Pipe by Lee 1-Star Bent Billiard Cleanup

Log in

SmokingPipes.com Updates

Watch for Updates Twice a Week

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

Drucquers Banner

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

Parsimonious Piper

Can't Leave
Oct 12, 2019
355
1,019
I collect Pipe by Lee, who graded their briar 1-5 stars. I have one 5-star and lost an auction for a 4-star. Most of the pipes I see and own are 3-stars, with a handful of 2s. I’d begun to wonder whether they actually made any 1s or if they’d all simply been burned out and tossed…until I found this one, a diamond shanked bent billiard with interesting carving.

The coloration was very uneven, with a lot of grime.
31ED92F7-D960-46A1-B591-D265A69C8796.jpeg
The stem mildly oxidized…
C536D748-1E11-436F-9066-A0F649B36888.jpeg
The rim had some buildup but no significant char…
91EFB650-2572-4ED9-BB03-6EB876346108.jpeg
And a spot on one side had something caked in the carving.
14B46A5B-EA9C-41C9-88A9-AA64FE17F2A8.jpeg
While I soaked the stem in Briarville Stem Oxidation Remover—which does a decent job for light oxidation—I reamed the bowl and did a salt/alcohol bath. Then pipe cleaners and alcohol until the internals were clean.

For the stummel I grabbed a soft toothbrush and Murphy’s Oil Soap, and lightly scrubbed to remove the thick buildup and reveal the stain. After reassembly I finished the stem with micromesh, then hit the entirety with a bit of oil and lightly buffed.

The rim came out pretty clean.
3DC78D29-D16C-4A77-83D3-650EBA2EBA45.jpeg
So did the exterior. The fill material came out, revealing a shallow scratch across the carving. Repeated scrubbing would not remove the dark spot along the bottom. Inspection of the bowl shows it’s not a burnout, so I suspect that part of the briar simply took more stain or absorbed a lot of skin oils.
BE68FE7D-3004-493E-96C9-9D442D36DA7A.jpeg
Overall it turned out pretty nicely.
2DA483B4-D893-4C9B-9F20-084BE6B5E1BE.jpeg
527DBE17-66C0-4F3B-AF66-919E0ECA2C6E.jpeg
I still need to clock the stem slightly, but it smokes great. Not a stunning beauty, but what’s to be expected from their lowest grade? And it did two things for me as a collector: confirmed they actually made 1-star pipes, and filled a gap in my collection. The hunt continues!
 

Briar Lee

Lifer
Sep 4, 2021
6,578
22,659
Humansville Missouri
As our friend the Parsimonious Piper noted, some of us doubt the very existence of One Stars.

The vast majority of surviving Lee Star Grade pipes are of 7 or stamped stars. Five pointed stars are rare.

According to legend the unicorn One Star Grade pipes, if any were made, would be an early 7 pointed star 1946 pipe that would have been stamped Star Grade Pipe by Lee instead of Pipe by Lee, (early 1946 only) and would have been smooth!

There were four Lee production periods with three star types used.

The first 7 pointed star period.

The middle 5 pointed star period.

The last stamped star periods, with the very last fourth period Lee pipes having stamped stars, and cheap moulded push in stems and no screw stems.

In my experience about a third of Lees found today are early 7 point pipes, half are stamped stars (mostly screw stems) and only a few are the rare (and arguably highest quality) middle run 5 point stars and the lowest quality last push stem stamped star Lees.

My one Five Star grade, is the desirable middle run five pointed star series. Those are usually found more polished than earlier or later pipes.

When Lee switched from seven pointed to five pointed stars in the 1950’s he DOUBLED the lower grade Two Star grade price from five to ten dollars, and the ten dollar Three Star grade went from $10 to $15, and the ultra rare Four Star goes from $15 to $20, the Five Star remains $25. Essentially a Lee is now $5 per star.

So according to legend a One Star grade five pointed star machine carved (not smooth) Lee should be like a White Spot NOT FOR SALE not stamped as a Dunhill. It should not be. But there that one is.

Lee ran special deals.

I’ll bet there’s about a 1955 Lee catalog that features three One Star pipes for $10 and seven for $20, or something like that.

After 1946 the regular production cataloged Lee pipes started out at two, or sometimes three stars.

