Wm. Penn Pipe Shop - Bulldog

[disinformatique]

Recently got this old cutie from ebay at the princely amount of $15. After searching online I was able to find the mentioned smoke shop's address to be: William Penn Smoke Shop, 132 N Highland Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15206.
This pipe will require a new stem and stain. Can you help/suggest color/color for the same?

Cheers,

Chris

ThePipeMonk

 

[papipeguy]

It'd be a shame to lose that stem because of the keystone stamp on it. I think it can be saved. I've seen guys here do remarkable things with black superglue to plug holes and bite marks. Hopefully, one of the craftsmen will chime in with advice. It's a nice looking piece and should clean up real well.

 

[disinformatique]

I hope so too, I'll talk to Ric @ Briarville to repair the stem than to replace it. Any suggestion for the stain color or contrast stains?

 

[dmcmtk]

Nice looking 'dog. Myself, I would not stain it, but I like seeing the patina of a well used pipe. I would also say that stem is fixable. Folks have been doing excellent work with cyanoacrylate (black superglue) recently.

 

[dmcmtk]

See some of member Dave's posts about some of his restorations/stemwork...
ex. http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/my-get-rich-slow-scheme

 

[pruss]

As the guys mentioned, that stem is more than salvageable and I think worth the effort.
I wouldn't re-stain the pipe, but I would tint it lightly with a dark brown tint. I'd literally use one or two drops of Fiebing's dark brown stain into a tablespoon of isopropyl alcohol and use that to refresh the pipe. It will leave the tint in the rings, and deep pockets of the rustication.
-- Pat

 

[disinformatique]

Thanks guys, I will speak with Ric and show him this thread as well for the restoration of the bully.

 

[aldecaker]

I would go light tone on the higher, smoother areas, with a dark contrast in the rings and the lower, rusticated areas. Think fawn and mahogany. I am a sucker for a bulldog!

 

[xrundog]

Cleaning and waxing will bring the color back I think. It's maybe a little faded, but I wouldn't change it.

Hope you can fix the stem. Thin saddle stems are the worst for a clencher as they bite through so easily.

 

[voorhees]

Lovely little pipe...cannot wait to see the transformation.

 

[disinformatique]

Just a little update guys. The pipe reached Ric at Briarville. The hole in the stem is on both sides. He'll try to patch it up, but it seems the damage is too high. The marking on the stem is barely visible, but hey thats why we love old vintage pipes !!
The bowl will just be cleaned and buffed.
I'll keep you posted.

 

[xrundog]

I didn't say much about the stem because it looked pretty bad. But the pros can sometimes work some magic. I was optimistic for you. Maybe you can figure a way to replicate the logo in the new stem. It will smoke just as good without the logo though.

 

[jkrug]

That's a great looking pipe and should look amazing when she's all refurbbed. Check out some of forum member Dave's pipe restos. He has done some amazing fixes on stems that were in worse shape than yours. Good luck and post picks when she's done. ::

 

[jkrug]

Here's a link to a thread that Dave posted on fixing tooth holes in a pipe stem. Hope it helps. If the link doesn't work you can find it by using the search feature. ::
http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/how-to-fix-tooth-holes-in-stems

 

[ssjones]

I've had some success with the black superglue on holes. I'd be happy to give it a shot for you, it seems there isn't much to lose at this point.

 

[disinformatique]

Hi Al,
I'll ask Ric to mail you the pipe once the bowl is refurbed.
Cheers,

Chris

 

[brudnod]

Dave, the magician who does amazing work, has given some tips here in the past. I did not have a great deal of success with his method (undoubtedly my fault) but did have success with a mix of epoxy (2 part) and activated charcoal as a colorant; turned out solid as a rock. You might be able to use a heat gun to "stretch" out the divot in the stem. If the stem can be refurbished adequately, you might have a great pipe here. Love the key stone logo on the stem!

 

[aldecaker]

Or you could just keep the OEM stem in your spares box, in case you ever wanted to sell it as an all-original pipe, and have a new one made for actual use.

 

[ssjones]

I believe Ric at Briarville is making a new stem. I'll take a crack at the old one.