My 100$ Dunhill

[Honkytonk Man]

Hm.

The shoulder between the tenon and stem face doesn't look like the tenon is a glued-in replacement.

That it is offset side-to-side is strange, though, and so is the way the button extends sideways past (is wider than) the bite zone. That is not how Dunhill made them even in their sloppiest production years.

Now I'm thinking that the stem came from a different pipe, and was partially modified to fit this one in a "close counts" sort of way.

The shoulder between the tenon and stem face doesn't look like the tenon is a glued-in replacement.

From what I've learned, it appears to be a replacement stem. No chamfer where the tenon meets the shoulder, unless of course it was modified for this pipe.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

Do new Dunhill/The White Spot pipes have the 45 degree bevel where the tenon meets the stem face, or is that only on older Dunhill pipes? If the bevel is no longer used, when did it stop being done?

 

[milk]

Would have to agree with George & Jesse.
Not the pipe's original stem.

But if you're happy with it...for100 bucks, well not too shabby.

I think I will try to find someone who may like it better. I’m not in love with it. It’s been a learning experience though. What I’m confused about is who made this stem. It has the white dot, it’s a nice vulcanite stem that was used/enjoyed by someone quite a bit. It actually feels noticeably different/better quality. I mean I really noticed that the stem seems to be a good quality stem. But is it a Dunhill stem? It has the dot.

 

[sasquatch]

Any fool can drill a hole in a stem and fill it with something white.

 

[milk]

Any fool can drill a hole in a stem and fill it with something white.

Well I did compare the button, based on an earlier comment, to buttons on pictures of Dunhill stems and this button seems wrong. So there’s that. Yeah, I assume from there the dot can be made. Maybe there’s a way to compare that too.

 

[AJL67]

Any fool can drill a hole in a stem and fill it with something white.

Thank you, i find my people dint get enough credit.

 

[milk]

Thank you, i find my people dint get enough credit.

There’s a joke in there somewhere.

 

[telescopes]

You have a replacement stem easily made by an authorized Dunhill fabricator

 

[anotherbob]

I've seen more then a few pipes where one stem breaks and a stem from another pipe gets used. I bet that's what happened here. I could be wrong. Though that would be my guess if this was a game show.

 

[milk]

You have a replacement stem easily made by an authorized Dunhill fabricator

It does seem like the stem isn’t from Dunhill itself. It doesn’t look like a Dunhill stem from studying the button. This is Japan. Maybe Dunhill authorized someone to make a replacement?

I've seen more then a few pipes where one stem breaks and a stem from another pipe gets used. I bet that's what happened here. I could be wrong. Though that would be my guess if this was a game show.

The only confusing thing is that it doesn’t quite look like a real Dunhill stem. The button looks wrong. But this pipe was enjoyed for many years, including the stem. It’s very curious. I’m sure now it’s a ‘75 Dunhill. Not 2015. I wonder what happened to the original stem but this one seems like it was used w/this pipe for many years.

 

[Grangerous]

If your shame becomes too unbearable, you may take this sword.

 

[telescopes]

It does seem like the stem isn’t from Dunhill itself. It doesn’t look like a Dunhill stem from studying the button. This is Japan. Maybe Dunhill authorized someone to make a replacement?

The only confusing thing is that it doesn’t quite look like a real Dunhill stem. The button looks wrong. But this pipe was enjoyed for many years, including the stem. It’s very curious. I’m sure now it’s a ‘75 Dunhill. Not 2015. I wonder what happened to the original stem but this one seems like it was used w/this pipe for many years.

Rich at Briarville has made many stems for Dunhill. His stems have been inspected by Dunhill and have passed muster. You may want to contact him for a replacement stem made to that pipe. Personally, if I had an issue with any of the seven Dunhill's I smoke, I wouldn't hesitate to contact him.

 

[georged]

...inspected by Dunhill and have passed muster.

The bar is not set at "collector grade" height, however.

They allow shank leveling and tape-thickness-height stem face overlap, for example.

Either of which screams replacement.

They also allow an un-radiused button/bite zone convergence angle, a too-pointed button face profile, an improperly radiused funnel & slot, and (if applicable) the ABSENCE of the 45-degree tenon/stem face connection found on pre-1970's pipes.

All instant replacement giveaways.

In short, the old phrase "close enough for government work" applies.

Fine for tobacco access device users who happen to like Dunhills and are happy with an 80% or so match---which is doubtless the majority of Dunhill smokers---but NOT the sort of workmanship that retains the value of a collectable.

I'm mentioning it because the "Dunhill Approved Repair Shop" phrase has caused many owners to unwittingly submit their pipes for destruction in collectable value terms (via shank leveling), and/or end up with a stem they are disappointed with.

 

[milk]

The bar is not set at "collector grade" height, however.

They allow shank leveling and tape-thickness-height stem face overlap, for example.