B446E300-6F3E-4257-8891-5B7859D5B738.jpeg7CC0C295-059C-4896-B1F9-CB0D563585A9.jpeg9FBB162A-B2F3-4752-BCDE-A1222FBE372C.jpeg
So, when observing a Star Grade Lee, which was The World’s Finest Pipe, never say never. Look for the Stars, the symbol of The World’s Finest Pipe, FIRST!!!

Hand that five pointed star carved screw stem Star Grade Lee to an out of work foreign pipe maker and say,,,,fake me this up Tommy.


He’s say you’re out of your blinking mind, old chap.:)
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Joe H and agogo513

agogo513

Lurker
Mar 9, 2024
8
14
I'm so glad I came across this thread, or I would never have known how extraordinary my collection truly is.

All this time, I assumed that the low-grade 1-five point star pipe was the most common one, so I often used it.
The 3-five point star billiard, since it has a filter, I’ve used occasionally—but it’s still in nearly brand new condition.
As for this 3-five point star bent billiard, I’ve always treasured it as a keepsake, and to this day, it remains completely unused, still in its original pristine state.

It seems I got the order of cherishing them backwards?
微信图片_20250721155037_24.jpg
微信图片_20250721155045_26.jpg
微信图片_20250721155053_27.jpg
As our friend the Parsimonious Piper noted, some of us doubt the very existence of One Stars.

The vast majority of surviving Lee Star Grade pipes are of 7 or stamped stars. Five pointed stars are rare.

According to legend the unicorn One Star Grade pipes, if any were made, would be an early 7 pointed star 1946 pipe that would have been stamped Star Grade Pipe by Lee instead of Pipe by Lee, (early 1946 only) and would have been smooth!

There were four Lee production periods with three star types used.

The first 7 pointed star period.

The middle 5 pointed star period.

The last stamped star periods, with the very last fourth period Lee pipes having stamped stars, and cheap moulded push in stems and no screw stems.

In my experience about a third of Lees found today are early 7 point pipes, half are stamped stars (mostly screw stems) and only a few are the rare (and arguably highest quality) middle run 5 point stars and the lowest quality last push stem stamped star Lees.

My one Five Star grade, is the desirable middle run five pointed star series. Those are usually found more polished than earlier or later pipes.

When Lee switched from seven pointed to five pointed stars in the 1950’s he DOUBLED the lower grade Two Star grade price from five to ten dollars, and the ten dollar Three Star grade went from $10 to $15, and the ultra rare Four Star goes from $15 to $20, the Five Star remains $25. Essentially a Lee is now $5 per star.

So according to legend a One Star grade five pointed star machine carved (not smooth) Lee should be like a White Spot NOT FOR SALE not stamped as a Dunhill. It should not be. But there that one is.

Lee ran special deals.

I’ll bet there’s about a 1955 Lee catalog that features three One Star pipes for $10 and seven for $20, or something like that.

After 1946 the regular production cataloged Lee pipes started out at two, or sometimes three stars.

View attachment 103031View attachment 103032View attachment 103033
So, when observing a Star Grade Lee, which was The World’s Finest Pipe, never say never. Look for the Stars, the symbol of The World’s Finest Pipe, FIRST!!!

Hand that five pointed star carved screw stem Star Grade Lee to an out of work foreign pipe maker and say,,,,fake me this up Tommy.


He’s say you’re out of your blinking mind, old chap.:)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Joe H

Briar Lee

Lifer
Sep 4, 2021
6,578
22,659
Humansville Missouri
I'm so glad I came across this thread, or I would never have known how extraordinary my collection truly is.

All this time, I assumed that the low-grade 1-five point star pipe was the most common one, so I often used it.
The 3-five point star billiard, since it has a filter, I’ve used occasionally—but it’s still in nearly brand new condition.
As for this 3-five point star bent billiard, I’ve always treasured it as a keepsake, and to this day, it remains completely unused, still in its original pristine state.

It seems I got the order of cherishing them backwards?
View attachment 405861
View attachment 405862
View attachment 405863

Since this thread, further research has convinced me that there were no 7 point gold inlaid One Stars.

Every reported One Star I’m aware of, is a second gen gold inlaid 5 point star.

Further, I have a theory that Truman’s prize freeze order in January 1951 led to the start of the stamped star series for the Lees at least as to Three Star and below, and when is the question. Kaywoodie went over to a three hole stinger about 1952. The last real Marxman pipes in the early fifties were machine fraised Benchmades and Jumbos with quickie carving, if any.

