"Super DeLuxe"?

[SBC]

Just picked this up --



You can't see it in this picture, but right above the cursive script "DeLuxe" it says "Super" (also in cursive script).

My default assumption was that it's a Dr. Grabow, but here are four reasons that I'm not so sure --

(1) Although everybody knows about Dr. Grabow "DeLuxe"s, I cannot find anything anywhere about a "Super DeLuxe." Did they ever make a "Super"?

(2) There is no "Dr. Grabow" marking anywhere on this pipe. Every Dr. Grabow pipe I've seen has been marked as such.

(3) The stem does not have the Dr. Grabow "spade" symbol on it.

(4) Every Dr. Grabow pipe I've seen has a threaded, screw-in tenon. But this pipe has a standard, non-threaded mortise and tenon.

So what is this?

 

[JimInks]

Is there a model number on the shank?

 

[Waning Embers]

So what is this?

A Kryptonian briar.

 

[Briar Lee]

Just picked this up --

View attachment 104931

You can't see it in this picture, but right above the cursive script "DeLuxe" it says "Super" (also in cursive script).

My default assumption was that it's a Dr. Grabow, but here are four reasons that I'm not so sure --

(1) Although everybody knows about Dr. Grabow "DeLuxe"s, I cannot find anything anywhere about a "Super DeLuxe." Did they ever make a "Super"?

(2) There is no "Dr. Grabow" marking anywhere on this pipe. Every Dr. Grabow pipe I've seen has been marked as such.

(3) The stem does not have the Dr. Grabow "spade" symbol on it.

(4) Every Dr. Grabow pipe I've seen has a threaded, screw-in tenon. But this pipe has a standard, non-threaded mortise and tenon.

So what is this?

I agree it’s not a Dr Grabow or it would be stamped as one.

It’s American factory smoker made in the USA, and may have been sold mail order by the Wally Frank catalog.

If it was made overseas and imported it would be stamped France, Italy, or maybe even England. It was machine fraized, and probably has a molded stem,

The push tenon is likely the cheapest way to make a factory pipe in volume production. Somebody more schooled in pipe making might join in, but the last American factory smokers abandoned the screw stem for a push stem, likely to hold down costs.

Super Deluxe in fancy cursive script meant the factory had a die built for it. Those were never cheap.

I’d guess Super Deluxe means your pipe has good grain and no fills and it didn’t have to be stained nearly black.

Some fellow was so proud of it, years ago, he didn’t smoke it to death.

It’s a shame those old pipes can’t talk, or the stories they’d tell.

 

[Waning Embers]

Ropp had a Super Deluxe.

 

[SBC]

Is there a model number on the shank?

Unforunately, no. There's nothing more.

 

[SBC]

I agree it’s not a Dr Grabow or it would be stamped as one.

It’s American factory smoker made in the USA, and may have been sold mail order by the Wally Frank catalog.

If it was made overseas and imported it would be stamped France, Italy, or maybe even England. It was machine fraized, and probably has a molded stem,

The push tenon is likely the cheapest way to make a factory pipe in volume production. Somebody more schooled in pipe making might join in, but the last American factory smokers abandoned the screw stem for a push stem, likely to hold down costs.

Super Deluxe in fancy cursive script meant the factory had a die built for it. Those were never cheap.

I’d guess Super Deluxe means your pipe has good grain and no fills and it didn’t have to be stained nearly black.

Some fellow was so proud of it, years ago, he didn’t smoke it to death.

It’s a shame those old pipes can’t talk, or the stories they’d tell.

This is helpful insight, Briar Lee - Thanks!