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telescopes

Pipe Dreamer and Star Gazer
Someone posted a 7 day set of classic American brands some time ago.
I think it might have been @telescopes
Anyone remember the thread and can post a link ?

Member @danielplainview has a large collection of LHS pipes which he has posted on Pipedia.
 
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telescopes

Pipe Dreamer and Star Gazer
 
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telescopes

Pipe Dreamer and Star Gazer
G'day to you all -

I've been doing a deep dive with regards to vintage (1960ish and older) American made pipes, and while of course been learning plenty about Grabow , Kaywoodie and MM, I'm curious about other brands I may not be aware of. I know of Willard in addition to those mentioned, but that is about it. What else am I missing? Are there other classic American pipes (mainly production, but open to older customs as well) that I should know about?

I've got a few Grabows and a newly made Kaywoodie coming my way (excited), but still looking to learn all that I can about American pipes of yore.

Thank you for helping to add to my knowledge!
I completed and since updated a seven day rotation and then expanded it to a 12 day rotation. The pipes include:

Willard full bend
Kaywoodie Thorn
Medici with silver overlay
Yello-Bole 4 Panel with Bakelite stem
Dr Grabow Linkman
LHS Bulldog Certified Purex
Pipe by Lee
Briar Lee
Pipemaster
Mastercraft
Marxman six panel
and more….

All are worthy smokers, and all of them beautiful representations of the craft from a early Americana perspective. I wish you well with your collection and know it will bring you great joy.
 

Red Leader

Might Stick Around
Feb 12, 2022
77
223
Colorado
I completed and since updated a seven day rotation and then expanded it to a 12 day rotation. The pipes include:

Willard full bend
Kaywoodie Thorn
Medici with silver overlay
Yello-Bole 4 Panel with Bakelite stem
Dr Grabow Linkman
LHS Bulldog Certified Purex
Pipe by Lee
Briar Lee
Pipemaster
Mastercraft
Marxman six panel
and more….

All are worthy smokers, and all of them beautiful representations of the craft from a early Americana perspective. I wish you well with your collection and know it will bring you great joy.
First of all, I really appreciate your contributions and will explore your initial thread in depth. In addition, I'm curious about the Mastercraft in your rotation. I have a couple of Mastercraft pipes. a small straight apple and a 6-panel straight pot. Both say 'Algerian Briar / France'. In trying to do some research on 'Mastercraft' it seems they came from all over. Do you have some, or did you discover some, that were USA made/based?

That small MC apple smokes quite wonderfully.
 
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judcole

Lifer
Sep 14, 2011
7,472
39,117
Detroit
If you happen to see a Cayuga floating around, might be worth your while. House brand of Paul's Pipe Shop up in Flint, which is a legendary place, and pretty much made in the shop.
 

Papamique

Part of the Furniture Now
Mar 11, 2020
793
3,971
Don’t forget Lewis pipes. He has been making pipes for decades and still does and his son is also making pipes. He was featured on the podcast show here with Brian.
James Deprey was another but he didn’t start until the 1980’s.
 

Pipeoff

Part of the Furniture Now
Jun 22, 2021
924
1,552
Western New York
My collection of dated Weber Royal grade gold bands smoke great and have super grain, made when quality briar was the norm for reasonable price.
 

pappymac

Lifer
Feb 26, 2015
3,569
5,066
Slidell, LA
I completed and since updated a seven day rotation and then expanded it to a 12 day rotation. The pipes include:

Willard full bend
Kaywoodie Thorn
Medici with silver overlay
Yello-Bole 4 Panel with Bakelite stem
Dr Grabow Linkman
LHS Bulldog Certified Purex
Pipe by Lee
Briar Lee
Pipemaster
Mastercraft
Marxman six panel
and more….

All are worthy smokers, and all of them beautiful representations of the craft from a early Americana perspective. I wish you well with your collection and know it will bring you great joy.
Is that a Linkman or a Dr. Grabow made by Linkman?
Linkman pipes were produced first and then in the early 1940s started branding the pipes as Dr. Grabow. M. Linkman & Co. was founded in the early 1900s (before 1910) and also produced the ALCO line of pipes. The first Dr. Grabow pipes were made by Linkman in the early 1930s but the produced both Linkman and Dr. Grabow until around 1943/44. The company name was changed to Dr. Grabow around the same time.

I have a Linkman Hollycourt Special that was made before the name was changed to Dr. Grabow.
 

telescopes

Pipe Dreamer and Star Gazer
Is that a Linkman or a Dr. Grabow made by Linkman?
Linkman pipes were produced first and then in the early 1940s started branding the pipes as Dr. Grabow. M. Linkman & Co. was founded in the early 1900s (before 1910) and also produced the ALCO line of pipes. The first Dr. Grabow pipes were made by Linkman in the early 1930s but the produced both Linkman and Dr. Grabow until around 1943/44. The company name was changed to Dr. Grabow around the same time.

I have a Linkman Hollycourt Special that was made before the name was changed to Dr. Grabow.
Most likely a Linkman given the symbol is on the top of the stem. My thought is it was at the end of Linkman / Grabow production. But, I could be wrong.
 

Red Leader

Might Stick Around
Feb 12, 2022
77
223
Colorado
Guys I'm out of control. I've been finding some great deals on some old, run down and cruddy but awesome vintage American made pipes. I love the dirty, disgusting, under-appreciated, diamond-in-the-rough pipes, eagerly anticipating and hoping to uncover a jewel underneath the grime. I've also been learning all about new American brands, thanks you all of you members, pipedia.org, pipephil.edu, and I think my next deep dive once I am caught up to speed on those sites is to really study a lot of vintage ads to find forgotten brands.

I have a vintage 4 digit Kaywoodie and (LHS made?) Purex pipe coming, and just got an offer accepted for a couple of gorgeous Monarch pipes that have a bit of art deco flare. And I'm looking at more. I've got the bug. While the straight billiard never started out as a favorite shape of mine, it has really grown on me just due to its classic nature, and it will be fun to see how all these pipes of a similar shape smoke which will really help compare them and then appreciate the differences.
 
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Red Leader

Might Stick Around
Feb 12, 2022
77
223
Colorado
Well, a couple of pipes arrived today, one that I was really looking forward to - my first vintage Kaywoodie. When I first started purchasing estate pipes I had a bit of a learning curve to lean into, but since then have learned quite a bit.

IMG_3192.jpg

Kaywoodie Drinkless, top stem cloverleaf and 4-digit code of '7780' and 'Imported Briar' I'm guessing late 30s or 40s on this one, but perhaps other Kaywoodie connoisseurs can chime in, as I'm still learning as I go.

I was hoping for a 4-hole stinger and she did not disappoint!

IMG_3194.jpg

Has 'Drinkless' on the stem, but no Pat #.

I know that the Drinkless model was not one of Kaywoodie's higher end pipes in the lineup, but the briar quality seems excellent and coincides well with the notion (as mentioned here and elsewhere) that Kaywoodie had some of the nicest briar ever used on pipes. The finish is actually in excellent condition and is of a nice deep, red hue. I'm excited to see what the fuss is about, but first will need to do a small repair...

IMG_3195.jpg

I've not done a hole repair in a stem before, but if I'm understanding correctly, a bit of powdered vulcanite and superglue will do the trick. I also need to learn the correct procedure for re-clocking stems, though fortunately just in general and not for this pipe.

The other pipe is a 'BBB' Superfine, which was described as a 'Purex' but I can only imagine that being from the research the seller did. The pipe is interesting, as it reminds me of my LHS, and indeed LHS had a 'Purex Superfine' which is probably where the seller got the name from. It has a stinger, and the stem was a very tight fit (I'd rather take tight than loose as long as nothing breaks!). It has several small fills and strikes me as a mid-to-lower tier pipe of the 40s, but seems tight and will probably be a great smoker. Since BBB stands for Britains Best Briars, so a bit outside the scope of truly American pipes. I will probably pass it on if need be unless it becomes a fantastic smoker (which it very well could!).

The two Monarch pipes w/ art deco trim will also be coming soon, and I'm very excited about those as well. The look to be a nice, quality made pipe and will look fabulous once refurbed. Here is an example (not mine) -

Monarch01.jpg
The hunt continues for more great and/or forgotten American pipes!
 
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telescopes

Pipe Dreamer and Star Gazer
First of all, I really appreciate your contributions and will explore your initial thread in depth. In addition, I'm curious about the Mastercraft in your rotation. I have a couple of Mastercraft pipes. a small straight apple and a 6-panel straight pot. Both say 'Algerian Briar / France'. In trying to do some research on 'Mastercraft' it seems they came from all over. Do you have some, or did you discover some, that were USA made/based?

That small MC apple smokes quite wonderfully.
Not sure how I missed this one. I have three MasterCraft pipes. The one in the rotation at that time had wire rustication, but some damage to the rim. I had purchased another after that with a bakelite stem, but some fool had glued the stem to the stummel. The third one is an unsmoked pot, but it has trouble taking a cleaner. I will have that one worked on as well as the first. How do they smoke? Surprisingly well. They could smoke better if the draw was opened up on them. I'll be doing that to the first and third. As for as the bakelite stem, I broke it, repaired it, and reinserted it. The pipe is more of a curiosity piece than anything else.

So far, I am not impressed, but then again, none of them say Algerian Briar, and from what I understand, for Mastercraft, that makes a difference.
 

Hillcrest

Lifer
Dec 3, 2021
3,804
19,339
Connecticut, USA
I have an E. Burak from the Connoisseur Pipe Shop In NYC. He was a designer of pipes. I believe they were may in New Jersey by the same guys who made Wilke's ??? I could be wrong but they are listed on pipedia.

If that helps any ...