Your Thoughts on Brigham Pipes
- Thread starter rishimak
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I am a huge fan of Brigham pipes, with (as of now) seventeen examples of their work currently in my rotation. The maple filter system is, in my opinion, far superior to any other filter system for the simple reason that you can still pass a pipe-cleaner through them (Savinelli's balsa come a distant second for me).
That said, there is one major drawback you need to be aware of with Brigham pipes. Although the company is Canadian, and the original designs are Canadian, it is not cost efficient to manufacture their pipes here any longer; and as such have turned to an Italian factory (the same factory that makes Capri and Lorenzetti). These pipes are easily identified by their delrin tenons (Canadian made feature an aluminum tenon), and although they are well made, they feature a sodium-silicate (waterglass) bowl-lining, which isn't so cool (it doesn't allow for moisture to absorb into the briar). This can be removed, but it is a serious pain in the behind. Coincidentally, neither the Capri nor Lorenzetti lines seem to feature the solid pink bowl-liner.
Huh - thats a 2 dot in my avatar, neat.
That said, there is one major drawback you need to be aware of with Brigham pipes. Although the company is Canadian, and the original designs are Canadian, it is not cost efficient to manufacture their pipes here any longer; and as such have turned to an Italian factory (the same factory that makes Capri and Lorenzetti). These pipes are easily identified by their delrin tenons (Canadian made feature an aluminum tenon), and although they are well made, they feature a sodium-silicate (waterglass) bowl-lining, which isn't so cool (it doesn't allow for moisture to absorb into the briar). This can be removed, but it is a serious pain in the behind. Coincidentally, neither the Capri nor Lorenzetti lines seem to feature the solid pink bowl-liner.
Huh - thats a 2 dot in my avatar, neat.
Schmitz, what does the dot system mean? Quality grade? Google doesn't know.
Wait, they do!
The dot system originally consisted of 8 separate grades as follows (from lowest to highest grade):
1 DOT - "Brigham Standard"
2 DOT - "Brigham Select"
3 DOT (star pattern) - "Brigham Exclusive"
3 DOT (vertically aligned) - "Brigham Executive"
4 DOT - "Brigham Director"
3 DOT (horizontally aligned) - "Brigham VIP"
5 DOT - "Brigham Special Grain"
6 DOT - "Brigham Straight Grain"
Nice!
Wait, they do!
The dot system originally consisted of 8 separate grades as follows (from lowest to highest grade):
1 DOT - "Brigham Standard"
2 DOT - "Brigham Select"
3 DOT (star pattern) - "Brigham Exclusive"
3 DOT (vertically aligned) - "Brigham Executive"
4 DOT - "Brigham Director"
3 DOT (horizontally aligned) - "Brigham VIP"
5 DOT - "Brigham Special Grain"
6 DOT - "Brigham Straight Grain"
Nice!
schmitzbitz, thanks for that information about manufacturing. Wow, I am very disappointed to hear that they are now made in Italy. =( Booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. I have only 1 Brigham (with an aluminium tenon) and I think that any Brighams I acquire in future will be estates with aluminium tenons as well. =( Good to know, but disheartening.
Apparently another driving force that sent them to Italy was their rusticating workers were retiring, and there wasn't enough talented or interested work force here. Most of the workers were from Italy, so they figured "Why not?". Happened to save them a few bucks too.
The bulldog on the left is my Brigham. It was a $10 flea market snag to cleaned up with a few hours of elbow grease and has smoked very well since. Internet research shows it's likely from the mid 70s.
The bulldog on the left is my Brigham. It was a $10 flea market snag to cleaned up with a few hours of elbow grease and has smoked very well since. Internet research shows it's likely from the mid 70s.
I love brighams too, I've got a good collecting of about 2 dozens going, mostly 2 and 3 dots, but I do also have a few 4 dots. As a side collection, I try to get all the Brigham Sportsman as I can get, something about that rugged look and feel!
BTW: They all smoke very well!
BTW: They all smoke very well!
I can honestly say I have never heard of this brand. I don't know how as I have been on this forum for a while. Maybe I do know and just forgot. Who knows. They have some great pipes from the look of it.
For years Brigham pipes where the only easily access pipes in Canada. They at one point back in the pipe hayday had a shop on the main street of Toronto. Until recently rough carving was done offshore in Europe and the finishing and rustication was performed by inhouse technical experts. One lady I met had worked there for 60 years. I bought/aquired an old wood lathe from there shop on Ripley Dr in Toronto in the late 90's when they were downscaling their operation. The thing must have weighed 400lbs. It was a shame to hear they had gone to Italy I honestly don't believe the current pipes are near as good of smokers at the ones from their earlier years. I have a couple Lorenzetti pipes and to be honest am luke warm. The pipes smoke fine without the maple filter but it is truly amazing how dry even a wet tobacco smokes with the maple filter. No gurgle at all. That in itself is worth getting the filters for. I have roughly 30 of them in my collection now and most hit my rotation at least a couple of times per year. A friend of mine use to do sales for Brigham, he now restores pipes and carves a few of his own. His name is Stefan Seles if you have any other questions regarding Brigham I can forward to him since he has much better first hand knowlege.
wow piperl12 you have a wealth of information! Thanks! I would love to see some photos of yours if you get a chance.
they feature a sodium-silicate (waterglass) bowl-lining, which isn't so cool (it doesn't allow for moisture to absorb into the briar).
@schmitzbitz this is great info btw. I haven't seen such a thing before.
I am also very surprised that they would make such a radical change and leave it up to an outside manufacturer to do. What would be their reasoning and do you happen to know if all of their briars are like this?
@schmitzbitz this is great info btw. I haven't seen such a thing before.
I am also very surprised that they would make such a radical change and leave it up to an outside manufacturer to do. What would be their reasoning and do you happen to know if all of their briars are like this?
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