Info About This Pipe... Good Deal Or Bad Deal

[jkruer]

I am new to this hobby/addiction. My collection includes a Stanwell Silkebrun 207, a Stanwell Sterling Brown 11, and a couple Missouri Meerschaums. All have been purchased new. I recently purchased my first estate pipe from ebay and am hoping I got a good pipe at a good price. However, I cannot find anything about the pipe, other than what was in the description of the auction. I have searched for more info, and can find the line, but nothing that looks like the one I got.
I have not received it in hand so can only provide the completed auction info. Can someone help?
Bad deal, good deal, great deal?
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/ITALIAN-ESTATE-PIPE-CASTELLO-TRADEMARK-GREAT-LINE-/361406764166
Thanks for any info.
Capitalization corrected- Rule 9

 

[pruss]

Hi there, welcome to the forums!
I can't tell you whether your deal was good or bad, because I can only see that the vendor accepted your best offer, and I can only see three photos of the pipe. When I'm buying a pipe I want to see pictures of the smoking chamber, the mortise and tenon, close ups of the button area, and close ups of both sides of the stem near the bit.
What I can tell you is that Castellos are wonderful pipes, and if your new pipe lives up to their reputation then this pipe will likely become the belle of the ball among your current rotation. I have a Castello from the 1970s which I bought as an estate pipe for $175 and it was worth every penny.
In fact, I am looking to expand the Castellos in my collection because of how much I enjoy my new-to-me pipe.
Keep us posted, and keep on posting.
-- Pat

 

[jkruer]

I ended up paying $165 for it.
I will be sure to post pics when I have it in hand to give a better visual.

 

[clickklick]

Probably a fair price. From the 3 photos is looks like the pipe has been overbuffed to hell and back. Shouldn't affect smoking quality, but it is a buyer beware market.

 

[jkruer]

So not a great deal, but not a bad deal either.
I will post pics upon receipt to get further feedback.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Re the original pix: I am always concerned when photos are not in focus and the lighting is from any angle but more or less behind the camera. Good luck! Love to see good photos when you get a chance.

 

[shanelktown]

The bright side the seller has good feedback....eBay is such a trouble shoot sometimes you get studs and then well the duds.

 

[jkruer]

I really liked the shape of this one. I thought it had good looking lines. So we will see what we get.

 

[newbroom]

If it smokes like its reputation, I'd say you did just fine.

 

[clickklick]

I realize I was looking at the pics without the zoom in feature. I agree with white wolf that the stampings are still crisp, but I do think the top of the bowl is a bit overbuffed, and to me it looks like someone buffed the bite zone behind the button quite a bit to remove teeth chatter. I stand corrected on the entire thing being overbuffed.
Other than that it shows normal dings and dents from use. Should be a good smoker, so none of this really matters unless you find something internal to the tobacco chamber that results in catastrophe.

 

[jpmcwjr]

The color of pipes doesn't cause the photo to be out of focus. Nor does it excuse poor lighting. Just sloppy—or conniving—photography.

 

[jkruer]

Got it a day early.
Now i have to figure out how to post the pics

 

[jkruer]

 

[jkruer]

My take is that it is a pipe that has been used, but not abused. I just don't know a lot about the history, age, value, etc. about it.
I am excited to hear the feedback though.

 

[clickklick]

You got a good deal! Enjoy!

 

[gloucesterman]

A good deal is when you get the pipe you liked at the price you were willing to pay. In this case you got it at below market value which makes it a sweet deal. It has been buffed but not enough to significantly damage the nomenclature. I'd say you did rather well. Enjoy

 

[jkruer]

Any way to identify age?

 

[jkruer]

Awesome info. Thanks. I am trying to keep notes about anything that I obtain, for the future when I start losing my memory.

 

[jkruer]

Thanks everyone for all of the input. I got the same/similar info from who I will call my "mentor". Just trying to get all the info I can get.

 

[disinformatique]

It's a Castello Great Line and costs an arm and a leg usually.