Either of which screams replacement.

They also allow an un-radiused button/bite zone convergence angle, a too-pointed button face profile, an improperly radiused funnel & slot, and (if applicable) the ABSENCE of the 45-degree tenon/stem face connection found on pre-1970's pipes.

All instant replacement giveaways.

In short, the old phrase "close enough for government work" applies.

Fine for tobacco access device users who happen to like Dunhills and are happy with an 80% or so match---which is doubtless the majority of Dunhill smokers---but NOT the sort of workmanship that retains the value of a collectable.

I'm mentioning it because the "Dunhill Approved Repair Shop" phrase has caused many owners to unwittingly submit their pipes for destruction in collectable value terms (via shank leveling), and/or end up with a stem they are disappointed with.

Being in Japan, I wonder if Tsuge might have been authorized to do this? Or another of the three or four or so internationally well-known Japanese artisans. What’s an educated guess? I’m guessing that this stem has been used w/this pipe for decades so this was done decades ago. I will likely sell this pipe here in Japan as I’m not in love with it. I think I did an OK job cleaning and “restoring” it. I’m just OK at that. But I got it looking pretty nice I think (many here could do better). If anyone would like to answer: would YOU price this like smokingpipes prices their replacement stem-ed Dun-s? Maybe a little less? I feel like the person who sold this to me took advantage a bit but I blame myself for not pursuing a gut instinct I had looking at the photo. I don’t want to do the same to someone else.

 

[milk]

If your shame becomes too unbearable, you may take this sword.
View attachment 195782

I do feel like a bit of a dope but I’m used to it.

 

[georged]

Being in Japan, I wonder if Tsuge might have been authorized to do this? Or another of the three or four or so internationally well-known Japanese artisans.

They almost certainly don't do repair work for anything but their own stuff (and usually not even that).

Why? A completely different mind-set, skill set, and tools are required for repair work, and the nature of the "market" has a built-in pay ceiling that's much lower than spending the same amount of time making a new pipe.

Here's a brief discussion about the subject that will explain in more detail:

Pricing repair work - pipemakersforum.com

 

[milk]

They almost certainly don't do repair work for anything but their own stuff (and usually not even that).

Why? A completely different mind-set, skill set, and tools are required for repair work, and the nature of the "market" has a built-in pay ceiling that's much lower than spending the same amount of time making a new pipe.

Here's a brief discussion about the subject that will explain in more detail:

Pricing repair work - pipemakersforum.com

Right. I’m thinking it could be just the work of a dealer. There is a shop in Tokyo that generally fixes pipes. They do banding too. They dealt Dunhills for sure. Maybe they were authorized to do this. I could ask them but it’s pretty hard to get straight answers in Japan sometimes. If a shop doesn’t want to answer something they may answer in a way that is just confounding, especially if they feel you might be asking them to take responsibility for something.

 

[anotherbob]

Right. I’m thinking it could be just the work of a dealer. There is a shop in Tokyo that generally fixes pipes. They do banding too. They dealt Dunhills for sure. Maybe they were authorized to do this. I could ask them but it’s pretty hard to get straight answers in Japan sometimes. If a shop doesn’t want to answer something they may answer in a way that is just confounding, especially if they feel you might be asking them to take responsibility for something.

sounds like most places

 

[telescopes]

The bar is not set at "collector grade" height, however.

They allow shank leveling and tape-thickness-height stem face overlap, for example.

Either of which screams replacement.

They also allow an un-radiused button/bite zone convergence angle, a too-pointed button face profile, an improperly radiused funnel & slot, and (if applicable) the ABSENCE of the 45-degree tenon/stem face connection found on pre-1970's pipes.

All instant replacement giveaways.

In short, the old phrase "close enough for government work" applies.

Fine for tobacco access device users who happen to like Dunhills and are happy with an 80% or so match---which is doubtless the majority of Dunhill smokers---but NOT the sort of workmanship that retains the value of a collectable.

I'm mentioning it because the "Dunhill Approved Repair Shop" phrase has caused many owners to unwittingly submit their pipes for destruction in collectable value terms (via shank leveling), and/or end up with a stem they are disappointed with.

George, I agree with everything you just said. My Dunhills are pipes. Just that. I smoke them and I need them to be functional and work. If I had a 1930s or 20s Dunhill, I might be more concerned. I suppose my 1940s Dunhills will meet the criteria of collectibles someday. But you are right. If a collector is concerned about value in terms of collecting, they need to pay attention to what you just said. When I wrote my statement, I was thinking about esthetics, only in terms of me not being bothered about fit and finish. If that makes my sense.

 

[milk]

I've seen more then a few pipes where one stem breaks and a stem from another pipe gets used. I bet that's what happened here. I could be wrong. Though that would be my guess if this was a game show.

I’m beginning to think so. This looks like a stem from a different pipe or a poorly made replacement.