Yello-Bole Collection

[galeon]

Since I first started looking at estate pipes, I was really intrigued by old Yello-Boles. Since I purchased my first YB, a truly beautiful piece, I've managed to get 6 in my collection. I figured I'd share them with you guys and tell you a bit about them.
Here's the collection:

From left to right:

1936-1939 Yello-Bole Carburetor. I bought this from a member here and it's a great smoke and I love the Propeller Logo.

1936-1939 Yello-Bole Premier. This one was destroyed when I first got it, but Ed James breathed a new life into her.

1936-1939 Yello-Bole Oom-Paul. I've never seen one quite like this before, but she's quite a beauty.

1936-1939 Yello-Bole Imperial. This was a great score off of Ebay. Only been smoked a handful of times.

1936-1939 Yello-Bole Imperial. This was my first Yello-Bole. Paid an arm and a leg for her, but worth every penny.

1960-1970 Yello-Bole Thorn. This isn't quite as old as the rest of my collection, but it's easily one of the coolest smoking YB's I own.
I know 6 pipes isn't too terribly much for a collection, but one day I might have a YB collection that can hold its own against Ed's Dr. Grabow collection. Hey, one can dream, can't he?

 

[ejames]

As we are fond of saying over at the Dr. Grabow Collectors Forum Steve--"If you have more than one--you are a collector"! Nice group of YB's! I really like that little panel with the yellow stem!

 

[photoman13]

Great pipes. I have one yello-bole that I restored. I can post pics oh here if you wish. It is a decent little smoker but I have no idea what its age is.

 

[captainsousie]

I love my YBs. They are surprisingly good smokers given their "cheap" rep. All mine have small-ish bowls which is good when I just want a short smoke. I've pulled the stingers from them and that seems to make them even better. Nice collection.

 

[cigrmaster]

Steve, I would consider having 6 of one kind of pipe a collection, I don't have 6 of anything yet,I have a couple of 5's but no sixes. Nice looking collection, those are some seriously old pipes. I am unfamiliar with that line, what country do they come from?

 

[shawn]

Steve, those are some great looking pipes.

 

[galeon]

Photoman, I'd love to see your YB and anyone else here that has one!
Cigrmaster, The YB line was designated as an outlet for Kaywoodie's lower grade briar, and was based in the US. They even got their Briar from Santa Cruz, CA for a while during... WWII, I think. I don't think there's anything lower grade about their old pieces, though. They had some stunning pieces and some stunning shapes.
Dave, I pulled all the stingers from mine and have them set aside, since they're so old and add to their value. Only had one break, though. It was one of the 1936-ish model stingers, which are rare, so it made me pretty sad.
Shawn, Thanks! I'll keep collecting them as long as my wife keeps liking the photos on Ebay. When the wife says, I don't like that one, I don't buy it.

 

[photoman13]

Here is mine. When I got it the rim was in really bad shape so I decided to sand it flat and put a little olive oil on it. It turned out pretty nice if you ask me. How do you date them?

 

[galeon]

Wow. That really is a good looking Yello-Bole. There's a guy who has a huge collection of YB's and has a good site for dating them. http://www.otcpipes.com/ybdating.html
What's the stamping on that guy?

 

[photoman13]

It is kind of hard to read but it says Yello-Bole R for trademark

Then something With Real Honey

Imported Briar

 

[photoman13]

I held it under the light and there is a Kbb in a clover on it as well.

 

[galeon]

Does it have KBB in a clover symbol to the left of the Cured With Real Honey R?

 

[photoman13]

Yeah I think so at least. I can't make out if it says cured but if I had to guess I would say yes.

 

[lostandfound]

All of those pipes are my kind of pipes, minus the paneled one. Don't like panels. The billiards scream tradition and the bent pipe looks wonderfully comfy.

 

[galeon]

I'd say your pipe is 1940-1955. Unless of cource it has a 4-digit stamp code on the right side of the shank. That would make it 1936-1940.
The panel has a beautiful grain and the stain matches perfectly with the stem color. I have 2 or 3 paneled pipes, and, while not my favorite, I still think they look great. That being said, I prefer the look of G5-ODA sized paneled pipes.

 

[photoman13]

That's pretty cool.