GBD's, Pros and Cons

[mso489]

I don't need another pipe, but I look at GBD's from time to time. They look like good standard British wood, a little staid but pleasantly clunky. G.L. Pease is said to collect them. How do owners feel about them? Do they tend to be heavy for the size chamber? Are there good years and bad for these pipes? Are new ones fair quality? GBD's aren't super stars on Forums, but i do know there are owners here, and I'd be interested to hear their observations, what you like and what you don't, about your GBD's. (I think GBD are the initials of the last names of three French guys who went to London to make pipes.)

 

[pepesdad1]

I suggest that you get the older GBDs that are estate buys. They are good smokers as the curing was done properly...of the ones I have I haven't found any fill in any of them. Newer ones I can't say...not sure they are still in business.

 

[craig61a]

I have several, and while I never became enamored of the brand, the older ones are definitely worthwhile.

I wouldn’t say they stand heads over any other factory made British pipes, but they are of equal quality in my opinion. And I like the ones with the Perspex stems...

 

[renfield]

Definitely shop the estate market. I can’t speak to the current/recent production as all of mine are older. Dating GBDs isn’t easy but I would generally stick to pipes which have the metal roundel on the stem.

I have many GBDs of various grades and they all smoke well. I haven’t found any of them to be clunky, and several are extremely light for their size. Regardless of their grade they all seem to be well made if they carry the GBD name. GBD had many “second” brands for the pipes that may not have been quite up to snuff.

GBDs are dependable, long lasting, work well, but aren’t usually flashy. (The Perspex stemmed pipes are pretty cool, though.). Higher grades just have nicer wood, IME.

I have a saddle bit pot shape GBD that renders tobacco flavors with stunning clarity. It’s a truth pipe.

Give GBD a try, they’re a classic and many decent examples are floating around.

(GBD = Ganneval, Bondier and Donninger)

 

[FurCoat]

I have a GBD Oxford that smokes great. Beautiful birds eye and no fills. Bought it as an estate.

 

[OzPiper]

I have several older GBDs, both French made and English. Although I suspect a lot of pipes passed as English pre-1950s may have originated in France and "finished/tarted-up with silver mounts" in England and given a "Made in England" stamp.
The ones with English silver mounts are easy to date. The French don't have silver date-letters and dating is difficult.

I love the stubby, chunky look of old Brit wood/French pipes. I don't find them heavy at all - in fact their stubbiness makes them more balanced for clenching. Modern English pipes eg Ferndown and Ashtons tend to have "more wood" /thick-walled bowls and are heavier and much less comfortable to clench.

 

[mikethompson]

Pros: favorite pipe brand of @ssjones

Cons: he buys all the good ones when they come up

 

[greeneyes]

Several from the 60s - 70s with the oval shanks have off-center passages drilled in the stem which causes a weak tenon that snaps easily.

 

[danimalia]

Good thread. I've also been curious because of their status as one of the more affordable options for older English estate pipes. I almost bought an estate lovat from SP about 18 months ago, but bought something else.

 

[LotusEater]

I just bought this GBD “Seventy Six”
It hasn’t arrived yet but I’m looking forward to loading it up.

 

[mso489]

Does anyone know if GBD is still in business? I've seen some new GBD's for sale online, but they could be old inventory. They certainly are common on the estate market.

 

[mso489]

Poking around the web, I see that ownership of GBD was bought by Comoy some time ago, and the conventional wisdom is that the GBD pipes did not improve with the change, though I don't take that on faith. The posts that suggest that older GBD are better may have a point. I'd still look at a new one if it appealed otherwise and was priced moderately. They still maintain the "Made In London" stamp, I think, so it is a English pipe with French ancestry,

 

[LotusEater]

Here is a link to some very affordable, new GBDs

GBD Pipes

Named after the French founders, Ganeval, Bondier & Donninger, GBD pipes are now made in England. Execellent pipes at a great value. 50% OFF

www.iwanries.com

 

[pepesdad1]

Didn't know that Comoy bought out GBD...Comoy is just a shell of itself after the merger...the Comoys that I've seen (newer ones) have been real crap. The ones from the 60's and earlier were great smoking pipes with no fills.

 

[lraisch]

I have a number of GBD pipes purchased back in the 70s and they are all good smokers. I do not find them to be heavy. Indeed they are all well proportioned standard shapes. I personally like the older Pebble grain or Granitan finish and the Virgin pipes, which are the only ones which were sold as free of fills.

What I see of the current production does not impress me, so I would agree that the pipes with the brass roundels are to be preferred.

 

[paulfg]

Didn't know that Comoy bought out GBD...Comoy is just a shell of itself after the merger...the Comoys that I've seen (newer ones) have been real crap. The ones from the 60's and earlier were great smoking pipes with no fills.

they didnt exactly.Comoy's was already owned by Cadogan Investments ,Cadogan later bought GBD .they also own /sell pipes under the other names they had acumulated over the years.

Cadogan Investments Limited is a subsidiary of A. Oppenheimer & Co. Limited. It was formed by Oppenheimer Pipe in 1920 as a holding company for its many recent acquisitions, including BBB, Loewe & Co., two pipe factories in Saint-Claude and others. It continued to acquire pipe brands and makers for decades, adding GBD and others to their marquee.
Both companies are currently located at 20 Vanguard Way, Shoeburyness, Essex, SS3 9RA. A storefront operates out of the same location selling pipes and smokers accessories under the name Cadogan Gifts, and also sells a wide variety of other items. Cadogan currently holds, among others, the trademarks for Dr. Plumb's, Irwin's, Comoy's, BBB, GBD, Loewe & Co., Medico, Orlik, and Ropp.

definitely go for the brass roundel badged pipes as these are normally pre merger and much better quality

@mso489 if you want a good value GBD keep looking at Al's postings (ssjones) he regulary has ones at reasonable prices and well restored

 

[newbroom]

I've only been to one decent pipe shop/tobacco store. I went in just the once and stayed and talked to anybody who would, including the owner and his pipe smoking wife and a few customers who seemed to have experience.
I was just starting out and had recently acquired my first briar pipes via an auction and I brought one in to use and to ask of its provenance. "likely a Dr. Grabow"...
anyway...of the oldtimers, I asked what their favorite brand of pipe was, and this shop had pretty much a representation of anything you could think of...S.Bang, Sav Auto's, Dunhill, etc....
Their answer was GBD...which was kinda surprising to me...although I had become aware of the brand by then, I hadn't thought of it as 'special' till these guys with experience, crossed my path. Now? I am like ole Tom, curious, but not really all that concerned.

 

[Chasing Embers]

No complaints.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Their answer was GBD...which was kinda surprising to me...

I would agree with them.

 

[renfield]

If I could only keep one brand in my collection it would be the GBDs. Dependable smokers and attractive, to my eye.