Show Off Your LHS Pipes Here

[danielplainview]

I thought I posted a pic of this after I cleaned it up. I've had this one for a while now. Yet another Sterncrest. I love these old Sterncrest pipes. Excellent smokers.

Here is a link to the restoration if anyone wants to see what it looked like when I got it.
http://rebornpipes.com/2015/07/10/a-restored-lhs-certified-purex-95-squashed-tomato/

 

[tuold]

Nice! Masterful restoration. Beautiful curves on that pipe.

 

[owen]

Is there anything definitive on grades and what exactly does certified purex mean?

 

[tuold]

In 1924 L. Stern applied for a patent for a self cleaning pipe he called, "The Purex". I can't say for sure, but this became his premier line of pipes for that time period. As more lines were introduced subsequently the Purex remained as its own line with

the more expensive Sterncrests occupying the higher tiers. Here's a price list from a 1946 catalog:
Sterncrest Ultra-Fine $10.00

Sterncrest 14k $7.50

Sterncrest sterling $5.00

Certified Purex $3.50
Ten bucks in 1946 was equivalent to $122.00 in today's money, so none of these pipes were "cheap". There was at least one budget sub-brand called, "Stanhope". LHS boasted over 500 pipe shapes at one time and was the main supplier to the US Military in WWII.
Any additions and corrections to this information would be much appreciated.

 

[danielplainview]

Here are a few new editions to the Sterncrest collection. These are all silver band push stems. I have two more sent out right now for new stems. Some of these have a lot of miles on them since being restored. The bands are already starting to tarnish. I like to keep the patina on the silver and only clean them just enough to stop them from turning black.

 

[tuold]

Absolutely beautiful work. I'm glad you are rescuing them.

 

[davet]

Just scored this LHS Superfine and had to share it.

 

[danielplainview]

Nice haul dave t. LHS squat bulldogs don't pop up very often. That should clean up nicely.

 

[danielplainview]

Sterncrest FireThorn

Sterncrest bulldog

LHS Silver Circle patent era (circa 1924)

 

[newbroom]

dave g ...my 266 is very similar to the author you've restored. I see that the stems are different. On mine, the logo appears on the top of the stem. Also, my stem is more curved. The mortise areas also are different.

Mine is a Purex. Not sure what year it was made?

I smoke mine all the time. It's one of my best pipes.

 

[davet]

Very nice dave g, beautiful pipes.

 

[davet]

My newest addition, Superfine;

 

[tuold]

davet, I've got one just like that. You've inspired me to go out and burn some Anniversary Kake in it!

 

[davet]

It's a nice little pipe, needs some TLC though.

 

[danielplainview]

That cleaned up pretty nice. That's only the second LHS squat bulldog I've seen. Ok, the third, but it's on ebay for $89 used and abused. Tuold says it's my fault they are commanding higher prices now. :x

 

[davet]

Haven't touched this one yet, a little char around the rim, some small dings on the base of the bowl and the stem doesn't line up properly. It's got potential though.

 

[tuold]

@dave g says:

Tuold says it's my fault they are commanding higher prices now. :x

Exactly!
Actually, all the estate pipes on ebay now are about ten bucks higher than they were year ago. Last time I looked a few days ago I saw charred old Medico bowls without stems starting at $15.00 .

 

[danielplainview]

Haven't touched it yet

Isn't that the same Bulldog you posted above last week? It looks like you at least cleaned the stem up.
Well then it looks pretty good for a survivor.

 

[davet]

Same pipe, different angle maybe. The earlier picks were the sellers and it looks worse in some ways than it really is. I think it will clean up nice and it'll be a real looker.

 

[hawke]

A LHS Cavalier I just got.