GBD Lumberman

[iamn8]

I came across this pipe a few days ago and it's really growing on me! Love the shape, blast, and color! It's beautiful, but a brand I know absolutely nothing about, nor do I know the age of this pipe. Its quite inexpensive, but don't want to buy it if there's a chance it'll end up in The Drawer Of Random Items. Any thoughts or opinions? Oh and it's a group 5sz.

 

[scrooge]

Nice really Nice! :clap:

 

[danielplainview]

I'm not certain but that appears to be a repair band as it's cuts off a portion of the stampings. Looks to be a post 80's GBD or the stem might have been replaced. If the pipe calls to you, that's all that really matters. I dig it.
I'm interested in ssjones opinion. He's the resident GBD professor.

 

[iamn8]

Here's the description which the seller gives...
"Here we have a nice English estate pipe. The is a London Made GBD Plain Lumberman. The finish is a nicely patterned blast rustication with the color black as night with faint glints of brown burnishing in a couple areas. As for size, it is on par with a Dunhill group 5 size pipe. It fills the hand but is light and well balanced. The shape is unique as it is paneled on the bottom but then transforms into a normal round bowl at the top. The banding is a nice breakup to this dark pipe and looks to be original to the pipe. The stem tension and fit up are perfect. There are a couple very tiny minor indentations on the bottom of the stem but nothing that will affect your smoking experience or the overall look. This older, wide shanked beauty is a good looking pipe and it looks be to only have been lightly used."

 

[ssjones]

That is definitely a repair band. Does it say "Prehistoric" (it looks slightly different)? Without the brass rondell on the stem or the COM, it's hard to give it a value. If it is cheap ($25 or less), what do you have to lose?

 

[iamn8]

Al, no not that cheap. I just meant it would be the second least expensive pipe I've bought, $50. Is it not worth that? Obviously it's relative, but you're the expert. THANK YOU AL!!

 

[ssjones]

That would be more than I'd want to pay, with those issues.

 

[iamn8]

 

[iamn8]

I'll pass then. I'm so glad I asked!! Thanks again Al!!

 

[jacks6]

More importantly, where do I get a bulldog pipe stand like that?

 

[danielplainview]

To be fair to the seller; his work is top notch. I've seen plenty of his restorations and his attention to detail is excellent. The band may not be a repair band for a cracked shank, but rather an add on for aesthetics from the original owner.

 

[ssjones]

Thanks for the close-up. I don't know of any pre-Cadogan era GBD (brass rondell) grade that starts with "Plain..". So, I'd guess this is a post-Cadogan pipe. I don't immediately recognize that shape either, from the older charts (but I'm not a Lumberman fan, so there may be a corresponding number). If it is a Cadogan era pipe, that is definitely over-priced.

 

[iamn8]

From the seller...
"know right, this pipe has something about it that is catchy to the eye. When I saw it, I bought it immediately. There is no true specific dating data for GBD pipes but there are some signs that this may be pre-1950's. From everything I read GBD has always offered an insane amount of different models/shapes. However, a couple things to note. First, the bit isn't marked, could it be a replacement bit, maybe but I believe it to be original. It is not marked of which started happening at a later date, I believe in the 50's or 60's. Second, the "hoof" built into the bottom of the bowl. This hoof design was the standard from the late 1800's up until the 1950's area. In that time frame almost all GBD pipes had this hoof design such that there pipes could be sitters. I read that this went design feature went out in the 1950's. Also, I looked at as many pipe shape charts as I could find (mostly post 1950's) and could not find this pipe shape or the "Plain" line. So in short, purely based on speculation I would say pre 1950's I'm just not sure any further than that."

 

[jacks6]

just realized it's not a bulldog stand. some scrappy scottish looking dog..

 

[ssjones]

That dog is a Scottie! (or even better, a Westie!)
I suppose anything is possible, but the dating reflected in ad is a bit of a stretch, in my opinion.

 

[mawnansmiff]

I wonder if the stamping should read 'Plainsman'. I have heard of such a pipe but cannot recall the manufacturer.
Just a thought.
Regards,
Jay.

 

[ssjones]

I've never heard or seen a GBD Plainsman. GBD grades were pretty well documented up to to the '81 merger. After the Comoy's merger, odd lines started popping up on GBD and Comoy's pipes. That makes me think it is Cadogan era (1981+). But, with GBD, anything is possible and there are no absolutes. (hallmarked pipes the exception).