Inherited Pipe Collection Questions

[Chasing Embers]

Something like this.
https://youtu.be/TuJN8HBOQoQ

 

[ndlaw]

Pretty incredible. So I would assume, given variations in wood grain, etc., that no two pipes would be "exactly" the same?

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

This is going to sound like an insanely stupid question: when these pipes say hand made, does that mean they were literally carved, by hand, out of a single piece of wood?

That's not a stupid question at all. It does in fact mean they were hand shaped. Some, like the more traditional billiard shapes (the straight pipes in your photos) were likely turned on a lathe. But the big freehands (Ben Wades, Preben Holmes, etc.) were likely shaped by hand on a sanding disc or belt out of briar wood (actually the Heath Tree,or Erica arborea), with additional use of rasps and files. Some pipe makers do indeed carve them out completely with hand tools. I use only wood rasps and files to shape. And like you said, they truly are works of art. What some people can do with a block of briar is amazing to me.

 

[Chasing Embers]

So I would assume, given variations in wood grain, etc., that no two pipes would be "exactly" the same?

Exactly. Even pipes carved in the exact same shape and dimensions are going to have differences.

 

[dmcmtk]

Which pipe is the Benner?
https://pipedia.org/wiki/Benner

 

[ndlaw]

This is the one labeled "Benner":

 

[metalheadycigarguy]

That's a very impressive collection. Your Grandfather had good taste in pipes. I would wipe them off with a cloth as previously suggested and display them with pride. Any pipe smoker would love to have that collection. If you ever take up pipe smoking, you'll be way ahead of the game with that collection.

 

[jpmcwjr]

You might also apply a thin coating of mineral oil to the stems to retard further oxidation- and it will look a bit better too.

 

[fnord]

Ndlaw:
Like the others have written your grandfather had great taste and it appears there's more of his DNA on the Preben Holm's: that would be the gray, crusty residue on the mouthpieces.
Holm was a masterful Danish carver and he was savvy enough to be in the forefront of the Danish explosion in the U.S. during the 60's. He later bought the great English marque, Ben Wade, and employed as young men, the superb Danish carvers commanding the highest prices today. De mortuis nil nisi bonum aside, Holm drank himself to death and lost his wife and kiddos in the process. Sad story to be sure.
The Benner, Dmcmtk asked about, is just beautiful. Benner was a protege of the great Karl Eric Ottendahl who was, in turn, a protege of Holm so it all gets pretty incestuous with those amazing Dane carvers. Your Jobeys aren't slouches either: that Jobey Dansk was made by Karl Eric as well.
I have one of my grandfather's pipes sitting before me in his favorite ashtray. You have a treasure chest in front of you. We're both fortunate to have those memories. Grab that Savinelli or Dunhill polishing cloth and enjoy them for the works of art that they've always been.
Fnord

 

[ndlaw]

Thank you, all, for the information! I have ordered a polishing cloth and will look into mineral salts for the stems (silly question: I am assuming the stem is the part you put in your mouth?). Do the Danes have some special history in pipe making, or is it the case there were just a few prominent Danish makers in the mid-20th century?
I have them all nicely arranged on a rack behind my desk. Now when I work, every now and then a slight scent of tobacco wafts over. It's a nice reminder of him

 

[metalheadycigarguy]

Pipe makers from different countries/regions tend to have their own style for crafting pipes (ie Danish, Italian, British, etc.) Each country/region has well known carvers, and many pipe smokers collect certain pipes by certain makers. It seems your grandfather took a liking to the Danish style pipes, and collected some nice pipes by some well known carvers. If you go to Pipedia you can look up the history of the different pipe carvers/makers.
https://pipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

 

[ndlaw]

So I was going through more of my grandfather's things and the good news: I found two more pipes! The bad news, well, see for yourself:
First pipe is another Preben Holm, listed as "Fancy" "100" and "C5." Unfortunately, the stem is broken off in the lower part of the pipe:

The second pipe is labeled "Søren" and "hand-carved." At some point the past, alas, some great force smote the pipe:

With the first pipe, assuming I can get the stem out of the pipe, is it even possible to find a Preben Holm stem of the correct design anymore?
With the second pipe, I am guessing there is not much that can be done...

 

[briarbuda48]

Both of these pipes can be repaired. Especially the one with the broken stem. Mike Myers at Walker Pipe Repair did an outstanding job on a Brian Ruthenberg XXL I have. The bottom one will be more extensive but should come out fine.