More Today's Restos 7/27/13 (Pics)

[captainsousie]

Busy again today. The last pipe got the better of me and I'll have to finish it sometime in the future. The poor little KB&B has seen better days but I can get past an uneven ream and rim dings for such an old piece of briar. They still need a wipe down, stems done and rims cleaned but that's nothing. I can do that while I'm retorting the next group or smoking tonight. Not much reaming to do with this group, just lots of internal tars and crap to get out.
Only 5 today: Top-Tanganyika meer. Love this beast. Next down-Astley's Windsor. Bad replacement stem and grungy rim but otherwise it wasn't too bad. Middle-KB&B Sicilia (pre-Kaywoodie). Beat up but good for the price. Second from bottom-BBB Own Make 307. Love this thing. Beautiful shape and silver band (silver needs work). Bottom-Mountbatten pot. Not sure what to think about this one. Guess I'll have to smoke it and find out.

Detail shot of the KB&B nomenclature.

And the one that defeated me today. Two rounds with a retort and no improvement. Guess I'll fight her tomorrow. I really would like to know who made it but not much chance of that. If you can figure it out, I'd be grateful. I do know that Carmignani was a tobacconist in Rome who had house pipes made by many different carvers and brands. Here she is. Her nomenclature reads "Carmignani Roma" in top and "Super Nature" on bottom with "86 Bis" next to the stem.

Now to go smoke my Edward's from yesterday.

 

[uberam3rica]

Nice! I like that meer!

 

[gwtwdbss]

That KBB Sicilia Dublin is very nice! You certainly have been busy.

 

[captainsousie]

You certainly have been busy.

Yes sir. I set the goal of 14 restorations from Friday through Sunday. I don't think I'll have much trouble completing them. I'm just really happy I get to smoke 2 pipes that are almost 100 years old.

 

[gwtwdbss]

I'm just really happy I get to smoke 2 pipes that are almost 100 years old.

That's awesome. I picked up a 1930's KBB the other day for English blends. I cheated as it's already restored. I can't wait to get home and fire it up. I also have my eye on a KBB Dublin that I may grab for flakes depending how the KBB pot treats me. I would like to do some restoration work myself one of these days if and when I ever get off the road.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/390626750621?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

 

[captainsousie]

That YB is beautiful. And from a great seller too. The shank mounted logo is one of the most sought after too. Yep, gonna be a great smoker I bet. If you do get into restos, give me a shout as I have found some great tricks.

I like that meer

Thanks. It's surprisingly light for a huge chunk of meerschaum. I decided to leave the outside a bit dirty as it adds to the character of the piece. It's African meer but it doesn't feel like it's undergone the calcification process. I guess I'll know by the coloring in a few years.

 

[gwtwdbss]

Cool, thanks Dave! It will be a while before I get into it but I certainly will give you a shout. I am not sure about the whole KBB, YB, Kaywoodie history. I guess I should look them up or hit the Kaywoodie forum sometime when I am bored. I am really clueless when it comes to this brand. I just thought it looked like a good and clean pipe for English.

 

[captainsousie]

Short version that leaves out a lot of stuff. KB&B is a very old company. Early 1919 comes along and KB&B offers up a Kaywoodie...success. A few years later changes company name to Kaywoodie Introduces Yello Bole as a line of seconds. The exception to the "seconds" rule in the early times is the Imperial which is costs more than the base Kaywoodie. Shank logos for either (club or circle) are sought after. You probably knew most of that but there you go.

 

[gwtwdbss]

No I didn't. Thanks for the info Dave. I knew KB&B, YB, and Kaywoodie were all part of the same company but that was the extent of my knowledge of this brand. I will read up more on them tomorrow. I bet it is a very interesting history.

 

[durham270]

Awesome job on that lot as well! I share your interest in KB&B company. I recently made a post about a few Rocky Briar pipes I plan on restoring. Link to post below.
http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/pre-kaywoodie-work-in-progress