Interesting Completed Ebay Auctions - British Pipes

[georged]

Someone got a screamin deal, 3 patents and early post patent shells.

The catch being that legit Old Stuff is a collector thing, not a smoker thing, and all of those stems are 100% gone. Unrecoverable.

And collectors aren't hardwired to be happy with "approximation replacements", but want indistinguishable counterfeits.

 

[AroEnglish]

Anyone bringing this home?

VERY MINT! Peterson's GREAT EXPLORERS "DARWIN" SYSTEM IRISH Estate Pipe MUST SEE | eBay

VERY MINT! The original stem is pristine and the rim is in fantastic, crisp clean shape! If you know this series, you know that it is the one of the most collectible Peterson's out there, and this pipe is no exception.

www.ebay.com

 

[irishearl]

Anyone bringing this home?

VERY MINT! Peterson's GREAT EXPLORERS "DARWIN" SYSTEM IRISH Estate Pipe MUST SEE | eBay

VERY MINT! The original stem is pristine and the rim is in fantastic, crisp clean shape! If you know this series, you know that it is the one of the most collectible Peterson's out there, and this pipe is no exception.

www.ebay.com

What's with the "Great Explorers Series" part of the description? As far as I know the B42 shape wasn't part of that series and don't even get me started on the winning bid price.

 

[orlandofurioso]

Thank you Al, appreciated.
I'd much like to see this particular thread free from impurities.

I was not kidding

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

What's with the "Great Explorers Series" part of the description? As far as I know the B42 shape wasn't part of that series and don't even get me started on the winning bid price.

It wasn’t part of the great explorers series it was part of the Darwin Evolution series.

But this pipe was a first run Darwin stamped pipe, so that would account for the price.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

The catch being that legit Old Stuff is a collector thing, not a smoker thing, and all of those stems are 100% gone. Unrecoverable.

And collectors aren't hardwired to be happy with "approximation replacements", but want indistinguishable counterfeits.

Sounds like a commercial for stem service..

When your recently excavated early experimental era patent Shell Briar has a chew toy for a stem and you need an indistinguishable counterfeit! Call Georgie D! Today!

 

[runscott]

A couple of London-Hallmarked Petersons sold recently. The range I've seen so far is 1949-53, but I'm sure there's some extension on either end of those years. I picked up the bottom one and also have a 1950 205.

1949 London-HM'd Peterson 203

1953 London HM'd Peterson 218

 

[runscott]

Here’s one that I think went unnoticed due to the primary photo being blank. Some nice Britwood in there.

32 older Briar pipes | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 32 older Briar pipes at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Wow - there is some GREAT stuff in there!!!

 

[irishearl]

It wasn’t part of the great explorers series it was part of the Darwin Evolution series.

But this pipe was a first run Darwin stamped pipe, so that would account for the price.

I have a first run Darwin, though it's a standard.

 

[runscott]

The catch being that legit Old Stuff is a collector thing, not a smoker thing, and all of those stems are 100% gone. Unrecoverable.

And collectors aren't hardwired to be happy with "approximation replacements", but want indistinguishable counterfeits.

@georged - I will take your comment as a challenge and get to work on these quickly, then post the results

Regarding how long those were up - I studied all the photos before purchasing, so they were up 'long enough'. I have had COVID, so nothing much to do the last two weeks except play on the internet and restore pipes. Very frustrating, as I cannot currently smoke them!


That 1891 Kapp Bros meerschaum was a 'white whale' category pipe, as it was certainly carved by Charles Peterson himself. I can only remember one time asking a seller if he would sell a high-end pipe offline, then being put in the position of "What is your offer?" and having no idea how to respond. That pipe is almost priceless to a Peterson collector.

 

[georged]

@georged - I will take your comment as a challenge and get to work on these quickly, then post the results

Oxidation is a one way street. It's an atomic level change of the material that cannot be reversed.

The stems in that pic are "green" FAR past the surface. Probably around an eighth of an inch. Meaning "getting back to black" isn't possible without shrinking their dimensions a comical amount.

The pipes will still be smokable if the stems are left green and simply made shiny, of course, but will not appealing to knowledgeable collectors who understand the job is only half finished when they obtain the stummel. (They won't sell for much if you're looking to flip them, in other words.)

Here's the other half:

 

[runscott]

Oxidation is a one way street. It's an atomic level change of the material that cannot be reversed.

The stems in that pic are "green" FAR past the surface. Probably around an eighth of an inch. Meaning "getting back to black" isn't possible without shrinking their dimensions a comical amount.

The pipes will still be smokable if the stems are left green and simply made shiny, of course, but will not appealing to knowledgeable collectors who understand the job is only half finished when they obtain the stummel. (They won't sell for much if you're looking to flip them, in other words.)

