The GBD Collectors Thread

[danielplainview]

Too rich for my blood but I’d love to give this a read. Checkout that table of contents !
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F382283710979

 

[ssjones]

@Dave - I picked up a copy via a UK bookseller, than member Klause did the shipping relay. It was under $40 shipped.

The book isn't as good as the table of contents appears. It's mostly written from a business perspective, little is written about the pipe making, etc. Unless you are looking for a business study, I'd pass at over $50.

 

[jguss]

Al's right; a lot of minutiae about the company, much less about its products. A few nuggets, for sure, but by no means a mother lode

 

[hoppes]

Only have one GBD in the stable. Found this one at a reasonable price. Didn't need much cleaning up. The Tapestry line of pipes is listed as an early model about halfway along the grade line according to several websites.I just liked the looks and the various patterns of briar and surfaces. Marked GBD, Tapestry. Lower left side is London England, 135. No markings on the right side. Don't know if I'll smoke it or send it on to someone else. Comments and history always appreciated. Thanks, Hoppes

 

[puffermark]

Picked this GBD Autumn Gold 2871 up for the equivalent of about 32$. It was pretty beat up and needed a bowl topping and also had a depression in the top of the stem which needed filling. The topping revealed a minor flaw in the rim, but I can live with that.
The stem is a sort of tortoise shell acrylic (I think). Looks quite different to the bronze freeze dried process stems I see elsewhere on this thread. More translucent, I would say. No idea of it's age, so if any of the experts want to chime in on that score I'd be grateful. Some before and afters below. Apologies for the crappy cell phone pics. All I have at the moment. I didn't photograph it but the COM is LONDON ENGLAND on one line.
BTW it was also my first attempt at using Danish Oil for the finish, which turned out OK, I think.

 

[ssjones]

@hoppes - the Tapestry line was introduced in the 70's from what I've read/observed in catalogs, although an exact date not possible. Typically Tapestry pipes came with "Chair-leg" stems (turned features). So yours is unusual.

@puffermark - that is an unusual GBD stem - almost "Double Comfort" style.

 

[hoppes]

This is a funky looking GBD that I picked up a few weeks ago. I bought it simply because of the shape. Haven't seen a GBD that looks like this. It's almost a clunky style pipe that looks like some of the old French made items. It has the squared off football-like stampings that apparently the International series had. That series was supposed to have a rustic rim as well. This was well smoked so will take some work to get it looking proper. I assume this is a later made pipe after the merger--don't know if GBD carried on the International line or if it is still being made. Anyone have a similar GBD? Any history appreciated. Thanks, Hoppes

 

[maddogharper]

A Greaves Patent Smooth Billiard pipe I attempted to restore this evening. A beautiful and very old pipe. I don't have a date for it and can't find much history about it?
Greaves Patent Smooth Billiard1 by Mark Harper, on Flickr
Greaves Patent Smooth Billiard2 by Mark Harper, on Flickr
Greaves Patent Smooth Billiard3 by Mark Harper, on Flickr

 

[skaukatt]

I'll add my 1937 R9239 which you may have seen in George's thread before and after the refurb, simply amazing...

 

[headhunter]

ss, one of my first good pipes was purchased in 1963 or 1964. It is a Century, COM London England, silver rondel, shape no. 886, it has an acrylic stem. It is identified as a Liverpool shape. It is a very diminutive little pipe no more than a group 2. I have never seen another, have you ?

 

[ssjones]

I have seen the 886 shape, but its not in my wheel-house shapewise, so I don't pay much attention to them.

 

[uperepik]

That 9239 is amazing. I’ve only seen 1937’s is that the only year they were made?

 

[ssjones]

Geez, I'm guilty of not posting my own recent additions.
1937 R9239, this is the only year I've ever seen on this model (which I've seen three times). I'd love to know the backstory on this model.

1939 R9118

9242 New Standard (sold one, bought this one)

9242 (no line name)

 

[analogknight]

So, this is my first post here in the forums anyway

Id like to show you guys my 3 GBD pipes which i adore.
1.France 347 / Special Standard:

2.LONDON ENGLAND 3781 / Pedigree:

3.LONDON ENGLAND 1241 / Pedigree:

 

[seacaptain]

This is a neat item.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/ENGLISH-ESTATE-PIPE-BOX-GBD-LARGE-ANTIQUE-HINGED-METAL-BOX-c-1906/372207567790?hash=item56a94cc3ae:g:BOcAAOSwSKtaXsaq
The medals on the front are various exposition medals that were awarded as prizes. It means that GBD probably had a booth at these expos and maybe even competed with other pipe makers.
Here's an example of the 1889 Paris Expo medal displayed on the front of the tin. This was the expo where the Eiffel Tower was unveiled.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/FRENCH-1889-EXPOSITION-UNIVERSELLE-PARIS-BRONZE-MEDAL-BY-LOUIS-BOTTEE-M-29/380867354241?hash=item58ad769e81:g:YogAAOxy039TKjPE
These expos were very important to industries at the time and very competitive. In fact Campbell's Soup won a gold medal at the 1900 Paris Expo and it's still part of their can label to this day.

Here's an example of one of the medals (not gold) on ebay.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1900-EXPOSITION-OLYMPIC-BRONZE-MEDAL-CHAPLAIN-EXHIBITION/252738219718?hash=item3ad85f2ec6:g:HXcAAOSw9GhYhyoh

 

[ssjones]

That is fascinating Seacaptain. I've seen those medal references before, but it didn't really register as something special, now I know different!

 

[jravenwood]

SSjones that 9243 New Standard is a beauty, congratulations... ::

 

[shane1]

I just picked this one up. Not sure if it was a good deal but I like 9mm pipes. Any idea as to the grade or year?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/372551660772?ul_ref=https%253A%252F%252Frover.ebay.com%252Frover%252F0%252Fe11050.m43.l1123%252F7%253Feuid%253D09fe4df587e24b9c96a57d4fce341329%2526bu%253D43200934461%2526loc%253Dhttps%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.ebay.com%25252Fulk%25252Fitm%25252F372551660772%2526sojTags%253Dbu%253Dbu%2526srcrot%253De11050.m43.l1123%2526rvr_id%253D0%2526rvr_ts%253D67b20e911690ad4d142124adffe54479&ul_noapp=true
shane

 

[ssjones]

@shane1: Guessing a more recent vintage, but I have not seen that type of rectangular logo previously (nor many/any GBD 9 mm pipes) GBD had a revival of sorts in the 90's, but those had brass logo stems. Yours is pretty unique!

 

[jaygreen55]

Just got my first GBD. A 1960s vintage UNSMOKED shape # 9697 Virgin Collector bent cauldron with a white perspex stem. I have a weakness for unstained natural pipes and this one caught my eye. I have very few English pipes in my collection so this is a good addition. I won it for $96 which seems like a really good price to me considering that similar used ones are listed for more. Any more info about this pipe would be appreciated
Here is the link to the ebay listing. I'll get the pipe in a couple days
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1960-039-s-GBD-Collection-Virgin-9697-Bent-Cauldron-Pipe-Unsmoked-COOPERSARK-NR-/233169778659?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&nma=true&si=lRYsD%252Br9POFU2BvLSzJPGq3k3Ls%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc