How Old Is This BBB?

[misterlowercase]

I ain't even got this pipe yet, but was curious to get other opinions as to its age.
I think it's pre-50's --- an early sandblast example, some time in the 50's all BBB blasts were stamped Thorneycroft and this one is not.
It also has no shape number, some times BBB actually stamped the stems with the shape # and this may be the case here too? Won't know until I inspect it.
But this chubby LB shape doesn't show up in the later catalogs, their largest billiard is a 667 and it doesn't have the chubby look.
The stem says hand cut which is also a very good indicator that this is an earlier pipe.
Anyone know about the Best Make grade and time periods for such stamping?
Have a look,

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PIPE-OCCASION-DE-MARQUE-BBB-modele-BEST-MAKE-England-/390835871998?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=iNUuQ9Nj0ALWwJI9dhbbBNfXKmw%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc
Hopefully it'll be a nice pipe, if not at least I didn't lose much.
Finally got a copy of the Briar Books BBB 1912 catalog,

8O

it's incredible!

 

[pitchfork]

Troy, I can't tell you how old it is, but I think it's no earlier than the 1930s as that's when (I believe) "Best Make" replaced "Own Make."

 

[ssjones]

At $10, you have nothing to lose! I hope sablebrush chimes in. The seller doesn't ship to the US, are you in Europe? (I just always had the feeling you were stateside)

 

[misterlowercase]

Wes, I think you're right, I'm gonna say it's Oppenheimer era (I hope), until I can actually inspect it.
Al, I'm in the US, but always write overseas sellers in their own language in a mangled cute google translate sort of way, bubbling with enthusiasm and hoping to win them over with my charm LOL sometimes they cave in with the hassle of shipping over here and give me a decent quote, the best deals are found over there.

 

[papipeguy]

It looks like the stamping on the stem says "Hand Cut".

 

[ssjones]

That is a worthwhile tactic. I did communicate with the French seller of that chubby, horn stemmed Rhodesian you posted a few days ago (but ultimately passed)

 

[klause]

http://www.fumeursdepipe.net/artbbb.htm
Run it through google translate, or chrome, Troy.
I know there are translated versions out there, but I couldn't find 'em.