GBD Granitan, Yay or Nay?

[agnosticpipe]

I've always been intrigued by the finish on these pipes. A novel idea, sandblast the pipe, then sand it down to almost smooth. Why? I don't know, but I like the looks though, makes the pipe look like its had years of loving wear and use. I finally found one I liked at a reasonable price with a perspex stem! Another questionable idea, a clear stem, a PIA to keep clean looking. Anyone else have one of these pipes, and if so what are your thoughts?

 

[trouttimes]

Nice looking pipe but you could be right about the stem. If you think it would smoke good (I bet it does) then go for it. You can always have another stem. Made if it bothers you too much.

 

[ssjones]

I just finished and posted a Granitan. The Perspex stems can be bothersome. Run a cleaner dipped in alcohol thru each time, then a dry one, that will keep it fairly clean. Good looking pipe!

 

[aquadoc]

Yay! I love my GBD Granitan.

 

[mikethompson]

Interesting clear stem. I can see how that would be a little more maintainence to keep clean, but like Al says, running a pipe cleaner through it should keep it from getting too dirty. I guess it depends on the level of cleaning you want to do after each use.

 

[ssjones]

Caveat: getting alcohol in the air way might haze the stem channel, if you don't clean it immediately. Some people are freaky about that. I'd rather have a hazed airway vs tobacco stained. Toothpaste on a bristle cleaner also works, but is somewhat less effective.

 

[bron340]

I have been looking for a reasonably priced old granitan 508. I love how they look.

 

[lraisch]

I have 3 Granitans. Two are excellent smokers, the third one has bowl walls that are too thin.
I would never buy one with the clear stem which looks like an anti-smoking ad after awhile, though you could always have a new stem made.

 

[smokingwizard]

Yay! I too love my GBD Granitan London England 549. Don’t smoke it to much cuz I want it to always look like new. :worship:

 

[smokingwizard]

OMG I just saw online a GBD churchwarden ($ 98.00) that I really want. But I already bought a pipe this month so if I get the GBD, my wife will kill me lol. If it’s still there Sept. 1st then I will get it. Beautiful churchwarden to go with my Wizard persona. I want I want :D

 

[hauntedmyst]

If you get the clear steam, you could always paint it black or gray on the inside. Cleaner looking than stained and an interesting effect with the clear outside being maintained.

 

[mso489]

The finish texture doesn't appeal to me for whatever reason, and the stem would take extra cleaning to keep it appetizing. I like smooth or textured, but not something in between, I guess. That's such a handsome shape, I guess I'd rather see it in a more traditional finish with a more classic stem.

 

[sisyphus]

my favorite GBD series

 

[scloyd]

I've always been intrigued by the finish on these pipes. A novel idea, sandblast the pipe, then sand it down to almost smooth. Why? I don't know, but I like the looks though, makes the pipe look like its had years of loving wear and use. I finally found one I liked at a reasonable price with a perspex stem! Another questionable idea, a clear stem, a PIA to keep clean looking. Anyone else have one of these pipes, and if so what are your thoughts?

Nice pipe. Did you end up buying it?

 

[greeneyes]

I have one like that too. I always just assumed someone sanded it down themselves perhaps because sandblast fell out of favor or something. Like an amateur restorer approaching the restoration ala "I can fix this!"

 

[agnosticpipe]

Nice pipe. Did you end up buying it?

Yes, great old pipe!

 

[BROBS]

Looks like when I dropped my pipe on gravel!

 

[agnosticpipe]

I decided to bump this post up because I got another pipe that may well be made by
GBD with a Granitan finish. Stamped Parklane Ltd. Tan Briar, London England, 9489 which is a GBD pipe shape. Looks like a Granitan finish too. I believe that Parklane Ltd. were some pipe shops in Washington state in the 1960s. Kind of an interesting sidebar, and it smokes great too!

 

[ssjones]

Definitely a GBD made pipe. I have a feeling that I would have enjoyed hanging out at the Pipelane shops!

 

[jaytex1969]

I made a wrong turn last month and ended up on that damned auction site. Then this Granitan arrived at my house.





I haven't smoked it yet. There's a 1/32" gap between the stem & stummel, so I need to get drunk and bust out the grinding tools until it's flush.