I’ve been thinking about building a collection of estate pipes sold under the branding of famed former and current shops like Nat Sherman, e. Wilke; LJ Peretti, etc.. . These would be for smoking not just collecting.. any thoughts/pitfalls I should watch for?
In-house Pipes from Iconic Shops
- Thread starter Jon888
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As long as you understand these pipes actually come from makers of pipes as opposed to the place you bought it.
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The above is mostly true, but, there are exceptions—Blatter & Blatter in Montreal has a shop (since 1907 and in their present location since 1970) and actually makes their own pipes. I believe Barclay Rex in New York did make pipes at one time, but, I’m not sure how one would distinguish one of those from the outsourced ones.
In general, I think this idea makes sense. House pipes are usually sold by established pipe shops, and they have an interest in finding good pipes as house pipes, especially to get new smokers into pipe smoking so the shops have repeat business from satisfied customers. They may not be loss leaders, but they are usually moderately priced and sourced from quality pipe makers.
My first pipe was a Tinder Box St. Ives, purchased about 1978 and still looking and smoking strong, sourced from a French maker, perhaps Chacom or Charatan. Iwan Ries had excellent house pipes sourced from Edwards under their Benton line, oil cured Algerian briar, and they too are still going strong and look great. Today the IR pipes are sourced from Genod, and they also look first rate.
A few house pipes come from unexpected sources, like those from Disney theme parks and L.L. Bean.
Like any estate pipes, some would be in better repair and better maintained than others. Since these are often bought by new pipe smokers, they may have suffered some neglect or abuse, like bad reaming or over buffing. But in general, I think this is a promising path to a good rotation of pipes.
My first pipe was a Tinder Box St. Ives, purchased about 1978 and still looking and smoking strong, sourced from a French maker, perhaps Chacom or Charatan. Iwan Ries had excellent house pipes sourced from Edwards under their Benton line, oil cured Algerian briar, and they too are still going strong and look great. Today the IR pipes are sourced from Genod, and they also look first rate.
A few house pipes come from unexpected sources, like those from Disney theme parks and L.L. Bean.
Like any estate pipes, some would be in better repair and better maintained than others. Since these are often bought by new pipe smokers, they may have suffered some neglect or abuse, like bad reaming or over buffing. But in general, I think this is a promising path to a good rotation of pipes.
It's true, the sourcing on these pipes can be difficult to pin down sometimes. Iwan Ries has always been straightforward on sourcing, so you pretty much know what brand it is. I think they started with Genod in the 1960's, and have gone through Benton and Savinelli, and maybe others over the years.
With Tinder Box, it was a little more uncertain, but the house historian made an educated guess. Sourcing changes over time and can be quite short-term in some cases.
So you can just accept that as the nature of house pipes and build an interesting collection, with some ambiguity on some pipes. I've had a good experience with house pipes, so the idea appeals to me. It's not my whole pipe rack, but I have a number.
One of my house pipes, an estate pipe gift from friends, is a Thompson (Cigar) house pipe also stamped "West Germany." It's a handsome freehand with plateau on the brim, and I had a new tortoise shell stem installed.
With Tinder Box, it was a little more uncertain, but the house historian made an educated guess. Sourcing changes over time and can be quite short-term in some cases.
So you can just accept that as the nature of house pipes and build an interesting collection, with some ambiguity on some pipes. I've had a good experience with house pipes, so the idea appeals to me. It's not my whole pipe rack, but I have a number.
One of my house pipes, an estate pipe gift from friends, is a Thompson (Cigar) house pipe also stamped "West Germany." It's a handsome freehand with plateau on the brim, and I had a new tortoise shell stem installed.
I have an older Peretti Straight Grain that is a beauty. I had it professionally re done and it is too nice to smoke. One day I will get one of my kids take a picture of it. I paid like 50 bucks on ebay for it,
Cellinis?
Being British & never having set foot in the states, I don't really know. What I do know though is some of the nicest looking American pipes I've seen on this forum were 'Cellinis Originals'.
Being British & never having set foot in the states, I don't really know. What I do know though is some of the nicest looking American pipes I've seen on this forum were 'Cellinis Originals'.
Any pipe stamped with a defunct country must carry an added appeal; it certainly does for me. Very cool!
Don't forget Airport pipes, Petersons marked and sold only at Irish Airports.
Benederet's in SF had excellent shop pipes, Comoys I think.
Benederet's in SF had excellent shop pipes, Comoys I think.
Come visit the USA ... its really much better and more beautiful in person than depicted on T.V. and you'll get an opportunity to meet the people who are not depicted on T.V. !
I hear Detroit is beautiful this time of year.Come visit the USA ... its really much better and more beautiful in person than depicted on T.V. and you'll get an opportunity to meet the people who are not depicted on T.V. !
It’s been my experience that the quality of shop branded pipes can really vary- it all depends on who made them. I like the idea of smoking an LJP blend from an LJP pipe so I’ve got a couple of LJP estates that are decent but not awesome. You can purchase one of their anniversary pipes (which look very good) from their on line store.
IMHO- building a collection of shop branded pipes would be fun and for the most part fairly affordable
I was quite taken with a shop pipe from Paris, Pipe du Nord. If I understand it correctly, they were made by someone else (Savinelli?) but with Marie, the proprietress', design. I really like this: shops designing their own, even if someone else makes them.
Here is a bulldog from the (former) Drucquer & Sons shop in Berkeley, California. Not sure who made it, But it has a "made in England" stamp.
@Perimeter_Road that pipe is a dead ringer for a St Ives pipe from the Tinderbox that has been a regular smoker in my rotation for years.
I have an Emerson pipe marked with Macs Pipe Shop in Palo Alto that I’ve been told is almost certainly a house pipe made by Comoy and it’s even marked with their shape number.
Interesting way to build a collection! Cool idea!
I have an Emerson pipe marked with Macs Pipe Shop in Palo Alto that I’ve been told is almost certainly a house pipe made by Comoy and it’s even marked with their shape number.
Interesting way to build a collection! Cool idea!
I have 3 each of Don Lou (hardwood), John Bessai, and Rich Lewis pipes.
The Lewis and Bessai pipes are very well made, and smoke great. Don Lou hardwoods are a little odd as far as shaping goes, but they smoke well.
I have a few private label pipes, some which the maker is known, others unknown.
The Lewis and Bessai pipes are very well made, and smoke great. Don Lou hardwoods are a little odd as far as shaping goes, but they smoke well.
I have a few private label pipes, some which the maker is known, others unknown.