Pre-WWII Comoy’s Virgin Briar #127

[uperepik]

When I found this I had to do a double take, took a chance hoping it was in good shape. Got it in the mail yesterday and couldn’t be more excited. 20’s early 30’s and in very good shape. if anyone has a better date late me know.

 

[dottiewarden]

Fabulous find, congrats!

 

[npod]

OMG! Super find. I know it will taste great. That aged briar ... nothing beats it! Love the stack/chimney shape. I’m jealous in a good way.

 

[ssjones]

That looks like a easy restoration, good choice! Sounds right on the dating, but a close-up of the nomenclature would seal the deal.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

Love it.. what a great shape!

Cant wait to see it polished up.

 

[uperepik]

I screwed up, it’s a 187, arched London made

 

[dmcmtk]

I screwed up, it’s a 187, arched London made

That's what I was about to say, the 127 was a more conventional billiard shape. Nice looking old Comoy's; a great find!

 

[ssjones]

Arched "London Made" started in the 20's, which I believe is also when the Virgin grade was introduced. Great find!

 

[doctorbob]

What a great pipe! I agree with the dating, and it looks like it will clean up really nicely.
I have the same shape stamped O'Gorman, with the circular 'MADE IN ENGLAND' stamp. Unusually, mine has the shape code of 17. Most Comoy seconds or private label pipes still use the standard Comoy shape number. There is some murky evidence that O'Gorman pipes weren't true seconds, but pipes made specifically for an Irish tobacconist. Mine does not have any fills, but does have 2-3 small sand pits on the front of the bowl.
You and I seem to have the same taste in pipes!
bob
PS- here is mine

 

[crashthegrey]

doctorbob, I prefer sand pits. Back then, fills were less popular, and people understood that perfection wasn't necessary. Fills were trying to appease the need for a perfect piece of wood, a total oxymoron in my mind.

 

[dmcmtk]

Now, what I want to see is shapes 187 and 188 together. Bob, nice looking pipe. I know someone with a couple of Wally Frank pipes that are very obviously Comoy's made pipes, that don't have the standard numbers either.

 

[doctorbob]

Now, what I want to see is shapes 187 and 188 together.

Me too, google images tells us that the 187 apparently came in two flavors. one has a shorter, more upright bowl with a longer shank, the other (which is what Uperepik has) is taller, more forward canted bowl with a shorter shank. All 188's that I have seen look like the second version of the 188.
Bob

 

[piffyr]

I know someone with a couple of Wally Frank pipes that are very obviously Comoy's made pipes, that don't have the standard numbers either.

The vast majority of pre-WWII Wally Frank pipes are Comoy-made. Some have Comoy's shape number stamping, some have Wally Frank's own number stamping and some have no shape stamp at all. Likewise with the COM. Some even have the Comoy COM stamp on the stem.
Here's a Wally Frank Jumbo that's obviously a Comoy 188 even though it doesn't bear any of that manufacturer's stamping (Wally Frank called it a "London Topper").

This one is likely of pre-war make, since this shape in this line doesn't show up in any of the post-war catalogs that I've seen.