Where to find wooden cases for multiple pipes

[sablebrush52]

A few months ago I bought several pipe cases on ebay. These are made of wood with felt covered internal fittings that hold the pipe in place. I have several that hold about 21 pipes each, and a couple smaller. I'd like to get more of these but can't find them on the web. Does anyone know where I can get more of these cases? Much better for my pipes than a rack where exposure to light will cause stem oxidation and fading of the stain over time.
Thank you for any leads that you can provide.
Jesse

 

[mso489]

sablebrush52, cases sound like a way to store pipes you're not using often. Benefits of pipe racks are that they keep

pipes handy were you can readily grab a pipe for a smoke. Racks hold the pipes vertical, more or less, so they can

dry after a smoke. And they display the pipes in a way most pipe smokers enjoy. The visual aspect is part of the

pleasure. Unless you have the pipes in direct sunlight, I don't think average light ambiance of room light is going

to accelerate stem oxidation in any noticeable way. In lucite/acrylic stems, not at all. Just a few thoughts. Hope

you track down the cases, if that's best for you.

 

[sablebrush52]

Thanks for your suggestions! When I get a chance, I'll post a photo. I'll also look through my purchase history on ebay to see if I can locate the sellers. There were two of them, and none of the cases are alike.

While holding the pipes in cases is less convenient than a rack, it doesn't bother me. And living in earthquake country, I feel safer with them in the cases on low shelves.

The look of a fine rack filled with an assortment of pipes is very appealing visually, but I get the same pleasure when I lift the lid and see rows of pipes in the case. It's like opening the lid of a treasure chest, silly as that sounds. It's a personal choice.

Years ago my late father-in-law had a fabulous Dunhill collection. Hundreds of Dunhills in perfect condition. If you have seen the cover of Hacker's Ultimate Pipe Book, you've seen one of his pieces, the Dunhill with the coronet shaped windscreen topped with cabauchon cats eyes. Anyways, he had a rack for his smokers, but the bulk of the collection was held in several custom built cabinets with pull out drawers, each pipe nestled in a fitted space. The effect was like looking at a museum collection. When he changed rotations, the pipes would go from the rack to the cases to be replaced by others from the cases. Everything he owned looked mint. The room was like a museum of Dunhill.

My collection is much, much humbler. But I've never forgotten the effect of pulling open a drawer and seeing those gleaming pipes, ready for use.

BTW, I totally agree about leaving the pipe in a vertical position to dry out. After a period of several days to a week, the pipe goes back in the case.