Stanwell Shapes 62, 63, and 64. Differences?

[PLANofMAN]

(Seller's pic) Added another 64 to the collection. This one is from the 'Old Fashioned' series, which probably places the date of manufacture in the 1970's or '80's.

But it also has a factory sterling band, which is unusual for the 'Old Fashioned' line of pipes. Probably has a flaw in the stummel that is hidden by the band.

Tried digging up more info on the 'Old Fashioned' line, but came up blank. There doesn't seem to be very many Stanwell pipes with that moniker stamped on them.

 

[PLANofMAN]

Correction, there is no series name on the pipe. Just Stanwell, Made in Denmark, 64, and the sterling nomenclature, and some unfortunate dings from a past encounter with concrete.

 

[PLANofMAN]

I never did update this did I? The pipe above is part of Stanwell's 'Sterling' line, an old standby in their catalog and still produced today, albeit in Italy. It's considered one of the higher end lines. It, along with the 'Golden Contrast' and 'De Luxe' lines have delrin/Teflon inserts in the shank for a perfect fit every time.

I also added another 63M to my collection, this one a Danish made 'Brass Band.' the bit in the center of the brass band is Cumberland vulcanite, as is the matching Stanwell tamper. Both picked up at the pipe show in Vegas this last weekend, and it wasn't until the next day that I realized they matched.

This is the first 62/3/4 pipe I've seen with a polished inner rim. It's an interesting look.

...Just to clarify, the entire tamper and scraper/poker is made of brass and Cumberland vulcanite. Looks like wood. Is not wood.

Anyone know if Cumberland vulcanite AKA brindle was used as stem material for Stanwell pipes?
The little bit I've seen confirms they used it on the 'Golden S' series at the very least.

 

[PLANofMAN]

Here's an odd duck, and another pipe added to the collection. A reg. era 20M, designed by Sixten, a rather rare pipe, if the internet's lack of information or photos of the 20/20M is any guide.

It appears to be the exact same shape as the 63/64, but with the plateaux orientation sideways rather than vertical, leaving birdseye grain on the cheeks of the bowl. It's a 63 for those who like the shape, but dislike plateaux.

It's certainly seen better days, but doesn't appear to be in overly rough shape. Seller's pictures.

I don't know if 'handmade in Danmark' has the same meaning as 'benchmade,' or if that's something they commonly stamped on the pipes.

 

[woodsroad]

I have quite a few of 6x series, and love them all.
But the 62 remains my favorite.

 

[kcghost]

I guess the middle one would be the one most enjoyed by me. It has a larger both bowl than the others and it doesn't have as exaggerated plateau top. Hate plateau tops.

 

[PLANofMAN]

I guess the middle one would be the one most enjoyed by me. It has a larger both bowl than the others and it doesn't have as exaggerated plateau top. Hate plateau tops.

I wish everyone was as sensible as you. It would certainly drive prices down for those who are obsessed with the things.

The 63 and 64's can range across the whole spectrum of plateau types. You definitely wouldn't want to buy any of these models based off a generic placeholder image of a representative pipe.

The sterling banded one was so caked in lava, the cragginess, or lack thereof, was a complete mystery to me. Once cleaned up, it's one of the more subdued plateau tops I've seen on these pipes. It's probably why they felt the need to glam it up with a silver band. The other three match my taste in this shape better, both in the plateau and in the military mounts, but, much as it pains me to admit it, the sterling is the better smoker of the bunch; probably owing to it's more open draw, delrin mortise in the shank and traditional saddle stem.

I guess what I'm saying is that plateau is as natural as it gets, and each is as unique as a fingerprint, even in a factory made pipe. It's the lack of cookie cutter sameness that attracts me to them. To play devil's advocate, the novelty of seeing the 63 shape in a non-plateau variant is why I bought the 20 shape shown a few posts up.

 

[woodsroad]

Here's an odd duck, and another pipe added to the collection. A reg. era 20M, designed by Sixten, a rather rare pipe, if the internet's lack of information or photos of the 20/20M is any guide.

It appears to be the exact same shape as the 63/64, but with the plateaux orientation sideways rather than vertical, leaving birdseye grain on the cheeks of the bowl. It's a 63 for those who like the shape, but dislike plateaux.

