Interesting Completed Ebay Auctions - British Pipes

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ashdigger

Lifer
Jul 30, 2016
11,391
70,250
61
Vegas Baby!!!
Wow, Peterson prices are going thru the roof.

I watch Peterson prices.

Here’s my wild ass guess.

Ever since Laudisi bought Peterson and the quality and availability went up, more people are buying Pete’s. More people buying leads to more eBay sales. Because both new and estate are listed and compete.
 
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ashdigger

Lifer
Jul 30, 2016
11,391
70,250
61
Vegas Baby!!!
What did Pete meers used to go for?

I wonder if Laudisi will start doing Pete meers again.
Pete Meers used to go (even a year ago) for about $125 to $150.

The only way ANYBODY is going to produce meers is to have someone in Turkey specifically carve for them.

A law was passed in Turkey in the early seventies banning export of block Meerschaum (carving blocks)

The African Meerschaum mines have long closed.

The Isle of Man which produced Peterson Meers closed in the late 60’s.
 

AroEnglish

Rehabilitant
Jan 7, 2020
5,178
15,243
#62
Pete Meers used to go (even a year ago) for about $125 to $150.

The only way ANYBODY is going to produce meers is to have someone in Turkey specifically carve for them.

A law was passed in Turkey in the early seventies banning export of block Meerschaum (carving blocks)

The African Meerschaum mines have long closed.

The Isle of Man which produced Peterson Meers closed in the late 60’s.
Thanks for the info! I'll definitely wait to see if Pete meer prices go down.

Here's one that went in that range you mentioned but has been well used:


Not a meer but another stunning Pete:

 

ashdigger

Lifer
Jul 30, 2016
11,391
70,250
61
Vegas Baby!!!
Thanks for the info! I'll definitely wait to see if Pete meer prices go down.

Here's one that went in that range you mentioned but has been well used:


Not a meer but another stunning Pete:

Get an estate Meer. They are the easiest of all the pipes to “sanitize”.
 
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ashdigger

Lifer
Jul 30, 2016
11,391
70,250
61
Vegas Baby!!!
th
Thanks for the info! I'll definitely wait to see if Pete meer prices go down.

Here's one that went in that range you mentioned but has been well used:


Not a meer but another stunning Pete:

This just sold. I know because I purchased it

 

AroEnglish

Rehabilitant
Jan 7, 2020
5,178
15,243
#62
Dec 10, 2013
2,618
3,364
Nijmegen, the Netherlands
Thanks. Sure, here you go.

Stem
The oxidation did not look bad, but what was there did not want to leave. I soaked in an Oxiclean solution, overnight. Then scrubbed with Magic Eraser/alcohol, then 600 grit, then full micromesh progression. Basically, the stem got everything I could throw at it. It was tempting to make this a 'perfect' pipe, but I try to avoid such temptations, especially if it's never going to be sold. So I allowed three very tiny marks to remain, as opposed to filling with CA glue.

Stummel
The stummel was in great shape - it had the appearance of original finish, so I didn't want to lose any of it. The rim had more carbonization than I was happy with, and there was/is some nicking along the rim. I wanted to leave it as original as possible, so, after scraping off the rim, sanded lightly to remove most of the remaining char and roughness, but not enough to have to use a stain pen, and I didn't mess with the nicking. Then rubbed in B&A Balm to clean. Had to do that three times, but the B&A Balm cleans well and doesn't mess with the finish. I buffed by hand - didn't add any wax.
Thank you for sharing, this was a respectful approach and the outcome is wonderful.
 
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runscott

Lifer
Jun 3, 2020
1,294
2,842
Washington State
Thank you for sharing, this was a respectful approach and the outcome is wonderful.
Thanks - my restorations are as gentle as possible, with the goal that any work is minimal and toward originality. I've passed up many a great Peterson and Dunhill because I didn't feel that the ebay hack's restoration could be undone. One fellow gets such great old pipes that I offered to pay him the same price if he would NOT restore them.
 

greeneyes

Lifer
Jun 5, 2018
2,274
12,636
At the prices they went for, I'd say there isn't much margin for resale. These seemed to be collectors bidding collector prices. I can tell you, for my part, that the ones I managed to win won't be going to eBay.... at least not for a few decades, if I can help it.
Well, I'll have to eat my words. The other boxed lot has just shown up on eBay for quite a bit of money per pipe. I don't think they'll sell at those prices but one never knows.
 

sablebrush52

The Bard Of Barlings
Jun 15, 2013
21,015
50,362
Southern Oregon
jrs457.wixsite.com
Well, I'll have to eat my words. The other boxed lot has just shown up on eBay for quite a bit of money per pipe. I don't think they'll sell at those prices but one never knows.
A boxed set of what, for the rubes not in the inner circle? Presumably, the buyers also paid 20% surcharge to the auction house, and then there's taxes. So these would have to be quite rare to make much of anything after costing $700 to $800 apiece, but unsmoked chould fetch $1000 to $1500 apiece to someone who's interested in an unsmoked pipe. Once a match is applied, price drops by half.
 

jaingorenard

Part of the Furniture Now
Apr 11, 2022
763
3,438
Norwich, UK
Well, I'll have to eat my words. The other boxed lot has just shown up on eBay for quite a bit of money per pipe. I don't think they'll sell at those prices but one never knows.
I think they could well sell. Turns out there were a lot of Charles Maas pipes @Ahi Ka

Given my father's recent experiences, I wonder how often they'll sell, only to be re-listed after non-payment.
 

jaingorenard

Part of the Furniture Now
Apr 11, 2022
763
3,438
Norwich, UK
A boxed set of what, for the rubes not in the inner circle? Presumably, the buyers also paid 20% surcharge to the auction house, and then there's taxes. So these would have to be quite rare to make much of anything after costing $700 to $800 apiece, but unsmoked chould fetch $1000 to $1500 apiece to someone who's interested in an unsmoked pipe. Once a match is applied, price drops by half.
There were a number of Barlings, Loewes and GBDs in the auction. A Barling and Peterson from one specific boxed lot have ended up on eBay, along with a number of Charles Maas pipes, and another 20s meerschaum lined Peterson that was sold separately.
 
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sablebrush52

The Bard Of Barlings
Jun 15, 2013
21,015
50,362
Southern Oregon
jrs457.wixsite.com
There were a number of Barlings, Loewes and GBDs in the auction. A Barling and Peterson from one specific boxed lot have ended up on eBay, along with a number of Charles Maas pipes, and another 20s meerschaum lined Peterson that was sold separately.
I saw some of those this morning, looks like from the same antiques dealer. They're being offered for a flat price, not being auctioned.
I like seeing unsmoked antique pipes, but an not interested in buying any more of them. They're very cool little time machines and everyone should have at least one.
 

sablebrush52

The Bard Of Barlings
Jun 15, 2013
21,015
50,362
Southern Oregon
jrs457.wixsite.com
I think they could well sell. Turns out there were a lot of Charles Maas pipes @Ahi Ka

Given my father's recent experiences, I wonder how often they'll sell, only to be re-listed after non-payment.
That's always been a problem with eBay, and more recently a group of jokers from China were deliberately running up prices on pipe auctions and then bailing. I had some problems with beginners who didn't realize that winning an auction meant they were supposed to pay for it, so I set a policy that no one with less than 10 complete transactions would be eligible to bid without first contacting me for permission.