The Birth Year Dunhill I Wished For

[mcitinner1]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/371469121963?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
I saw this one when it was still under $200. It's already out of my league. I'm thinking because of it's very unusual marks, (DRR) and it looks like it might be a filter pipe, it might go for a pretty large price (to me). How high will it go? Here's what George said about it:
"I saw that one a couple days ago. Nice piece, and definitely original stem, finish, and etc."
"John Loring knew of only a single DRR in all his experience, dated 1957, and hadn't a clue what it meant. (The lettered DRs stopped at J, and the specimen on eBay is only mediocre, grain-wise... an A or B)"
"This one will still probably sell for quite a bit, though. Essentially a 120 shape (which has always been a collector favorite), in good shape, with strange markings; and it's a knowledgeable listing with good pics, not some attic find that would fly under the radar."
Post some guess prices. I'm going with $1500, and I think that might be way too low.

 

[pruss]

I have no doubt that this pipe will climb in pricing before the dust settles. I'm not knowledgeable enough about Dunhill pricing to offer more than a stab in the dark on pricing, so I'll leave that to others.
What interested me about this pipe is the tenon.
Is this a filter pipe? Are we looking at a replacement stem?
That airway in the tenon is huge, and certainly larger than what I'd expect for a Dunhill. Mind you, most of the Dunhills I've seen have been straight pipes with the stinger apparatus. The tenon is certainly drilled wider than this.
Anyone have any insight?
-- Pat

 

[mcitinner1]

I asked the seller if it was drilled for a filter, and his response was "it looks like it". So not much info out of that. George didn't offer an opinion on the tenon...he didn't get that.

 

[georged]

Several of my own 120s have that overlarge, hollowed-out-but-still-conical tenon (it's not a filter chamber---it tapers). They range in age from 1924 through 1972.
No question that it's legit. Why they were cut that way is a mystery. Loring hadn't a clue, either.

 

[pruss]

Several of my own 120s have that overlarge, hollowed-out-but-still-conical tenon (it's not a filter chamber---it tapers). They range in age from 1924 through 1972.
No question that it's legit. Why they were cut that way is a mystery. Loring hadn't a clue, either.

Very cool. Thanks for the note George. Interesting that this model had this tenon drilling. What does the mortise look like? I wonder if the intent was to create a cooling space on pipe shapes where they couldn't fit a stinger... Would I be incorrect in assuming that a chamber like this in the shank might catch moisture?
-- Pat

 

[iamn8]

Yeah that'll be an expensive pipe. A DR of that vintage in that condition will cost a pretty penny. Amazing grain. I'd guess $900. I've rarely that shape drawing over a grand.

 

[georged]

Interesting that this model had this tenon drilling. What does the mortise look like? I wonder if the intent was to create a cooling space on pipe shapes where they couldn't fit a stinger... Would I be incorrect in assuming that a chamber like this in the shank might catch moisture?

The mortise of the "cone tenoned" 120s is completely normal in all my specimens.
The whole cooling space thing gets overdone when the volumes involved are small. Anthony Harris, the guy who makes these:
http://acmepipes.com/Double-Chamber.php
...is a ridiculously intelligent & and analytical sort who actually measured smoke stream temps & etc. of different designs to find the "cooling/drying effect" threshold, and it was something like 20 cc's. MUCH more than the airspace any conventionally designed pipe could contain within its airway.
That doesn't mean there wasn't someone at Dunhill who THOUGHT a dead air chamber would enhance the smoke somehow, of course, and ordered it done. Why such a thing would be limited to a single model of pipe would then become the mystery, though.

 

[ssjones]

My '61 120 is cone tenoned. I put a taper on a Sav filter and inserted it. For my taste, it smokes better with the insert.

 

[brudnod]

I'm afraid to know what a 1951 Dunhill might cost!!! Pretty pipe you had your eye on.

 

[gogosamgo]

My guess is that it will go for $1,200

 

[georged]

No last minute craziness. Finished at $720.01
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1953-DRR-DUNHILL-ROOT-BRIAR-PATENT/371469121963?_trksid=p2047675.c100010.m2109&_trkparms=aid%3D555012%26algo%3DPW.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D33665%26meid%3Deb559137b6484713a9bc13009be9c11a%26pid%3D100010%26rk%3D8%26rkt%3D24%26sd%3D371469361165

 

[ssjones]

I thought that might have brought a little bit more, hoping for a bidding war and around a $900 total. Probably a good investment for the buyer.

 

[seacaptain]

Nice pipe!