Grandfather's Old Pipe Collection

[goalltheway]

So my Dad recently discovered that I smoke pipes and told me that somewhere in my grandmother's basement was a collection of my grandfather's old pipes. I couldn't find them, but we met for my birthday and he found them for me. Best birthday present I could ask for. Looking for advice on how to revive these guys beyond just a simple deep cleaning with alcohol. Any suggestions?

 

[tobefrank]

I have no advice but am interested to hear about the pipe with the yellow stem. That one looks very modern and seems to have little pipes carved into the rustication. Very interesting looking.

 

[goalltheway]

I have no advice but am interested to hear about the pipe with the yellow stem. That one looks very modern and seems to have little pipes carved into the rustication. Very interesting looking.

Here's a closer look. I cleaned it up a bit as well. I honestly don't know anything about these other than they were my grandfather's. My dad is not a smoker of any sort and I don't think these pipes have been smoked since I was born.

 

[tobefrank]

Here's a closer look. I cleaned it up a bit as well. I honestly don't know anything about these other than they were my grandfather's. My dad is not a smoker of any sort and I don't think these pipes have been smoked since I was born.

View attachment 99307

I meant the black rusticated pipe with the yellow stem in the top middle of your original photo.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I'd send them off to a restorer. Not that expensive and they'll get them looking as good as new.

 

[mso489]

What a great legacy.

 

[goalltheway]

I meant the black rusticated pipe with the yellow stem in the top middle of your original photo.

My apologies, I misread. Here's a closer look at that one, I think it's my favorite of the bunch.



Here's the back. It says: "Lorenzo Elba Imperia Italy"

 

[goalltheway]

I'd send them off to a restorer. Not that expensive and they'll get them looking as good as new.

Any recommendations? I live in Atlanta and there's hardly any shops that carry pipes, much less restore them.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I suspect you'll need to mail them off. The gentleman I utilized in Florida moved to Colorado. I'm sure other members will share their recommendations.

 

[tobefrank]

I

My apologies, I misread. Here's a closer look at that one, I think it's my favorite of the bunch.

View attachment 99312

Here's the back. It says: "Lorenzo Elba Imperia Italy"View attachment 99317

Nice combination of black pipe with yellow stem. I could guess that it is Italian. It has a partial Capri like finish.

 

[OzPiper]

If you're interested in doing the cleaning yourself, a great starting point is Steve Laug's Rebornpipes blogs.
Step-by-step instructions with lots of hints and before and after photos. That's how I started
Seeing there are only a few pipes, your best bet would be to send them to someone. You'd get a "professional" finish for not much cost. By the time you factor in buying stuff to do the job, it'd probably end up casting you more.

 

[jewman22]

Looks like your grandpa had good taste in pipes.
They look to be in pretty good shape, a quick clean and buff of the stems and a reem and alcohol treatment of the bowl and away you go. Not hard or time consuming to do yourself. The Calabash might be a bit a hassle but not much more than the rest, just need to be a little more careful.

 

[kcghost]

Looks like the black on with the yellow looks very nice.

 

[Dave4211]

They look, to me, more or less, ready to smoke.

I'd clean one up and light it up. At the very least make sure you can blow air through it. You have something really special there.

Maybe smoke one and get a feel for what you've been given. Then, maybe think about restoration.

I'm happy that these pipes were given to you.

 

[goalltheway]

Thanks all for the suggestions! I cleaned them with alcohol and I do think they might be good to go for the most part. One of the briars may need a new stem as it looks pretty rough, but everything else is looking quite a bit better now that the dust and cobwebs are gone. I did find a pipe restorer up in northern GA that I may give a call if I decide they need more work. Think I'm gonna give the black and yellow one a spin tonight!

 

[Chasing Embers]

Dang, that's a hell of a way to kick start a collection. Heirloom pieces at that!

 

[cigrmaster]

I hope it smokes great for you. Your a lucky guy.

 

[Streeper541]

When I received my grandfather's pipes they had been sitting in a closet for nearly 15 years. I sent them off to Walker's Pipe Repair for complete restoration so that I could enjoy them. Best decision I ever made.

Good luck to you and enjoy your grandaddy's pipes.

 

[telescopes]

i use briarworks for some of my pipes. He just relocated to Georgia from Colorado.

 

[rokerdepipe]

"If you're interested in doing the cleaning yourself, a great starting point is Steve Laug's Rebornpipes blogs.
Step-by-step instructions with lots of hints and before and after photos."

What OzPiper said.