Need Advice From You Pipe Experts

[indianafrank]

I have a chance of purchasing the following items. But I have no idea of their worth. The pipes are all in good shape, meaning not broken, chipped or beat up in anyway.
He's asking $180 for the lot.
Any info from you experts would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance!
Frank
Vello-Bole honeycuredbriar Letters KBB inside a clover stamped Imported Briar on bottom straight pipe
Vello-Bole Imperial 3195B stamped cured with honey KBB inside a clover straight pipe
Willard imported briar stamped under Willard with leaf at base of bowl sloped pipe
Willard imported briar stamped under Willard straight pipe
Statesman with George Yale opposite side with Algerian Briar stamped on bottom straight pipe
Royal Yacht with imported briar stamped on bottom straight pipe .
Threaded briar bowl stamped imported Italy on plastic shaft straight pipe
Ajustomatic stamped on one side Willard imported briar on other side straight pipe
Doc Armstrong stamped Algerian Bruyere straight pipe
Vello-Bole Imperial stamped cured with real honey sloped pipe
Straight pipe briar bowl ? no markings
Sloped pipe with carved face of man with leaves around head and metal screen
VINTAGE 1930'S NYC Copper RUMIDOR CORP. TOBACCO CIGAR HUMIDOR

Made by Rumidor Corporation, New York City Stands 6.5" in height, with base measuring a diameter of 5.5". Copper colored metal on the exterior. Item has not been cleaned. Has original patina! Top rotates to control the flow of air into the chamber.
Wood 10 pipe holder with vintage glass tobacco jar with silver plate lid with flower design. Jar is in excellent condition and free of cracks or chips.

 

[aldecaker]

For $180, I would jump on it like a hobo on a ham sandwich.
(Not a pipe expert, BTW. Just sounds like a really good deal!)

 

[clickklick]

Each pipe value at $10 as well as the stand. The humidor is a bit more interesting. Probably a fair price overall.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

Me personally, id rather spend the same amount on 1 or 2 much nicer pipes.

 

[aldecaker]

To me, there is added value in the fact that it is a lot purchase; no wrangling with some fleabay schmuck over each individual purchase, or hitting 17 different antique shops to get that amount of goods.

 

[sablebrush52]

If you want to own these, buy the lot. If you don't want to own these, don't buy the lot. Price is maybe OK, depending on actual condition. Are these pipes that you would use? The Rumidor is about the only item of mild interest to me.

 

[philobeddoe]

The price seems fair, but I would rather spend $180.00 on one nice estate pipe.

 

[mso489]

I'm partial to buying items more selectively. It's likely that you would buy some of these items singly, but not all of them. So ending up with items you would not buy chisels away the value. Also, the pipe hobby tends toward accumulation anyway, and pretty soon, it approaches too much of a good thing, so as some have said, probably better to buy one or two higher quality pipes rather than a shipping box full of various items. You may have good reasons, and know this deal is for you, and I respect that. But from the information at hand, I vote no.

 

[indianafrank]

For $180, I would jump on it like a hobo on a ham sandwich.

LMAO :laughat:
[/quote]Me personally, id rather spend the same amount on 1 or 2 much nicer pipes.The price seems fair, but I would rather spend $180.00 on one nice estate pipe.

My intention would be not to keep them, but to sell them, if I could turn a profit.

 

[thomasw]

[I'd] rather spend the same amount on 1 or 2 much nicer pipes.

+1 ... Sometimes more is less or vice-versa.

 

[mothernaturewilleatusallforbreakfast]

My intention would be not to keep them, but to sell them, if I could turn a profit.

$180 would be high retail on the list. I'd offer under half, $75. You may be able to turn a profit then, maybe?

 

[tuold]

I like my old Yello Boles. The ones in your list seem to be all pre 1955. The Willards are common and usually not very high quality.

 

[crashthegrey]

If your goal is to turn a profit, I wouldn't spend more than $100 on these. Even that is a bit high. $180 is a bit high in general, but even if you wanted to keep them I'd still say less than $150. The humidor is the most interesting piece there. That and a Royal Yacht pipe might be amusing to some.

 

[crashthegrey]

Oh boy, on second thought, do you restore pipes? Those are in rough condition once I saw the pictures. $80 is probably too high even if you are great at restoration.

 

[indianafrank]

mothernature -

I'd offer under half, $75. You may be able to turn a profit then, maybe?

If I were to buy them I would definitely offer less.
crashthegrey -

Oh boy, on second thought, do you restore pipes? Those are in rough condition once I saw the pictures. $80 is probably too high even if you are great at restoration.

Nope. I don't restore. I just figured if I could buy them cheap enough I'd try to resell them one at a time or a few in a lot. I've been buying and selling on ebay since its inception. I've sold everything from old post cards, books, coins and old padlocks, to 5 figure items. But never tried to sell pipes.

 

[aldecaker]

I didn't see any pictures. If they're in rough shape, and you intend to re-sell them, I too would offer less. I was reading it as pipes in good shape you wanted to add to your rotation, with a rack and humidor as a bonus. Take these other guys' advice on the dollar amount if you are wanting to get money back out of them.

 

[mso489]

I know some regard the clean-up and restoration activities as recreational, but if you are figuring return on investment, you have to pay yourself, and not minimum wage. By the time you put in an hour or two, or more or much more, on each pipe, and the other items, this could chalk up quite an amount. You could feel like you'd made a little chunk of money, but if you figured in your labor, you might not break even. Just because you enjoy the work doesn't mean it's free in the scheme of things.