.

One good thing about accumulating Lee pies is, I doubt anyone ever has faked the trademark.

View attachment 115271

On the other hand, this one can be faked by any jeweler on the earth.

View attachment 115272

No one has faked it because few people want these pipes and they don’t have a high value.

 

[hawky454]

Not comoys St Ives?

Probably St. Claude, French made pipes that have nothing to do with Sasieni...

I actually just remembered. They are called St. Regis.

This is an example (not one I own)

 

[sasquatch]

No one has faked it because few people want these pipes and they don’t have a high value.

Yeah I'm not sure the market for fake 30 dollar pipes is that strong.

 

[Briar Lee]

No one has faked it because few people want these pipes and they don’t have a high value.

There is a tiny market for Lee pipes today. Myself and the Parsimonious Piper and only a few others support the prices, but only to about $30.

To get a genuine Lee pipe, you only need to Follow the Stars, Symbol of the World’s Finest Pipe. The best production have either 7 or 5 point deeply inlaid gold stars. Those were made when Lee himself made them. After Lee sold the brand the stars become stampings that were filled with gold leaf, which rubs off quickly. I’ve seen a Briarlee marked Italy, obviously not Lee production. Just this week a Lee pipe was sold on eBay that didn’t have correct lettering, didn’t have the recessed screw stem, in a poker shape that I’ve never seen an original Lee before. But the dead giveaway Lee didn’t make it was, it had a circled R (for registered) after Lee and the stars were stamped. It likely wasn’t faked, but simply a later pipe marketed by the trademark holder.

Likewise there are few Ma Agee fans left “in this old sin cussed world” (one of her literary devices). She winged her way into her place among the angels, at the close of her long journey here below, just over forty years ago. Her name never appeared on the credits for The Beverly Hillbillies, Petticoat Junction, or Green Acres.

But in 1963 there was great concern, that a pamphlet sized book that cost less than a dime to print in quantity, would be counterfeited.

Any small newspaper office or print shop in 1963 could set up the type exactly like The Index did. Ma Agee’s photograph was easily reproduced. But it’s been so long ago now I can’t remember the technical details of the printing process, but Kathy “ Nannie” Jenkins (also a long time contributor to The Index) and the owners of The Index helped my grandmother by having Nannie etch her line drawings on actual plates, or a die of some kind, that allowed only The Index to impress those illustrations so that the lines didn’t blur together.

The originals today, even the first editions, are not valuable except to Ma Agee and Nannie Jenkins fans, and the copyright lapsed in 1990 (at Ma Agee’s specific request) so it’s Katy bar the door for any copies or reproductions.

But our family still has Nannie Jenkin’s original etchings, and I think my cousin has them today. Or they might be in storage at the farm.

I have a lot of original copies, but the one in my desk is a stone cold counterfeit, with all the line drawings blurred.

Grandma would be so flattered, that people keep reading her book, forty years after she quit needing any payment for it.