What's the deal with Dr. Grabow?

[harrumphicus]

The pictures I've seen of older Doc G's (my own little "pet name" :P ) have some of the most BEAUTIFUL grain and good looking classic shapes. Most of the ones I see brand new seem to be excruciatingly boring pipes, with the exception of that small one with the point at the bottom of the bowl. When/why did they make the shift from beautiful to plain?

 

[ejames]

IF you want a Royalton better get it quick--they have discontinued them! The number of lines and the shapes available in those lines is much less than it once was.

 

[wolfscout]

discontinued? dang so I ordered a Dr Grabow Royalton (F) 63205-f from WVsmokeshop .

Sucks to discontinue a line. I need to keep up more.

 

[juvat270]

I should order a couple as well. The local "Smoker Friendly" store near my house had a couple of the Roylaton pipes, but when I went back a week later they had sold them all. I like them.

 

[juvat270]

Oops, double post.

 

[ejames]

I picked up a Royalton bent bulldog a couple of weeks ago at the local discount tobacco/cigarette store. Was in there a couple of days ago and saw they had one Royalton billard left. Should have bought it also.The bulldog was priced $4.00 cheaper than the billiard which I thought strange.

 

[ejames]

I have over a dozen nice sized billiards mostly smooth and a few nicely carved ones and two smooth bulldogs, glad I got mine when I did, been buying them up for the last couple of months on my trips to JR Cigars in Statesville, NC. [:mrgreen:]

No wonder they are so hard to find--you got 'em all!! 8O

 

[kf5eqv]

I have a Grand Duke my Grandpa smoked. Not sure of the year but my Uncle got it for him, and my Uncle died in 'Nam, so it must be 1960's manufacture at least. It looks pretty much identical to what they make now under the same name though.

^Stock photo

^Grandpa's
It is one of the easiest smokers I own. IF current Dr. G pipes are as mine is, I would not hesitate to recommend them.

 

[zanthal]

I have a Grand Duke I bought about 10 years ago, and the bowl wall thickness is much smaller than that one. It heats up very quickly.
I used to have a Grabow freehand that was a much better one, and I've always liked the look of the Omega ... going to try and get one eventually.

 

[zanthal]

I just had a look at the Royalton ... I realized that's a fine pipe. Just picked one up here (not sure if there's any more to be had):
Amazon link

 

[carlomarx]

kf5qev,

Great composition in the photos of your Grandfather's pipe and the chess books. Pipes and chess are a natural combination.

I like the laynard on your pipe tool, any story or signifigance to the design?

 

[kf5eqv]

The lanyard is a makeshift pacecounter. Traditional pacecounters just don't work for me very well, so I modified the design.
One pace, from left foot down to left foot down again is roughly 1 yard.

176 yards to 1 mile.

176/2=88

88/11=8

So every 11 paces I move 1 of the lower 8 beads. When all 8 of the lower beads have been moved up I slide them back down and move 1 of the 10 upper beads. The design counts 5 miles in 1/2 mile increments.
Thanks for the compliments. I enjoyed taking the photos. 8)

 

[weezell]

Breakin in a Grand Duke with PA even as i type...good pipes for cheap ::

 

[rigmedic1]

I have a Viscount Author that I have had for 30 years, a nice thick pipe with a good draw. Also, I have a Starfire pickaxe that I like for flakes. Seeing the comments about the Royalton, I now have one on order, lol.

I kinda miss the ones I have lost through the years; Grabow and Yellobole had some very interesting shapes.

 

[ssjones]

One Doctor in my house. A Regal Adjustomatic bulldog that I purchased for the grand sum of $10 and refurbished (one of my first attempts). It smokes quite nicely and is light as a feather, so it is my working pipe. I seem to generally some PA in it, which seems appropriate.

 

[carlomarx]

I forgot to mention, other than my Boswell, my Dr. G Savoy is my go to pipe & my best smoker.

 

[zanthal]

To update, I got the above mentioned Royalton in the mail yesterday and smoked it for the first time this morning ... great clencher, bowl walls are big enough to keep it only slightly warm to the touch even during a quicker smoke ... it's excellent.