New vs Estate Pipes?

[rockymtnsmoker]

Man. So much wisdom gathered on this forum. Like BRs approach above. Sounds like he's been biding his time in the shallow end of the pool and doing some learning before he jumps into the deep end. I jumped in and am realizing I need to work on some basic stokes before I start swimming - I'll stop beating that metaphor to death now :P
Also have to say that I'm jealous so many of you seem to have access to boxes of "estate" pipes at garage sales and stuff. Love the idea of restoring something to its former grandeur. I have stareted visiting thrift shops here and have yet to see a single pipe. Not sure if that reflects Calgary's youth or lack of pipe culture, or if I just need to start looking harder. Did notice an ad a posted on Kijiji locally saying he buys used pipes - maybe he has cornered the market :?

 

[rockymtnsmoker]

BB and 10. You were posting as I was typing above. Thanks for your responses. Just discovered Briar Blues recently, Mike, and sent a hello to your info email address a day or so ago. We'll be talking soon, I hope. A forum member in Red Deer and I had a brief PM exchange about seeing if there's interest in getting an Alberta club going. Will keep following that thread. There's a handful of guys from the province posting here. I have yet to share a bowl with anyone but birds and squirrels!. So happy to have found this vibrant online community, at least.
Thanks again to everyone adding to this conversation. Totally awesome.

 

[cigrmaster]

Rocky, I buy both new and estate pipes and have great pipes from both segments. I recently sent off 8 pipes to be sold for me because they no longer fit into the style of pipes I like to smoke. All are very good pipes but my tastes have changed. I like smaller pipes now so the larger ones needed to go. I like a certain style of stem so the pipes that do not fit that category are out the door. There are so many reasons why someone culls their herd and yes it can be that they don't like the way it smokes. In this journey your tastes will most likely develop and change and what you love to smoke now, could be completely different 10 years from now.
Now when it comes to buying estate pipes, you need to do your homework if you want to get great deals on great smoking pipes. You need to understand why you like the way a certain pipe smokes, you need to know the size of the pipes and the shapes of the pipes you like. For new people ebay can be a daunting challenge, which is why I would recommend using an online estate dealer until you understand your preferences and understand the market. Right now Upshalls are soft as are the Autographs Mike mentioned. There are some great pipes out there for really good deals but knowing which ones they are takes a lot of knowledge.
My last great score on Ebay was for a Castello Collection Occhio di Pernice Dublin which has a retail of around 630.00 and I only paid 187 delivered. I knew before I bid what original retail was, I knew from past experience how Castello's smoke, I know I love the Dublin shape and I knew the size of the pipe fit into what I enjoy. I knew from watching many auctions what these particular Castello's were going for( 250-400) and I had the most I wanted to spend in my mind. The stars aligned and I got a great deal on a great smoking pipe. I would never pay the retail price for a new one,so being able to smoke a great pipe for the third of it's original cost is only possible buying estates. In closing if you are willing to put the time in and gain knowledge, anyone can get great deals on great pipes. This site is a great resource because you can ask us what we think about any pipe you might be interested in, the people here are more than willing to share their knowledge with you.

 

[rockymtnsmoker]

I am surrounded by pipe yodas :worship: thanks for the insights in to the mind of the collector, Cig, this is all just so much gold. Looking forward to continuing this journey - and somehow staying married in the process. Suspect I'm not alone in having the Mrs think this is a little nutty.

 

[cigrmaster]

rocky, the best way to keep peace with the wife is to never say no to her shoes or clothing or anything else she wants to spend money on. Trust me it works.

 

[pruss]

It also doesn't hurt to find a couple tobaccos that have a room note she enjoys...
-- Pat

 

[rockymtnsmoker]

So, I should roll over on the $1,200 British shorthair kitten that was her answer to the "maybe our six-year old daughter would enjoy a pet" discussion? (wish I was joking) :crying:

 

[rockymtnsmoker]

I'm an outdoor smoker, Pat. Which may suck a bit when it hits -40 here in Cow Town come February.

 

[mso489]

Here's a minority report: I've bought all of my pipes new. Some of them are over 30 years old,

some well over 30 years old, so in a sense they are one-owner estate pipes. You keep them long

enough, and they attain the benefits of estate pipes. I guess I like the idea of applying wear to a pipe

that is all my own. I like smoking my two pipes that were bought unfinished years ago but now have

beautiful gold brown "finishes." That said, I do admire people who buy reconditioned estate pipes,

or who buy them thoroughly used and recondition them, which is almost like making a pipe in the

sense that you have to make a lot of decisions and perhaps replace or rehab a stem, or rehab the bowl.