Here's the other half:


View attachment 261890
View attachment 261891
View attachment 261892
View attachment 261893

I am now very sad, George. I will toss them in the garbage when they arrive, as I don't ever want to be accused of smoking a 'comical' pipe!

 

[runscott]

(They won't sell for much if you're looking to flip them, in other words.)

I have noticed that there is a bit of cynicism in this forum. I get it - it's hard to stomach anyone else getting a good deal if you think they're just in it for the money. If I had paid $800 for those pipes it would have been okay with everyone, as I then MUST be a collector with nothing but altruistic desires for the pipe-collecting community.

Yes, I love a good deal. Sell me a Ferndown in mint condition (or 'VERY Mint' condition) for $50 and I will probably clean it and flip it quickly, as their aesthetics don't impress me and I don't smoke them.

But I prefer to acquire pipes that I collect (Dunhills and Petes) that would be valuable if they were in great condition, but aren't. I get a thrill out of bringing them back to life. Such pipes are now gathering dust in boxes stacked in my spare bedroom, as I can't bring myself to sell a pipe that I put hours of planning and elbow grease into restoring. If I did, I'd probably get about ten cents per hour of labor if I even recouped the original purchase price.

I have over 500 pipes and constantly have grand plans of 'flipping' them down to a smokeable number. So if I do, and I make a buck or two, please just be happy for me.

 

[ashdigger]

I have noticed that there is a bit of cynicism in this forum. I get it - it's hard to stomach anyone else getting a good deal if you think they're just in it for the money. If I had paid $800 for those pipes it would have been okay with everyone, as I then MUST be a collector with nothing but altruistic desires for the pipe-collecting community.

Yes, I love a good deal. Sell me a Ferndown in mint condition (or 'VERY Mint' condition) for $50 and I will probably clean it and flip it quickly, as their aesthetics don't impress me and I don't smoke them.

But I prefer to acquire pipes that I collect (Dunhills and Petes) that would be valuable if they were in great condition, but aren't. I get a thrill out of bringing them back to life. Such pipes are now gathering dust in boxes stacked in my spare bedroom, as I can't bring myself to sell a pipe that I put hours of planning and elbow grease into restoring. If I did, I'd probably get about ten cents per hour of labor if I even recouped the original purchase price.

I have over 500 pipes and constantly have grand plans of 'flipping' them down to a smokeable number. So if I do, and I make a buck or two, please just be happy for me.

Sounds a bit misguided. I don’t think anyone gives a shit what you paid. Flip all you want. The main discussion was collectors.

So feel free to do what you do. Make a ton of money. Just describe the pipes honestly.

 

[runscott]

Sounds a bit misguided. I don’t think anyone gives a shit what you paid. Flip all you want. The main discussion was collectors.

So feel free to do what you do. Make a ton of money. Just describe the pipes honestly.

Woke up on the wrong side of the bed today?

 

[ashdigger]

Woke up on the wrong side of the bed today?

Okay, sure. Evidently you’re the only with a valid opinion.

My mistake for daring to comment on a topic the almighty Runscott has opined on.

It’ll NEVER happen again oh great and wise human.

 

[jaingorenard]

Yep, not to speak for him but I think George was just commenting on the condition of the stems, and the fact that if sanded down enough to remove the oxidation they will not look 'correct' and will reduce the value (all of which I think is indisputable).

 

[runscott]

Okay, sure. Evidently you’re the only with a valid opinion.

My mistake for daring to comment on a topic the almighty Runscott has opined on.

It’ll NEVER happen again oh great and wise human.

Get off your pedestal. No one gives a shit how valid anyone's opinion is.

And yeah, it won't happen again. As much knowledge as you have to share, you're better off on the 'ignore' list.

 

[runscott]

Yep, not to speak for him but I think George was just commenting on the condition of the stems, and the fact that if sanded down enough to remove the oxidation they will not look 'correct' and will reduce the value (all of which I think is indisputable).

Probably, but I've found that in this forum, if you even hint at disagreeing with George, someone's going to jump you. This time it was @ashdigger , but in the past I've disagreed with George and it's been someone else who's come to his rescue (secret: George doesn't need to be rescued).

The ironic thing is that George and I used to discuss pipe restoration in a Zoom meeting, and if I had an idea different from his, he listened and basically told me that there are many ways to skin a cat.

So no - I don't consider my opinion to be any more valid than anyone else's, and I didn't say it was - but yes, it's AS valid as anyone else's.

 

[AroEnglish]

So if I do, and I make a buck or two, please just be happy for me.

Never! I won't be happy until unless you make at least $3!