It's certainly seen better days, but doesn't appear to be in overly rough shape. Seller's pictures.
View attachment 342686View attachment 342687View attachment 342688View attachment 342695
I don't know if 'handmade in Danmark' has the same meaning as 'benchmade,' or if that's something they commonly stamped on the pipes.

Yes, that’s a “Trainee Pipe”.
The new guy put the block in the fraser sideways.

 

[PLANofMAN]

Yes, that’s a “Trainee Pipe”.
The new guy put the block in the fraser sideways.

Lol.

The Sterling 64 I have feels like a trainee (or last pipe made on a Friday) pipe. Overly sanded/processed plateau and the back of the bowl isn't shaped properly. It neither follows the grain nor the typical pipe shape for 63/64's. It just needed another millimeter or two of sanding...

Smokes like a dream though.

 

[Terry Lennox]

I have owned (and sold) all three of the 6X shapes. You used to see them all the time. When the factory in Denmark was still producing pipes sites like SmokingPipes would have new batches of them every few weeks. Now you rarely find them on Ebay. It's so sad.

 

[PLANofMAN]

I have owned (and sold) all three of the 6X shapes. You used to see them all the time. When the factory in Denmark was still producing pipes sites like SmokingPipes would have new batches of them every few weeks. Now you rarely find them on Ebay. It's so sad.

The Italian versions are still around. The 62 and 63 at least. I still haven't figured out what makes a 64 a 64 and not a 63. I can confirm that the 20 is the base model for the 63 and 64. It's a slightly taller pipe.

As for finding them on eBay...
I've noticed that the search algorithm eBay uses kind of sucks for pipe searches, especially for "number" pipes like Stanwell's. Still, I see a new one listed every couple of weeks, unlike some other long discontinued numbers, like the aforementioned #20 bent Dublin and the #54 large peewit.

I suspect there will be oodles of the 60's series on eBay in the next 10 to 15 years, if the average age of pipe smokers I saw at the Las Vegas Pipe Show is typical. No offense, but this really is an old man's hobby. There's more pipes out there than lads to smoke them these days. It makes me both happy and sad. Happy, because I've been able to get some amazing pipes for pennies on the dollar, sad, because it's likely my generation (Gen X) will be the last to really embrace pipe smoking at all.

 

[Terry Lennox]

The Italian versions are still around. The 62 and 63 at least. I still haven't figured out what makes a 64 a 64 and not a 63. I can confirm that the 20 is the base model for the 63 and 64. It's a slightly taller pipe.

As for finding them on eBay...
I've noticed that the search algorithm eBay uses kind of sucks for pipe searches, especially for "number" pipes like Stanwell's. Still, I see a new one listed every couple of weeks, unlike some other long discontinued numbers, like the aforementioned #20 bent Dublin and the #54 large peewit.

I suspect there will be oodles of the 60's series on eBay in the next 10 to 15 years, if the average age of pipe smokers I saw at the Las Vegas Pipe Show is typical. No offense, but this really is an old man's hobby. There's more pipes out there than lads to smoke them these days. It makes me both happy and sad. Happy, because I've been able to get some amazing pipes for pennies on the dollar, sad, because it's likely my generation (Gen X) will be the last to really embrace pipe smoking at all.

Agree. There are many out there. A lot unsmoked too. Collectors who can't bring themselves to smoke a new old stock piece. Those will one day re-enter the market for sure.

The 64 I had was larger than the 63. Taller and just a bigger piece of briar overall.

 

[woodsroad]

There's a nice grouping of Stanwell pipes, including a 62 and possibly two 63's on eBay right now. Fair price, too.

 

[PLANofMAN]

There's a nice grouping of Stanwell pipes, including a 62 and possibly two 63's on eBay right now. Fair price, too.

Yeah, if you wanted all those other pipes. Lucky for me, those 63's or 64's don't have military mounts so the temptation isn't there. I'm only two pipes shy of having a seven day set of 63/64's, so I'm being a bit pickier.

A Stanwell Nordic 63M with a Cumberland stem would be an instant buy. The problem, as I see it, is that military mounts are there to cover the shortcomings (literally) of the briar. They don't appear on a ton of the higher grades. A Golden 'S' 63M would be happy making. Or a 'Flora Danica.'