One Stars are likely the rarest survivors today. But rarity isn’t value. Desirability is value.

What I wonder is if any Four and Five Star Grade stamped star era pipes were made.

Maybe the top grades were all inlaid!
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: agogo513

agogo513

Lurker
Mar 9, 2024
8
14
Since this thread, further research has convinced me that there were no 7 point gold inlaid One Stars.

Every reported One Star I’m aware of, is a second gen gold inlaid 5 point star.

Further, I have a theory that Truman’s prize freeze order in January 1951 led to the start of the stamped star series for the Lees at least as to Three Star and below, and when is the question. Kaywoodie went over to a three hole stinger about 1952. The last real Marxman pipes in the early fifties were machine fraised Benchmades and Jumbos with quickie carving, if any.

One Stars are likely the rarest survivors today. But rarity isn’t value. Desirability is value.

What I wonder is if any Four and Five Star Grade stamped star era pipes were made.

Maybe the top grades were all inlaid!
After examining them closely, I can confirm that the one-star is inlaid, whereas the two three-star ones do not appear to be. As for the craftsmanship used in the three-star pipes, my knowledge is insufficient to make a definitive judgment. However, it’s clear—both visually and by touch—that stars are differ noticeably from the star inlaid on the one-star pipe.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Briar Lee

Briar Lee

Lifer
Sep 4, 2021
6,578
22,659
Humansville Missouri
After examining them closely, I can confirm that the one-star is inlaid, whereas the two three-star ones do not appear to be. As for the craftsmanship used in the three-star pipes, my knowledge is insufficient to make a definitive judgment. However, it’s clear—both visually and by touch—that stars are differ noticeably from the star inlaid on the one-star pipe.

I have a bunch of Three Star stamped stars and these can be divided into three rough periods.

The best ones, are like one day the shop foreman said stop making inlays. The rest of the pipe is top grade, inlaid five point star quality.

Then a little later, they use a Briarlee style disc mortise, instead of the hidden recessed Star Grade mortise. Quality slips.

Finally they are push stem and the stem is moulded plastic and there’s varnish on the briar and lots of fills —— but they smoke like Lees.

The last one they made, before they shut off the lights, was a good smoking factory pipe.
 
  • Like
Reactions: agogo513

Parsimonious Piper

Can't Leave
Oct 12, 2019
355
1,019
Since this thread, further research has convinced me that there were no 7 point gold inlaid One Stars.

Every reported One Star I’m aware of, is a second gen gold inlaid 5 point star.

Further, I have a theory that Truman’s prize freeze order in January 1951 led to the start of the stamped star series for the Lees at least as to Three Star and below, and when is the question. Kaywoodie went over to a three hole stinger about 1952. The last real Marxman pipes in the early fifties were machine fraised Benchmades and Jumbos with quickie carving, if any.

One Stars are likely the rarest survivors today. But rarity isn’t value. Desirability is value.

What I wonder is if any Four and Five Star Grade stamped star era pipes were made.

Maybe the top grades were all inlaid!
I’ve never seen a 7-pt 1 star pipe for sale, but they made at least one because they photographed it for the catalog I have. Of my eight 1 star pipes, four are 3rd Gen stamped, so they’re out there.
 

Briar Lee

Lifer
Sep 4, 2021
6,578
22,659
Humansville Missouri
I’ve never seen a 7-pt 1 star pipe for sale, but they made at least one because they photographed it for the catalog I have. Of my eight 1 star pipes, four are 3rd Gen stamped, so they’re out there.

A question —- I have some what I presume are early stamped stars that are fully high quality production in every way except, stamped stars instead of 5 point gold inlay.

Are your four Gen 3 One Stars full recessed mortise, screw stems?

Here’s my theory.

January 1951 the dad blasted gubbermint puts on a price freeze.

The draft boards start taking away workers at the same time the defense plants are offering lots of money for war work.

Young smokers are buying cigarettes anyway, and geezers are dying off, pipe sales are declining.

We know what Kaywoodie and Marxman and Weber did, they cheapened production.

And Mastercraft (or affiliated companies) buys almost everyone up and Grabow, alone survives as a large volume maker.

I’ve seen Italian Briarlees.

It was a long slide, to oblivion.
 
Last edited: