James Upshall - Am I Missing Something?

[Commander McBragg]

It looks to be a newer upshall in my opinion

 

[sablebrush52]

Over the years I have owned a few Upshall's. They all smoked fine, but they used the cheap sulfur laden vulcanite for their stems. If you looked at them funny they would oxidize. I decided they were too much works especially since I could get the high quality German vulcanite for roughly the same cost.

True that. They used the same source as Charatan.

 

[telescopes]

True that. They used the same source as Charatan.

I spoke with Briarworks about getting replacement stems for both brands. They can fabricate the stem with the logo as well. This includes the comfort stem for Charatans. This means you have a decent stem for everyday smoking and the original one for resale if you sell the pipe. It’s a great solution, I think.

 

[craig61a]

I had Rich Lewis do mine… He’s the authorized repair guy. And he does fabulous work for a reasonable price.

And he’s a few miles down the road from me…

 

[Commander McBragg]

Would any of you take a chance on buying an S grade early years Upshall if it had a repair band covering a crack? The stem has been replaced by an acrylic also

 

[grimpuffer]

They know the market. I fairly recently traded in two pipes to SP and was embarrassed by what they offered me. Of course I took the offer, embarrassment being no match for greed. I was further embarrassed by their asking price when they finally went up for sale. I thought they had really f'ed up. One sold almost instantly, and the other within a week. These were not of a premium marque. I was thinking in two figures, they in three. Markets move.

I know this is an older comment, but I was going to send a few in to them as well (have done so before), but then I read their stipulations.

If I remember correctly, if you wanted store credit, you would get 55% of what they valued the pipe at and less than that for cash in hand.

I get they have to make money and whatnot, but if I know I have a pipe worth $200-$250, I just dont think I could take $100 for it and call it good now. Guess it depends on how bad you want the cash/credit though.

 

[Commander McBragg]

I’m thinking about getting another upshall. But this one has the slightest crack at the end of the with a silver bank. I know the value is gone, but it should still be a good smoke correct? Would any Of you take the chance? The price is great and the shape of it other than of course the crack of course. Just curious if i should pass or not. Oh and it has a replacement acrylic stem.

 

[OzPiper]

I’m thinking about getting another upshall. But this one has the slightest crack at the end of the with a silver bank. I know the value is gone, but it should still be a good smoke correct? Would any Of you take the chance? The price is great and the shape of it other than of course the crack of course. Just curious if i should pass or not. Oh and it has a replacement acrylic stem. View attachment 165468

If you really like it. And the price is right .
And you're not thinking of possible resale down the track.

The cracked shank, repair band and replacement stem would drop the price quite substantially, I would think.

I have bought quite a few damaged pipes because I've liked something about them. Of course I did not pay over the odds for them. And I don't care about any resale value they may, or may not have.

 

[Briar Lee]

I love this forum because I learn something new about every day about pipes.

I known since I was a child that most of the finest things available at any price are hand made in England.

Every suit I’ve worn for forty years, is basically a tailor made copy of the genuine article made on Saville Row.

I’ve heard of James Upshall, but didn’t realize how righteous the company was.

James Upshall - Pipedia

pipedia.org

My quest for an Upshall begins today.

Thanks for all the information.

 

[Commander McBragg]

If you really like it. And the price is right .
And you're not thinking of possible resale down the track.

The cracked shank, repair band and replacement stem would drop the price quite substantially, I would think.

I have bought quite a few damaged pipes because I've liked something about them. Of course I did not pay over the odds for them. And I don't care about any resale value they may, or may not have.

@OzPiper thanks for your reply! I just really like it. im not looking to ever sell my upshalls. The kids or wife can deal with that one day.

 

[Commander McBragg]

I love this forum because I learn something new about every day about pipes.

I known since I was a child that most of the finest things available at any price are hand made in England.

Every suit I’ve worn for forty years, is basically a tailor made copy of the genuine article made on Saville Row.

I’ve heard of James Upshall, but didn’t realize how righteous the company was.

James Upshall - Pipedia

pipedia.org

My quest for an Upshall begins today.

Thanks for all the information.

