I’m trying to expand my pipe collection through restoring pipes. I’ve tired eBay and auctions but always get out bid. I’ve had best luck with antique shops. Where do you find your pipes?
Where Do You Search for Pipes?
- Thread starter Call Me Late
- Start date
I’ve had good luck with tobacco/cigar shops, but I’m in a large urban center and have plenty to call around and visit. Some of my favorite and better smoking pipes are from cigar shops’ basket pipes. I’ve rarely found anything worth restoring or saving in antique shops.
There are a few companies with decent unfinished pipes, too.
There are a few companies with decent unfinished pipes, too.
You have to search eBay “recent first”. As soon as you see something that you want make them an offer. Even if it’s not a make offer listing, message them and ask to send an offer. 3 times out of ten you’ll get someone that will accommodate.
search mercari, offer up, Craigslist.
I have 2 large antique dealers who give me almost every pipe that comes in. In exchange I give them the old pipe holder racks from lots on eBay. They make great displays for miscellaneous antiques. I haven’t purchased a pipe from an antique store for some time.
Estates? Mostly SPC, and their EU location, and Blue Room Briar. You might pay a little more, but the transaction is easy and you know what you’re getting.
I’m not really looking for specific pipes more trying to figure out how to best find them
Depends on what level your talking. Everyday common pipes in all different condition levels can be had on eBay or Instagram, Facebook marketplace. If your wanting really high end old rare Brittwood that can occasionally be found on these sites. But honestly you will make contacts and within a small group of enthusiasts pipes are bought, sold, and traded. I personally deal with a group of old Brittwood collectors in a closed group. We are from all of the world. In our group it’s about 50 people. Some of the pipes in these collections are unreal. Most of the really high end stuff never gets put up for sale in public. Their are a few Japanese members who collections should be in a museum.
If you are looking for decent estate pipes but do not want to spend a lot (say USD$50-75) may I suggest Blue Room Briars and The Danish Pipe Shop who have a large and varied selection of estates. The latter is in Denmark, but they offer great and prompt service, and give their estate pipes a rating, so you know what you are getting. SPC have some pipes at the cheaper end, but their offerings are generally more expensive.
EBay can be hit and miss unless you know which vendors do the right thing by their buyers. Some pipes present as pristine on the exterior, but are absolute sewers internally. Caveat emptor.
EBay can be hit and miss unless you know which vendors do the right thing by their buyers. Some pipes present as pristine on the exterior, but are absolute sewers internally. Caveat emptor.
First, establish what the pipe is worth, and through this the value of the pipe in question. If you still want it, how much time will you spend restoring it. If you still want it,
does the decremented price, overall, justify the purchase.
does the decremented price, overall, justify the purchase.
After buying two estate briars to restore from private vendors, I learnt my lesson. What a waste of money.
Needing to build a reasonable rotation of pipes, I fortunately found two ebay vendors who sold NOS and professionally restored lightly used estates [the half dozen estates I won all looked new].
Both happened to be German [postage was only $12usd for up to 8 pipes, much cheaper than from the U.S.]
Both were professional with whom were a pleasure to do business.
The trick to getting bargains is to bid on many pipes with a low high bid, with the same vendor. [to save on postage if you win more than one]
Most of my briars cost $30usd or less. [My best bargain was two Lorenzo VIP Plateaus for $30usd. Lovely pipes and great smokers]
Amongst my favourite smokers are six NOS Venini briars from the 80's which I paid around $30usd each.
I've two of these half bent Apples;
There's bargains out there.
Unless it was a particular pipe that I really wanted, I'd stick with buying from professional ebay vendors.
Less hassle and no nasty surprises.
Needing to build a reasonable rotation of pipes, I fortunately found two ebay vendors who sold NOS and professionally restored lightly used estates [the half dozen estates I won all looked new].
Both happened to be German [postage was only $12usd for up to 8 pipes, much cheaper than from the U.S.]
Both were professional with whom were a pleasure to do business.
The trick to getting bargains is to bid on many pipes with a low high bid, with the same vendor. [to save on postage if you win more than one]
Most of my briars cost $30usd or less. [My best bargain was two Lorenzo VIP Plateaus for $30usd. Lovely pipes and great smokers]
Amongst my favourite smokers are six NOS Venini briars from the 80's which I paid around $30usd each.
I've two of these half bent Apples;
There's bargains out there.
Unless it was a particular pipe that I really wanted, I'd stick with buying from professional ebay vendors.
Less hassle and no nasty surprises.
Chopper's post just jogged my memory.
There is a French EBay vendor who is also a professional pipe maker. He lists a lot of NOS stock and refurbished estates (very clean) at ridiculously low prices. I've bought pipes from him previously.
Send me a PM if interested (I'm not sure if I'm contravening Forums rules by naming him in this post)
New Old Stock
Meaning a previously owned (hence estate) pipe that has never been smoked. Either unsold stock from a pipe retailer or previously owned by someone who has not fired it up.
I'm always pretty wary of buying these, especially if they are vintage (70s or older)
When I was still restoring estates, Ebay. Mainly meerschaum from Meerschaum Market and briars from an artisan now. Look for Weber pipes on Ebay. Rarely expensive and really good pipes.
One of the German vendors that I mentioned, has been selling NOS from a 100+yo German tobacconist that closed, for a few years.
I've bought over 50 of these pipes ranging from over 100yo to 40yo. [The pic of the Venini in my above post is one example]
All were in new condition and most were good smokers [One Hunter pipe had some hidden damage from a misplaced lid nail into the side of the bowl. I got an immediate refund and got to keep the pipe]
This is one of several 60's French Skippy briars that I won;
A Skippy Prince Diamond Bulldog that was $23.50usd. It not only looks good it's also a rather good smoker.
The professional venders differentiate a previously owned pipe from actual NOS, by listing the previously owned as an "unsmoked estate".
NOS comes from a retailer.
How one could tell the difference otherwise I wouldn't know.
why?
There are unsmoked pipes out there going back ages.
I bought this one ,a 1892 meerschaum pipe unsmoked recently.
