Need experts on Orlik Drier Briar

[hoppes]

Just finished restoring this nice little Orlik. I have several vintage Orlik pipes but can't find where this fits in. The name isn't in any of the historic data. Have looked in all the usual places. This has the brass circle on the stem,London Made on the left side, D9 on the right and a rather hefty stinger. The D doesn't match any grade that I can find. The shape number 9 is listed in early catalogues. So don't know if this is an earlier pipe or a recent production. It is a very nice piece of briar, has no fills or defects, is perfectly drilled and as the label says is "Drier Briar??". I think I'll smoke this one !! Please comment. Thanks, Hoppes

 

[jguss]

Hi Hoppes,

The Drier Briar was introduced by Orlik in mid-1959. The pipe was “specially recommended for the wet smoker”, and had a “streamlined filter made of one piece for easy removal and cleaning”. Its initial retail price was 30 shillings. Within a few years sandblast and dental versions were also being offered for sale. I’m not sure when the pipe was withdrawn from production but believe it was by the end of the 1960s. I’m reasonably sure the “D” on your pipe simply denotes the model (Drier Briar), but could confirm it when I have access to my records again after the weekend.

Jon

 

[mso489]

That's a handsome restoration. The 'before' looks like a kind of grungy old cooker, but now it's something of a beauty.

 

[hoppes]

Thanks mso489. I'm still learning the art of restoration. I love working with briar but one has to be rather finicky and precise to get a good result. Hoppes

 

[jpmcwjr]

And you did! Very nice work.

 

[pipesticks]

Beautiful job! I have that same pipe in the Orlik seconds line Royal Sovereign and it's a great smoker.....one of my favorites. Mine doesn't have the stinger though and I estimated mine around the 60's when I was doing the research. Enjoy!

 

[derekflint]

Job well done!!

 

[jensen]

The 1959 catalog have the Orlik Turbo pipe.

The 1965 catalog have the Drier briar - series letter D, DX for sandblast and DD for dental.

I have never seen a Drier briar here in Denmark althrough Orlik had a good market here for medium priced pipes ( De Luxe)

in the sixties.

I should have one Drier briar from ebay - but I can not find it.

 

[jensen]

By the way, Dennis Orlik wrote to me 8th June 1978: "All our pipes were previously stamped London Made because our factory was in London but in 1974 we moved our factory to Shoeburyness in Essex which explains why they are now stamped Made in England."

 

[bluegrassbrian]

Jensen you own a treasure trove of information.

 

[pipesticks]

Also, I think you nailed the color on the restoration. Pics are deceiving but your restored pipe is the exact same color finish as my little used Royal Sovereign. Again, nice job.