Old Bruyere Restoration

[gmwolford]

Last week I picked up four pipes from a guy who responded to a Craig's List ad I placed. None of them are spectacular but I only paid $20 for the bunch, and I probably over paid to be honest. But I didn't want to have made the trip to see them for nothing. Anyway, I have started on two, one awaits, and the the fourth was trash ("No, man, none of them are broken or anything. They're in real good shape and real old, from the 30-40s I think." Hardly…)
This first one is stamped only Bruyere over Garanit in a sort of oval pattern. Something is in between but the nomenclature is so light I can't make it out.

It took a lot of soaking and scrubbing and a bit of sanding to get the varnish off and the briar even close to even but it came out pretty good, IMHO.

I restained it a diluted dark brown which I like a lot. Some of the grain came through, which is what I was aiming for. This is one of the pipes that prompt my earlier thread on windcaps; I left it on and worked around it.
Haven't smoked if yet but am looking forward to trying her out.
BTW, if you happen to have an idea of who/when/where etc it was made I'd appreciate the info.

 

[gwtwdbss]

Wow, that turned out nice Greg!

 

[thrax]

Greg, killer..well done

 

[ssjones]

Excellent job and lovely pipe! I might guess that one is even older than the 1930's? Perhaps pre WWI?

 

[bubblehead33]

you did a great job on that pipe Greg! let us know how it smokes.

 

[rotschefeller]

Bruyere is the German word for "Briar" in case someone didn't know.
She turned out very nice, congrats.

 

[gmwolford]

Thanks guys for the comments and info. Maybe the guy was right afterall on the age of at least this one! lol. I am going to have to do more research on it it seems. It's a pretty small bowl, not really my "size", so it may make its way to someone else.
Roth, it's not missing anything; that's an odd angle showing part of the "vents" on the side. The cap is nailed on under the top, in the rim.
Would they have had stems of this type that early? It's a military mount, P-lip type, by the way.

 

[mthanded]

Great restore and would like to know what the history is if you ever find out what it is.

 

[joeahearn]

Amazing transformation.

 

[gmwolford]

Roth, that's a great thread you found! And it does look like my pipe. In fact, looking closer, I believe that's my fifth-great uncle Fritz Woolfhardt. And with that photo I should be able to sell it for 2-3 times its value!! :rofl:
All kidding aside, the more I learn the more enamored I'm becoming with the old gal. Thanks again for all the input (thus far).

 

[batdemon]

You did a great job cleaning her up. Hope she smokes well for you. :clap:

 

[mso489]

This and the Kaywoodie in another post, impressive. You might sell these as a line of estate pipes; I mean they're

one of a kind. Like all pipes, they are sculptures, but also pieces of history. You revive them from

scuzzy old cast-offs to beautiful historical pieces.

 

[hodirty]

Great job. Good luck with the rest.

 

[zdwebb12]

Great job. Looks like a totally different pipe. IMO that one was worth the $20.

 

[gmwolford]

Thanks again for the kind words. It's another I don't plan to sell and have become attached to. And I agree: this one was worth the price of the lot. However, I did restore the Carey Magic Inch and sold it for $11, I think, so I'm really only into this one for $9, and that's if I don't do anything with the last one! :puffpipe: