Grabow Golden Duke? (Bought Today)

[EveningSmoke03]

Hi. I've been smoking a pipe a little less than a year and have been on the lookout for any cool old pipes at local junk shops. Today I ducked into a little junk shop in the small town where I work in the summer while awaiting friends during a local festival and found what I was looking for.

I got this pipe and would like more info about it (approximate age, value if any) and how to clean it up a little.

It's a Grabow Golden Duke, very well-smoked and not very well cleaned or maintained. But besides a need for a good cleaning it isn't in bad shape. The junk shop had 4 pipes but this one stood out as both the nicest and cheapest (all 4 were Grabow, all dirty and rather neglected, the other 3 were a different model but of identical size and design to each other and in my opinion slightly ugly. They were probably all owned by the same guy). I paid $20 for it and probably overpaid but it looked rather forlorn and anyway it's almost my birthday so I couldn't resist.

I personally think it's a very attractive pipe, it has a very solid lockup between the bit and the main pipe and the finish is quite glossy. It also has a very comfortable shape. I've been unable to smoke it as yet because now I need to buy filters and it still needs a good cleaning. I plan to smoke it and keep it though, it's the handsomest of the four pipes I own by far.

 

[Briar Lee]

Hi. I've been smoking a pipe a little less than a year and have been on the lookout for any cool old pipes at local junk shops. Today I ducked into a little junk shop in the small town where I work in the summer while awaiting friends during a local festival and found what I was looking for.

I got this pipe and would like more info about it (approximate age, value if any) and how to clean it up a little.

It's a Grabow Golden Duke, very well-smoked and not very well cleaned or maintained. But besides a need for a good cleaning it isn't in bad shape. The junk shop had 4 pipes but this one stood out as both the nicest and cheapest (all 4 were Grabow, all dirty and rather neglected, the other 3 were a different model but of identical size and design to each other and in my opinion slightly ugly. They were probably all owned by the same guy). I paid $20 for it and probably overpaid but it looked rather forlorn and anyway it's almost my birthday so I couldn't resist.

I personally think it's a very attractive pipe, it has a very solid lockup between the bit and the main pipe and the finish is quite glossy. It also has a very comfortable shape. I've been unable to smoke it as yet because now I need to buy filters and it still needs a good cleaning. I plan to smoke it and keep it though, it's the handsomest of the four pipes I own by far.

That is a 1965-70 Grand Duke and you need to remove the factory varnish and oil it.

 

[Pipe_Guard]

golden duke is GOLDEN in color. Still looks better without the varnish.

 

[sablebrush52]

Here’s some information that may be useful:

Dr. Grabow - Pipedia

pipedia.org

 

[EveningSmoke03]

That is a 1965-70 Grand Duke and you need to remove the factory varnish and oil it.

View attachment 408191

 

[EveningSmoke03]

I appreciate that, and I'll probably do that next week when I have some free time.

I'm curious: how were you able to narrow down the year? And, I'll have to check again when I get home but I swear it says Golden Duke on the side.

 

[didimauw]

I appreciate that, and I'll probably do that next week when I have some free time.

I'm curious: how were you able to narrow down the year? And, I'll have to check again when I get home but I swear it says Golden Duke on the side.

Nah it literally says Golden Duke on the side. You were correct.

 

[EveningSmoke03]

golden duke is GOLDEN in color. Still looks better without the varnish.

Point of curiosity: What is the reason for removing the varnish? My other pipes are all either rusticated briar or made of clay, so I've never had a pipe with varnish like this before.

 

[Sobrbiker]

golden duke is GOLDEN in color. Still looks better without the varnish.

Unless they’re not, as the pipe pictured is clearly stamped Golden Duke.

Unlike the good counselor, I’d probably stay away from the acetone and clean it up and leave it as is.

 

[Waning Embers]

golden duke is GOLDEN in color.

Not always.

 

[Waning Embers]

I’d probably stay away from the acetone

Removes varnish extremely well except whatever it is they use on Rattray's pipes. I've done it to several Big Ben pipes and a couple of Tsuges.

 

[sablebrush52]

Point of curiosity: What is the reason for removing the varnish? My other pipes are all either rusticated briar or made of clay, so I've never had a pipe with varnish like this before.

Some makers like their pipes to have a durable high gloss finish.

My Nording high grade is lacquered. Doesn’t affect its performance at all.

 

[Waning Embers]

What is the reason for removing the varnish?

