Won A 1940s Dr. Grabow: Before and After

[ejames]

All my linkman's have the propeller symbol, not sure when they switched to the spade

Linkman used the spade logo on several different lines of pipes before it was used on the Dr. Grabow. In 1944 the Dr. Grabow Pipe Co. was formed as an off shoot or subsidiary owned by Linkman as I understand it.
Dr. Grabows made after 1944 are not stamped Linkman and that may be when they started being made with the spade emblem.
This is from an article written by Dr. D.R. Bridges and posted on RJ McKay's website-- http://drgrabow-pipe-info.com/

The Dr. Grabow pipe was only one of several pipe brands made at the Linkman plant on W. Fullerton Ave., but they must have earned the public’s approval, because a 1937 Linkman publication shows sales of their Dr. Grabow pipes increased by approximately 8-fold in their first six years.
Dr. Grabow pipe sales continued to increase and in October of 1944, the Dr. Grabow Pipe Co. was formed and incorporated. Its founding incorporators included Richard J. Dean, Angelo Pinasco, and Harry A. Shapiro. The corporate address remained in the M. Linkman building on W. Fullerton. We have found no evidence showing that anyone other than M. Linkman produced the Dr. Grabow pipe for the Dr. Grabow Pipe Co. of Chicago.
In February of 1953, the Dr. Grabow Pipe Co. filed corporate dissolution papers. The next month in March, Henry Leonard and Thomas of Greensboro, North Carolina announced they had acquired the Dr. Grabow and M. Linkman business. The Chicago factory continued to produce Dr. Grabow pipes for a few months until manufacturing equipment could be moved from Chicago to HL&T’s factory, Sparta Pipes, in Sparta, North Carolina. In December of 1953 the Dr. Grabow Pipe Co., corporation of Chicago finally dissolved.

 

[newbroom]

I got a Linkman's Grabow last week, a Supreme...it says Linkman's right on it...this one, a Tru Grain, is said to be or the Linkman era and I think that goes to around 1944? So, I gather the screw threads are different, as well as the stem symbol...but essentially very much the same...I like that scoop stinger.

It was a Westbrook that arrived in a batch of 4 pipes I got for about 10 bucks that got my Grabow attention.

I'd bid on the batch to get a Barling's Make stummel with silver band, in good condition but no stem.

The Westbrook became an instant favorite, and now the Supreme is too. I'm hopeful for the Tru Grain.

Select and De Luxe from that era are also on my scanner.

 

[ejames]

The Linkman "era" actually extended to about 1954-55 when HLT bought both the Dr. Grabow Pipe Co and Linkman ( and Van Roy) and moved them to Sparta,NC. and formed Sparta Pipes. Linkman made the DG pipes up until then,they just were not stamped Linkman after 1944.

 

[davet]

Very interesting, thanks again for sharing the history with us. :worship: