Savinelli Autograph Question

[wyfbane]

Have any of you seen a Savinelli Autograph with a Lucite stem that did not have the autograph marking? Particularly in the 4's and 5's.
I am still very new to this pipe addiction and worry about getting "took".
Thank you,
M

 

[cigrmaster]

wyfbane, welcome to the forum. If you have any pictures it would be a lot easier to help. In my experience Autographs all have the logo on the stem and many have vulcanite stems as well. If it is an older one the logo could have been buffed off. Who is the seller, is it from ebay or a online dealer? There are many ebay dealers with great reputations, but there are also many who don't.

 

[wyfbane]

I will try to get a picture. I am at work. (Shhh) It is an estate pipe and I don't recall seeing the signature on there.
Thank you for the warm welcome. I try to do lots of research before I post things online. I looked around the web and all the 4's and 5's I saw had black (vulcanite, right?) stems with the logo. That is what prompted my inquiry.
Thank you!
M

 

[kcvet67]

rothnh called it.
I have about 20 Autographs, mostly from the pre-filter vulcanite era. I think they started using acrylic sometime in the 1990s. Several of the vulcanite stems have the logo completely worn/buffed away and several more have logos that are VERY faint. All have black stems (even the acrylic ones).
I have never seen an Autograph with an acrylic stem that had the logo worn away. Autographs nearly always have a very distinctive scultured look to the stem. The style varied over the years and, I suspect, from one carver to another but the look is unmistakable.
Here's a good example of what to avoid:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LIGHTLY-USED-SAVINELLI-AUTOGRAPH-SAND-BLAST-PIPE-140-/161011719293?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item257d0bdc7d

The stem is a replacement and not a very good replacement. The seller refers to the value of a 000 grade Autograph, implying that this grade 5 might be worth as much.
There are a lot of nice Autograph 4s & 5s in the $75 to $100 price range, take the time to look carefully and you can find a real treasure.

 

[wyfbane]

Thank you for the intel! That was indeed the pipe I was looking at but didnt bid. I am however scouring the web for deals and may ask more questions.
M

 

[ssjones]

Hey, thanks for that info kcvet67. I only knew filtered Autographs were made with acrylic stems. I restored a vulcanite stemmed Autograph for another forum member last year. That was my first time to hold an Autograph and I was very impressed with the pipe. I've been keeping any eye out ever since, waiting for the right one to come along.

 

[kcvet67]

Al, one thing to keep in mind is that not every pipe with Achille Savinelli's signature on the stem is an Autograph. The "Collection" series also uses it and I've seen them on ebay misidentified as Autographs. It's easy to spot them, they have a small metal plate on the shank engraved with the year of production.

http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/savinelli/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=120747
They're good quality pipes, but IMO not as good as the Autograph.

 

[ssjones]

Ah, read and learn, thanks kcvet!

 

[weezell]

I restored a vulcanite stemmed Autograph for another forum member last year. HMMmmmm,who might that be??Thanks again Brother,and hope things find you well!Dave

 

[trailspike48]

I bought and own only one Savinelli Autograph, I found a Grade 000 in somewhat dirty condition. It is pre 1983, which I believe is the year they changed from a vucanite/no filter stem, to the acrylic stem with a filter. I had mine cleaned by Mike Myers. It is now in great condition, and I've been a little intimidated to light it up. I am thinking of finding a nice estate Autograph in a lower grade. Here is the one I have, I contacted Savinelli for the box, it is not original.

 

[weezell]

My Sav is the second from the left..

 

[ssjones]

Ah yes, those are all beauties Dave! When I smoke my GBD 9676, I think of you!