It can bubble and flake leaving an unsightly appearance. No need for oiling afterwards as that can bleed out when smoking but waxing or wiping down with a jeweler's cloth can shine them up.

 

[Pipe_Guard]

Unless they’re not, as the pipe pictured is clearly stamped Golden Duke.

Unlike the good counselor, I’d probably stay away from the acetone and clean it up and leave it as is.

I have only known Dr Grabow since 2002. In that time, the GODLEN DUKEs have always been a nice golden color. The color does improve when the over coat material is removed.
That can be removed with high grade alcohol.
wel mines a collectors choice. maybe that gives it a better finish.

The ones at the potshop yesterday, all looked like brylon with that brownish black plastic like finish.

 

[Pipe_Guard]

I appreciate that, and I'll probably do that next week when I have some free time.

I'm curious: how were you able to narrow down the year? And, I'll have to check again when I get home but I swear it says Golden Duke on the side.

every decade seems to have had a slight change in the band size, and in the stem logo.

 

[Briar Lee]

I appreciate that, and I'll probably do that next week when I have some free time.

I'm curious: how were you able to narrow down the year? And, I'll have to check again when I get home but I swear it says Golden Duke on the side.

I have five big Rubbermaid tubs of pipes and accidentally discovered the 1965 to about 1970 Golden Duke Dr Grabow series. I own about a half dozen or so.

In 1964 the Surgeon General blasted smoking, but only cigarrete smoking. The gubbermint do gooders found that pipe smokers only—-who did not inhale—lived a few years longer than non smokers.

(Most likely because they were wealthier and lived easier lives?)

The next year Grabow reached a peak of 3.6 million pipes, a record. Women and mothers bought a lot for wayward cigarrete smoking sons and husbands and sweethearts, because they loved them and wanted them to live longer.

Women are much more demanding and discerning than us and will never ever buy the cheapest.



Mama checked out at the grocery counter in 1965 and do you think she bought the $1.95 to $3.95 pipe to give her men?

Hell no.

Mama buys only top shelf.

In 1970 they cheapened the mortise and tenon, which in your pipe is invisible.

 

[Pipe_Guard]

Point of curiosity: What is the reason for removing the varnish? My other pipes are all either rusticated briar or made of clay, so I've never had a pipe with varnish like this before.

1. its not slippery anymore
2. since i yanked the finish, its not as shiny in the sun. I smoke outdoors.
3. Without the finish, i honestly find that the mortise doesnt seem to get as gross after smoking.
4. Smoking same blends, same methods of pack and smoking, I honestly think the pipe smokes COOLER.

 

[Pipe_Guard]

I have five big Rubbermaid tubs of pipes and accidentally discovered the 1965 to about 1970 Golden Duke Dr Grabow series. I own about a half dozen or so.

In 1964 the Surgeon General blasted smoking, but only cigarrete smoking. The gubbermint do gooders found that pipe smokers only—-who did not inhale—lived a few years longer than non smokers.

(Most likely because they were wealthier and lived easier lives?)

The next year Grabow reached a peak of 3.6 million pipes, a record. Women and mothers bought a lot for wayward cigarrete smoking sons and husbands and sweethearts, because they loved them and wanted them to live longer.

Women are much more demanding and discerning than us and will never ever buy the cheapest.

View attachment 408273View attachment 408274

Mama checked out at the grocery counter in 1965 and do you think she bought the $1.95 to $3.95 pipe to give her men?

Hell no.

Mama buys only top shelf.

In 1970 they cheapened the mortise and tenon, which in your pipe is invisible.

Yeah, but the thing is, id rather have that adjustomatic as shown in that advertisement you put up. The metal bit seems to go INSIDE the filter.

 

[Briar Lee]

Yeah, but the thing is, id rather have that adjustomatic as shown in that advertisement you put up. The metal bit seems to go INSIDE the filter.

It is an Adjustomatic. The stem will twist with hand pressure 360 degrees.

You can tell because of the tenon. That tenon has a clutch, which might be varnished up. Soak in alcohol (or acetone) to free it. Also your pipe has outrageously fancy grain, and looks like a push stem.

Later ones have a clever split metal tenon—a good joint—but not as cool as the early Adjustomatics.



The $1.95 to $3.95 models mostly got burned up and tossed by a one pipe smoker.

Those $4.95 Golden Duke Adjustomatics had killer grain, were the top of the line on the display cards, and many were treasured gifts that survive to sell in the flea markets.

 

[Pipe_Guard]

If i buy another grabow, it WOULD have to be one of those adjustomatic models.