I stumbled across an upshall about 2 months ago and since, I also, was on the same mission as you are. i now have the magnificent 7. since you are starting off there’s a really nice estate Tilshead for 90$ on the Bay right now.

 

[simong]

I’m thinking about getting another upshall. But this one has the slightest crack at the end of the with a silver bank. I know the value is gone, but it should still be a good smoke correct? Would any Of you take the chance? The price is great and the shape of it other than of course the crack of course. Just curious if i should pass or not. Oh and it has a replacement acrylic stem. View attachment 165468

Like you I'd be tempted but that split appears to be travelling. I'd pass.....plenty more fish in the sea.

 

[Commander McBragg]

Like you I'd be tempted but that split appears to be travelling. I'd pass.....plenty more fish in the sea.

Holy cow, I never saw that? Thanks so much for pointing it out. I looked at those pictures a dozen times and never noticed that crack.

 

[cigrmaster]

True that. They used the same source as Charatan.

That was the reason I sold off any Charatans I owned. I did like their double comfort stem though, it was an easy clench.

 

[Briar Lee]

I was able to buy a Tilshead for $75 on eBay.

It certainly appears to be a well made, beautifully stained and highly styled creation.

Every pipe maker since the first one has exactly the same problems as Lee dealt with 75 years ago, and James Upshall deals with today.

The raw material for the cheapest and most expensive pipe in the maker’s line up is exactly the same.


Lee had to select his briar so that a dollar Briarlee looked like a bargain and so did a twenty five dollar Five Star. The first task of any consumer product is to catch a customer.

Just like Lee, on the base model Tilshead the customer in the London shop got a beautiful pipe, made from the same materials as the best one there, by the same hands, only with stain and probably a few fills.

They’ll all smoke the same.

Notice that really high end pipes like a Lee or James Upshall are not glossy. They glow rather than shine. That’s as true for their cheapest as their best.

Is there any way to date an Upshall?

 

[craig61a]

I was able to buy a Tilshead for $75 on eBay.

View attachment 165654View attachment 165655View attachment 165656It certainly appears to be a well made, beautifully stained and highly styled creation.

Every pipe maker since the first one has exactly the same problems as Lee dealt with 75 years ago, and James Upshall deals with today.

The raw material for the cheapest and most expensive pipe in the maker’s line up is exactly the same.

Lee had to select his briar so that a dollar Briarlee looked like a bargain and so did a twenty five dollar Five Star. The first task of any consumer product is to catch a customer.

Just like Lee, on the base model Tilshead the customer in the London shop got a beautiful pipe, made from the same materials as the best one there, by the same hands, only with stain and probably a few fills.

They’ll all smoke the same.

Notice that really high end pipes like a Lee or James Upshall are not glossy. They glow rather than shine. That’s as true for their cheapest as their best.

Is there any way to date an Upshall?

Tilshead is a second line. There would have been some minor flaw, even if it was something as insignificant as a sand pit in the chamber.

All Tilshead pipes were stained, seconds and the Upshall line. Any sand pits on the Tilsheads (seconds) were not filled, they were left as is.

A Tilshead is levels above most other pipes in terms of quality.

I'm guessing that the unique finish sanding was Barry's work.

Most pipes are not finished to a high polish. And any comparison of Tilsheads to a Lee is like comparing a Yugo to a Lamborghini.

 

[OzPiper]

I love this forum because I learn something new about every day about pipes.

I’ve heard of James Upshall, but didn’t realize how righteous the company was.

My quest for an Upshall begins today.

@Briar Lee
At the top of the Forum Home page, just below "Forum Rules and Terminology"
is "Ken Barnes Posts on Charatan and Upshall"

This is firsthand information on Upshall (and Charatan) you will likely never find anywhere else.

 

[craig61a]

And Tilshead got the best briar available back in the day. Tilshead Pipe Company is no more. They've been out of business for several years.

 

[craig61a]

Just waiting for somebody to opine on the crappy vulcanite once again...

 

[OzPiper]

Tilshead is a second line. There would have been some minor flaw, even if it was something as insignificant as a sand pit in the chamber.

any comparison of Tilsheads to a Lee is like comparing a Yugo to a Lamborghini.

Well put