Three Ben Wades

[mlaug]

Here are three different Ben Wades, hopefully illustrating the different finishes and styles of the Preben Holm freehand days. I am totally in love with this style of pipe. They display everything about a pipe I love...making a bold statement about color, wood grain, carving skill...sorry to gush, but I just can't help it.
First pipe is a Golden Walnut.

All these pipes are rather large, close to seven inches in length.
Here is a close up showing the briar's grain pattern on the bowl.

Second pipe is a Monte Verdi.

Beautiful blast work on the bowl. This particular pipe has a smokey black and silver acrylic stem.

Third pipe is a Heather.

Again, beautiful grain on the bowl and a nice red tint to the stain.

I really lack any photo skills. I don't think direct sunlight is a good source for pictures...too much shine. I'll try some indirect lighting next.

 

[bowhatchie]

Beautiful pipes!! I can understand your love affair!

 

[cortezattic]

Mike, those are great examples of Preben Holm's Ben Wade era! I think Lane Ltd. owned the B.W. name and let Preben Holm use it because Holm had a contract beef with Snug Harbor distributors. ...or something like that... Nice, nice pipes. (I think the Monte Verdi is hard to find these days.)

 

[python]

great looking pipes; I love the Golden Walnut!
Congrats!

 

[hobie1dog]

Now I covet these pipes......no more pics....lol

 

[mlaug]

Thanks guys.
Cortez - You have the basic story right. Apparently, a meeting between Holm and Lane resulted in the Ben Wade freehands/Preben Holm partnership when Snug Harbor backed out.
By and large, these pipes are well engineered, besides being gorgeous.
I really wish I'd wrote on a slip of paper what purchase prices were. Memory fades, but both the Heather and Monte Verdi aren't encountered all that often. I wish I'd have bought a Hallmark grade pipe or a Nobel Prize grade back in the day.
The Golden Walnuts are my favorites.

 

[unclearthur]

Very nice pipes!!

 

[pstlpkr]

Beautiful I love my Preben Holmes as well.

But, my Ben Wade is completely different.

Ben Wade Calabash.

 

[mlaug]

An English Ben Wade?
Nice looking pipe!

 

[pstlpkr]

Don't know Mlaug.

I bought it about 30 years ago in the local Tinderbox.

 

[unclearthur]

I am a big fan of the pre-free hand Ben Wades. I have a couple that smoke wonderfully

 

[collindow]

That heather makes me go all warm inside. Which reminds me that I need a nice freehand. And a nice meer. And a Peterson. And a...oh God so much.

 

[cortezattic]

The Ben Wade name has undergone yet another incarnation, this time

Resurrected in 1998 by Duncan Briars (another great British pipe family), the drilling and finishing standards of Ben Wade handmade pipes are at the level of more expensive pipes; the bowls are carved at the same pipe factory in London, England, where Dunhills are made.

I got this one for $76, and it's a really nice smoker, though it took a while to settle-in.

 

[hilojohnny]

Some really pretty briar, Mike....Thanks for the nice photos.

 

[jcsnaps]

Super pipes, nice pictures. I also really like the work of Preben, and have several pipes under his logo,(PH), and a couple of those made under the Ben Wade name. Great smokers.

 

[pstlpkr]

Welcome jcsnaps, to our fraternity.

There are a great bunch of folks here.
I have one Preben Holm pipe and it's a very comfortable and easy smoker, and a Ben Wade.

I didn't know that the Ben Wade name was from the same source as Preben Holm.
I learned something new today darn-it!
I look forward to seeing your PH's and reading your posts.

Have a go at posting in the New Members string and tell us about yourself.

Don't forget to accept those friendship requests.

We're glad to have you!

 

[unclearthur]

A long time back Ben Wade was made in Leeds, England. Traditional style pipes. This is one of the names that has been shuffled from pillar to post over the years.

 

[jcsnaps]

Thanks for the welcome pstlpkr. Now that I got the avatar to load you can see I really like Danish Freehands(and apple or blueberry).

 

[mlaug]

Nice looking Hallmark ( ? ) there at the 5:00 position.
Post up some pictures jcsnaps!
I need to get more pictures up of some more of mine.

 

[cortezattic]

Arthur noted

A long time back Ben Wade was made in Leeds, England. Traditional style pipes.

Ya, and Nazi air raids took out the Leeds factory, and thus the brand's journey began.