The term "estate" pipe is a euphemism, of course, as is estate jewelry. No one has to die to make an

estate item, merely pass it along. It's a term of art in sales, and that's just fine with me. My wife

prefers to describe a ring I bought her at a store as an "estate" ring, and I find it a charming fib.

I don't take it too literally.

 

[pruss]

So, I should roll over on the $1,200 British shorthair kitten

Yeah, and the next time we come to Alberta I'll introduce you to our $1300 purebred Flat Coat retriever. I'm a "find a rescue pet" kinda guy... my wonderful wife had a different view.
-- Pat

 

[latbomber]

I share mso489's view, a new pipe to me is the same as a new pair of boots or a guitar. It's fun to go through the process of wearing it in and making it your own. I've bought a couple estates and have always been "weirded out" by thinking of who previously owned it. I also find losing auctions frustrating :wink:

 

[numbersix]

Some excellent advice here!
On a different topic: Rocky - how are things with the flooding in your area? Hope all is well by you.

 

[crazypipe]

I like estates if there clean and ready to smoke , The pipe rack does this ::

 

[rockymtnsmoker]

Thanks 6, we're so far high and dry, but lots of friends have been evacuated. Things are starting to feel a little apocalyptic here. Heading out shortly to get some emergency supplies... and maybe get in a smoke while I'm out.
Pat and Roth, I'm with you on the rescue animal idea. Definitely trying to steer Good Ship Kitty Aquisition in that direction.

 

[numbersix]

Thanks 6, we're so far high and dry, but lots of friends have been evacuated. Things are starting to feel a little apocalyptic here. Heading out shortly to get some emergency supplies... and maybe get in a smoke while I'm out.

Really glad to hear it - hope you stay high and dry.

 

[ciderguy]

I buy pipes that speak to me and that I can afford. Most of the time this ends up being estates. I have a fondness for Ropp Cherrywoods and Savinelli de Luxe Milano (not the ones with the perspex). Neither are made anymore, so I must purchase them as estates.

 

[mso489]

All of my cats have been rescues. The latest two littermate brothers were loaded with charm

as kittens but turned into seeming pedigree Maine Coons, although right out of a drain pipe

where rescuers thought they would drown with the first heavy rain. They are the sweetest

natured most companionable animals. Spend time with the animals you are thinking about,

and see if they "choose you." Our other cat walked up a driveway in Long Island, where my

wife lived, and now she curls up in my neck. Of course, we all know, the greatest lie in the

English language is two words: "Free kitten." P.S. I grew up with a great water dog, mixed,

but that's a long exciting story. George.

 

[andrew]

I have stareted visiting thrift shops here and have yet to see a single pipe

Yes, I had that same problem, then one day I was looking around a thrift shop for pipes, the lady asked me if I was looking for anything, I said tobacco pipes, and out from under the counter she pulled out a box with about 50 of them. It's the only thrift shop I've ever seen more than one pipe in at a time. I should probably go visit it soon, they'll go through these dry spells, like I'd cleaned out all their nice ones mostly, then there were about 4 or 5 left for a few months, then I went on my birthday and they'd gotten like 50 new ones and I acquired the nicest pipes of my collection from that stash. All from the same estate they'd recieved.

 

[allan]

Tenns
I am so jealous that your professor was friends with Einstein, one of the people in history I am most amazed with. Did he ever discuss him in class?

 

[tennsmoker]

Allan: No, Dr. Whitelaw was a very private man, and never mentioned his friendship or knowledge of the great Einstein. We all (those who took his classes) thought that he couldn't discuss that relationship because of what the two had worked on over the years. I don't know if that is true or not, but that was the feeling at the time.
The word around campus, too, was that from time to time the feds would arrive, swoop Dr. Whitelaw up and he'd be away for several days. Again, the word was that he was off with Einstein and other smart people working on some sort of national important thing. The majority of all that was just a few years before I arrived. But on one occassion, that did happen during my time in his classroom. He was just mysteriously gone for several days. One of his professor buddies, a philosopher prof, taught his classes for the time. All very strange.
His classes were just amazing. I was the dumbest of the lot. Dr. Whitelaw did not suffer fools lightly, so I labored long and hard and had a very difficult time in his class.
At night as I'd walk past his lab (his classroom was in his very large laboratory beneath the ROTC building), lights flashed and loud classical music reverberated. He loved Bach, Mozart, Brhams, etc. It was like something out of a mad scientist scene in a B movie, only Dr. Whitelaw was as serious as a heartbeat.
As I said, I was not one of the brightest bulbs in his classroom. I eventually dropped out of the science program and rushed over to the English Dept. where I found a lovely home of books and writers.
The first professor to congratulate me when I graduated was Dr. Whitelaw. "I didn't think you were going to make it," he told me.