Thoughts on Stanwell.
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I have a bent pot, and bent acorn. Both of them are from the brushed black line. One is my dedicated Lakeland pipe and the other is for burleys. I have no complaints about how either smoke but the bits are way too small for me to clench and not feel like I'm going to break them.
I made my humble starter collection out of $50-$80 pipes and these smoke as well as the Sav. and Petersons of the same price range. I still think my Brigham pipes were the best bang for the cheapskate like myself.
I made my humble starter collection out of $50-$80 pipes and these smoke as well as the Sav. and Petersons of the same price range. I still think my Brigham pipes were the best bang for the cheapskate like myself.
I would challenge you to show an example from anywhere that displays a noticeable difference between a dane stan and one made in italy. Pick whatever stock photo or a link to a comparison from anywhere you like.
Itailian stanwells are made on the same equipment as danish stanwells were. As in, they were imported. I realize that the way an italian presses the on button may be slightly different from a dane, but the button hardly knows the difference. It just recognize on or off. The same applies to the preformed stems.
Hand made stanwells are excluded from discussion because no one is buying a hand made pipe anywhere near the prices mentioned in this thread.
and
What is all this racist garbage? This enlightened thinking certainly underscores the logic behind this argument.
Lastly, when was the last time someone complained about shoddy craftsmanship of savinelli or costello...et al?
I haven't had occasion to buy a Stanwell since their move to Italy, but the ones that I own are good pipes. They're well engineered, well designed machine made pipes and a good value for the dollar spent.
My first non drugstore pipes were Stanwells in the 1950s. I liked the shapes. They cost $18, which was only $4 less than a Dunhill, at the time. They were never really good, but were acceptable for a small smoke. I got a few several years ago. The best of those , made in Denmark, was OK but not good. The one made in Italy was garbage. Brand over, as far as I am concerned.
Stanwells are the best quality pipes in their price category. It looks like they use shellac instead of varnish like Peterson. The stem fit is excellent and they even polish the end of the tenons.
This thread ignited a PAD fever that cost me money. I ended up getting this Stanwell, made in mid-60's to 70's.
An example:
Stanwell gilt edge (made in Denmark) VS Stanwell POTY 2010 (w/o filter & 9mm filter)
Year 2009 seems to be the last year that Stanwell pipes were still made in Denmark. And for these two POTY 2010, rumor is that the pipe heads of the non-filter version were made in Denmark and I suspect the pipe heads of the 2010 chubby 9mm version were already possibly Italian production though I really hope not, the bowl chamber coating smells different its non-filter counterpart, and the sandblast stain looks a bit different without the reddish undertone, and is less detailed in the sandblasting. While the mouthpieces of the POTYs are both acrylic and were probably made in Italian, the Stanwell Gilt edge pipe has obviously good briar and the mouthpiece is made of ebonite --- with much much nicer touch for the teeth and for the lips because it is softer and it can also be crafted thinner.
Stanwell gilt edge (made in Denmark) VS Stanwell POTY 2010 (w/o filter & 9mm filter)
Year 2009 seems to be the last year that Stanwell pipes were still made in Denmark. And for these two POTY 2010, rumor is that the pipe heads of the non-filter version were made in Denmark and I suspect the pipe heads of the 2010 chubby 9mm version were already possibly Italian production though I really hope not, the bowl chamber coating smells different its non-filter counterpart, and the sandblast stain looks a bit different without the reddish undertone, and is less detailed in the sandblasting. While the mouthpieces of the POTYs are both acrylic and were probably made in Italian, the Stanwell Gilt edge pipe has obviously good briar and the mouthpiece is made of ebonite --- with much much nicer touch for the teeth and for the lips because it is softer and it can also be crafted thinner.
I do not own any Stanwells in my collection yet, but I plan on it. They seem to be a good value for the price, and they have some nice designs. Although they are now a "factory, machine-made pipe" for the most part, I've yet to hear anyone say that they are poor smokers.
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