GBD Prehistoric Prince Restore

[ssjones]

I found another GBD Prehistoric, this one #357 on Ebay, another $25 project. I stripped and restained it yesterday, it came out real nice. The grain is nice and tight. I'm dedicating this Prince to OGS, a blend I've recently rediscovered in these hot summer months. Shortly I'll do a restoration write up on Steve Laugs "Reborn Pipes" blog, detailing the process. I enjoyed it this morning on the patio with a nice cup of coffee. A neat little pipe.

 

[cigrmaster]

Looks great. Are there certain GBD's that you collect? How do they compare with other British pipes?

 

[ssjones]

Pre-Cadogan era pipes in particular. I love the 9438 and 9242 shapes in various finishes. (Tapestry, Fantasy, Prehistoric, etc.)

 

[choch]

Nice looking pipe Al. I have several estate GBD's, they are all great smokers,

 

[ssjones]

I documented the restoration and re-staining of the pipe in a submission on Steven Laugs "Reborn Pipes" blog, you can read it here:

http://rebornpipes.wordpress.com/2012/06/25/gbd-prehistoric-prince-357-refurb/

 

[mp31guitar]

Nice job. It looks like a new pipe.

 

[ejames]

Nice work and write up!

 

[mluyckx]

Looks good indeed. I love those translucent stems on those GBD's. I need to go find me one ..

 

[ssjones]

The good news is the pipe smokes very well. Cool and dry, a pretty open draw. More open then my other GBD's, which makes me think perhaps someone opened it up. It easily passed the drill bit on the end of my Senor reamer. No ghosts, I guess my ream and soak did the trick. Of course it also soaked, immersed in 99% isopropyl alcohol for several hours. One of these days I do need to get a retort. It's a perfect pipe for Orlik Golden Sliced, a summer smoke for me.

 

[cigrmaster]

Those stems are very cool looking. Do they come on all GBD's or only on certain models in certain era's?

 

[ssjones]

Perspex was an option on many GBD's, but I don't think it carried on into the Cadogan era (1981+). I have two others, a "Seventy Six" Colossus model and a Prehistoric Ooom-Paul (both wonderful gifts from member Weezel!) The Oom-Paul, also a Colossus model was restained as well.

 

[fnord]

Al:
I just read your restoration post and I'm foolish enough to try that on some of my smokers. What type of buffer do you have?
Fnord

 

[ssjones]

I have an old 1725 rpm furnace motor, single shaft. Easy to find, check your motor supply place, bet they have a few laying around. Old ones will work fine for pipe work, just get a straight shaft with no wobble. Mine even has oil ports, unheard of on a new motor. Member Smokingdawg sells an arbor/pad kit that is hard to beat or Jestco sells a shaft arbor and pads (great prices on pads).

 

[matchstickman]

I'm a big fan of those cream colored lucite stems. Good looking pipe for sure!