Is There A Decade That Most of Your Pipes are From?

[mikethompson]

If you have a larger pipe collection, is there a certain decade or period that you seem to gravitate to?

I ask because every time I browse the usual suspects for estates to clean up, pipes from the 1950s or 60s seem to jump out at me. Even if I get a pipe without knowing the date, if I dig a little I find its from generally that time.

Am I alone in this?

 

[F4RM3R]

It seems like most of mine are from the 50/60s. I think that's just the last real heyday of pipes and mass production of them. For me it's not really about my personal tastes but more about what I can get my hands on in flea markets/antique stores where I usually look for pipes.

 

[sablebrush52]

The majority are 20th century and to refine that more, first half of the 20th century. I do have a fair amount from both the 19th and 21st centuries. Decade? What's that?

 

[mso489]

Not much of a historical pipe owner. Only a few estates. The pipes I've bought new, some date from the 1970's, a few from the 80's I think. The majority were purchased new between 2002 to present.

 

[augiebd]

The majority are 20th century and to refine that more, first half of the 20th century. I do have a fair amount from both the 19th and 21st centuries. Decade? What's that?

Mine also seem to span more half a century than particular decades. I have the most from the second half of the 20th century, a fair amount from the 21st century and some from the first half of the 20th century.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Never bothered investigating the age of mine.

 

[condorlover1]

1850s through to about 1905/1910. Like chasingembers unless it's got a hall marked silver band or a name in the case I don't pay it much mind - I mean they are look the same and are made from meerschaum!

 

[olkofri]

2010's. I always buy brand new.

 

[alaskanpiper]

Majority new, but of the couple dozen estates I have most are from either after 2000 or before 1970.

 

[cigrmaster]

Out of my 55 artisan made pipes most are from 2006 and later. I do own some older British wood that I enjoy smoking.

 

[peregrinus]

Dates on briars don’t matter as much as many wish to believe, one way or another. But that’s not the OP question.
Of those that I own that can be reliabley dated, or even approximated, a handful are pre WWII, the majority are 50’s to 60’s and another handful are 70’s to 80’s.

 

[olkofri]

Actually, even though I buy brand new, I do happen to have a pipe from the 1960's: a made-in-London Orlik/Old Royal from a batch that was made, stored, and forgotten, and found again in this decade and sold. My local B&M got some pipes from that batch and that's how I ended up with one.

 

[augiebd]

Actually, even though I buy brand new, I do happen to have a pipe from the 1960's: a made-in-London Orlik/Old Royal from a batch that was made, stored, and forgotten, and found again in this decade and sold. My local B&M got some pipes from that batch and that's how I ended up with one.

I find these stories of NOS pipes that were set aside, forgotten and then re-discovered to be fascinating. I hope to one day acquire a pipe in this fashion.

 

[whsergent]

Most of the ones i smoke often are pre 1980's to 1918 (a hallmarked gbd) and are estates.
Most are probably mid 20th century. I like the sizes and shapes of that era.

 

[Parsimonious Piper]

Mid 1940s to early 1960s, as that‘s the timeframe the manufacturer I collect (Pipes by Lee) was in business.

 

[trubka2]

I don't really know, but I think I've mostly got 60s-80s (the cheap decades). Eventually, I want to have the whole chronological range represented.

 

[whsergent]

Dates on briars don’t matter as much as many wish to believe, one way or another. But that’s not the OP question.

What do people beleive either way generally?

I think pipes of the mid to early 20th are likely well drilled, (or they might not have survived) classicly styled, well broken in, and generally made with good briar, since there was more of it around back then for a cheaper price.

 

[mikethompson]

What do people beleive either way generally?

I think it boils down to individual pipe makers having 'golden ages' that are more sought out. Consider the value of a 1955 Dunhill and a 2005 Dunhill just as an example. More people will value the older pipe.

Maybe this only applies to factory made pipes though.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

The majority of my collection is from recent commissions or new buys. But, my Hilsons are all from the 60's to 70's, but I have no idea what date anymore than that. I don't really care for the new Hilsons very much, since the Texan bought them out. When I look at a new Hilson, I am just assured that some thing are better left to die naturally and with grace.

 

[condorlover1]

19th and early 20th century meerschaum seem to be better quality meerschaum and once you get used to the amber stems they seem to smoke better than their modern iterations.