I very nearly put in a bid. I am glad you bid it up for the sake of the hospice.I bid on this pipe, but didn't win it, which is fine with me, as I don't really need another pipe and I especially don't need one I was unlikely to smoke.
The pipe is an unsmoked Barling from the 1950's. The seller, a charity that benefits children, didn't mention that the pipe was unsmoked and I was damned if I wasn't going to get them some money for it.
So I did a reasonable bid for it, one that didn't guarantee my winning but high enough that the winner would have to spend some cash. All of the preceding bids were ridiculously low and I more than doubled what was being bid. The winner still got a good deal as the pipe is worth more than it realized. I just didn't want to get stuck with it. I wasn't surprised that the winner wasn't a dedicated pipe collector, but the type of bidder I refer to as a generalist. They always overpay.
The Barling Pipe Vintage Exel With Box & Bag Briar Root Hollingsworth VGC | eBay
Barling pipe. Hollingsworth - Birmingham. Briar root. Pipe and bag seems in Very good condition, little wear to the mouth end. With box and bag. Condition - box is a little faded. Q. Can you hold onto my order?.www.ebay.com
The price still seems like a heinous steal, especially considering it against the prices of the closest current English-made analogs (Dunhill Bruyere, and Ashton Sovereign pipes). Further, this pipe should have commanded a premium for its vintage and the fact that the marque is essentially dead.
In the end, I decided not to bid because the shape is not one I fancy and the chamber is too large. Even if I could bring myself to put fire to it, I would have too few occasions to smoke it sufficient to break it in before my demise.
