Restored This Dr. Grabow Commodore - Pic Heavy

[shikano53]

So about a month ago I put a bid in on a group of 10 Dr. Grabow pipes on Ebay. To my surprise I won. I paid $42.00 for these ten and decided to start on the Commodore as the first subject to restore. I should have taken a few more 'before' pics on this one but I will do so on the following restorations.

A plastic stinger fell out when I first un-threaded the stem. I am not sure when Dr. Grabow replaced the aluminum stinger with the plastic stingers, but from reading, I see that the Commodore was first introduced circa 1964. I'm thinking this pipe is more circa 1980's or younger. Some of these pipes were so caked up that I could barely get my small Leatherman knife blade into the tobacco chamber to begin the de-caking process.Anyway, I cleaned it up and through and through using my various tools etc. and it now passes a pipe cleaner soaked in high test spirits cleanly. Not sure what to smoke in it to start but maybe London Mix. Enjoy!

Before

After

 

[agnosticpipe]

Looks great Chris! Are you going to start restoring pipes instead of making pipes now?

 

[unkleyoda]

Nice

 

[cortezattic]

Nice grab on the lot of pipes! The resto looks 1st rate. :clap:

Thanks for posting all the pix. I hope you continue the thread to showcase the other restotations.

 

[shikano53]

Thanks folks, I appreciate your kind comments.

Orley, I'm still going to continue to make but I couldn't resist the temptation to get these and try to see what happens with them.

I'll keep adding to the thread as I finish each one.

 

[dottiewarden]

Nice work! I'm glad you picked my favorite of the lot to clean up first. :clap:

 

[artificialme]

Very nice restoration indeed. Hope those pipes serve you well

 

[Chasing Embers]

Outstanding job Chris! :clap: Careful though, restorations are highly addictive! :P

 

[danielplainview]

Nicely done. She turned out real nice. I have some Commodore’s and they all smoke very well. That looks to be a correct scoop style stinger from the Commodore era. It should be aluminum not plastic. Drop it in a shot glass of alcohol over night.

 

[mikethompson]

Wow great job!
What is this, restoration season? A number of good restoration threads lately

 

[oldmansmoking]

You did a great job, 9 to go!

 

[shikano53]

Thanks Folks,

Dave that is what I thought as well. I will try that and see what appears.

 

[npod]

Great pics. Thanks for sharing. Strong work.

 

[shikano53]

Dave, thanks for that information! You are correct. :clap:

I cleaned it up and it is aluminum.

 

[mso489]

Hey, I like the discovery of the stinger material. That pipe is perhaps even better than original. The Dr. Grabow people often give you a lot to work with. The ones I've bought new are rock solid and really nicely finished, it's worth it to me to buy the Royalton with the acrylic stem, since they are quality pipes all around. Good pipes for $4.20 apiece is perfection. I'm glad these ten fell into your hands. Dr. Grabow maintains that factory pride; it's like they are producing brand new 1950's American cars.

 

[newbroom]

Unfortunately, that stinger has been compromised, by the looks. I actually like using them when they're either one piece as in my older Linkman's models, or firmly in place so that you don't have to 'deal' with em coming out.

Great resto and I already know that you are impressed with it's function.

 

[snoopy311]

Very nice restoration and great pick-up of some classic pipes.

 

[shikano53]

Thanks folks, and as Mike mentioned; it smokes most awesome!

Here is resto-2 A Grand Duke.

This is before - I forgot to take more 'before' shots.

After - Sadly the Nomenclature was very weak going into this restoration and it is all but gone now.

 

[johnnyiii]

Indeed to add to the rest... awesome job. You made that first one worthy of a formal night out. ; )
I once saw a used pipe for sale that had a 30year old bowl pack inside. The guy said I don't smoke and I thought it would add to the nostalgia. I said EWWWW.

 

[newbroom]

Yeah! You got your money's worth! Nice job! Pure smoking pleasure right there. Classic.

This is getting good. I am hoping for a group picture, eventually, of the whole batch completed.

A 10 day set of Grabows! Carumba!