I had a bit of luck again.

[BanjoBob]

I've been checking the "Ending Soonest" hoping to find a bargain,
and I decided to bid on this.
I ended up winning it for $22.50 delivered from the Czech Republic.
I don't see how I could get hurt at that price.
David

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150723513239&ssPageName=ADME:B:EOIBSA:US:1123

I doubt it will be something for me to smoke, but I might make a few bucks on it.
Then again ... it could be a good smoke.

[Oldmaus]

Looks like a really nice pipe Bob. You should run a few past the SOB's
so we can take a crack at something once in awhile.

[BanjoBob]

That's a touchy area ... I stated when I joined I wasn't here to try to sell anyone pipes.
After that I gave my auction information so all can see what I bought and even showed a bunch of pipes I had for sale.
Today I even sent Lawrence an email showing him a brand new pipe I thought was a steal, so ... I feel like I HAVE shared extensively without appearing to be trying to profit.
I'm also getting ready to list over 30 more pipes for sale.
A Dozen of them are French made, and I'm amazed at how similar they are to the Italians.
I also highly recommend you all get some of those Schulte's <sp> pipes.
The pipe shot closed long ago and a relative is selling brand new pipes for $17 to $28 each. I bought one and it shined up so nice that I'm thinking of buying a bunch for an investment.
I bought a 5 3/4" long billiard, 3/4" bore and 1 1/2" bore depth, decent briar, and it was $17 delivered.
She has 61 auctions up right now and some auctions are for multiple pipes of a type like the one I bought, there's still 6 of those left.
Anyone want more info on those auctions?
David

[BanjoBob]

This is the Stanwell Colonial I sent Lawrence, I considered buying it, but I’m poor.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/160705508465?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

This is the new old pipe I bought for $17 delivered.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/110794022709?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

This should show you ALL the new/old pipes she has for sale.
Notice that most of the ones under $25 are not signed/inscribed w/ a name.
I wasn’t concerned w/ it having a brand.
When it arrived I noticed it was well made, good fitment, and it took a so-so fair shine w/ a light buffing.
It didn’t look like it was lacquered like most pipes I buff, but that could be because it isn’t stained a darker color.
I smoked it and it seemed to do exactly what was expected.
I thought for a pipe to smoke, it was made right out of damned good materials, expertly machined, and a good deal
for a correctly made pipe that I can enjoy for a long time.
It’s possible it isn’t stained at all, but I’ve had many pipes I bought that were white and unstained
and in time the tobacco gave them a beautiful color naturally.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/Tobacciana-/593/i.html?_catref=1&_ssn=twiddypie&_trksid=p3911.c0.m1538

If you do select a pipe from this seller, look them over and select the bowl shape you like, note that there are
tapered bits and saddle bits. There are billiards that have 1 1/4” deep bowls and 1 1/2” deep bowls.
There are different lengths.
There are other bowl shapes besides the standard billiard shape, sitters, acorns, wider top bowls, all sorts.
I bought a cheapie to check the quality and I like it.
Unfortunately, I must be careful,
I’m waiting on a contractor to show up to repair my chimney,
My 1970 Chevy hot rod trash hauler has been in the shop for 3 weeks,
my propane tank is getting low and my income is below my outgo.
David

[sparrow]

I also highly recommend you all get some of those Schulte's <sp> pipes.
The pipe shot closed long ago and a relative is selling brand new pipes for $17 to $28 each. I bought one and it shined up so nice...

I checked out the link and I kind of liked one of the Dublins. Nothing fancy, just simple, classic, appealing. I went ahead and picked it up.

I'm not familiar with Schulte, but it's hard to go wrong at $25. I'll post back when it comes in the mail. Maybe it will turn out to be a nice smoker.

Sam

[BanjoBob]

I forgot to mention that the $14 + $3 shipping Billiard pipe I bought has a flattened bottom so it sits nicely. I'd guess most should have this welcome feature.
Mine was the cheapest pipe they had, yet it has a lot of verticle grain, no sand pits and no fills.
If mine had a name on it like Savinelli I'd have the quality I'd expect from Savinelli without the $60 or more price tag.
David

[sparrow]

I'm not sure that the dublin shaped one that I picked will sit upright, but that doesn't concern me.

Pics from the bay -





I look forward to getting it in and polishing it a little.

[BanjoBob]

Well heck,
you got me to thinking about these pipes so much that I just bought 6 more of these cheapies.
I paid $89.50 including shipping.
I'll probably sell 4 on eBay and make my money back, then have a couple extras for my rack.
Polished up and a dozen close-up pics should make these easily sell for $25 or even $30 each.
Years ago I went to George's Pipe Shop in Lawrence, Kansas and George showed me many trays of pipes he'd made himself.
They were all unstained almost white colored good honest pipes and I've been kicking myself ever since for not buying a bunch of them.
This is no different.
I pictured how I'd feel months from now smoking the billiard and thinking I should have bought more.
So I pulled the trigger and ordered 6 of these pipes.
If they're as nice as the one they sent me before, I'll feel like a thief.
David

[sparrow]

...good honest pipes...

Someday we should talk about dishonest pipes, just for kicks.

That reminds me of a P.G. Woodhouse quote -
"Many a man may look respectable, and yet be able to hide at will behind a spiral staircase."

I know what you mean, though. Well-made, straightforward, nothing fancy... That's often lost these days, and not just with pipes.

[BanjoBob]

A few days ago I hauled my big buffer onto the back porch to buff as many pipes as possible before dark. I spent almost 2 hours buffing as quickly as possible and finished after dark in 40 degree weather.
I got 18 pipes shined up pretty well.
During this, one was a dishonest pipe.
It was a Dr. Grabow.
The instant I touched it with the big buffer wheel, the shiny finish turned much duller
It turned out the entire pipe was coated in a thin varnish that now had to be completely removed.
I removed most of it before deciding I'd finish it later because being a larger BENT pipe, there are many places the 8" wheel won't get to.
I had similar experiences before.
I recently had a big shiny pipe that I was going to give a light touch-up buffing.
When I buffed the black shiny bit, I buffed away the fake shiny surface on the bit,
and I stopped because the stuff under the shiny surface was a dull black color that couldn't be buffed to a shiny state again.
I've ran across several pipes whose bits were obviously not the hard rubber Vulcanite/Ebonite.
The bits would scrub up and cotton fibers would stick to it and it wouldn't take a shine. I've only seen that happen w/ nylon bits on corn cobs.
At that point I've learned to stop buffing and use a pocket knife to smooth it up as much as possible and put it on eBay for next to nothing.
Recently I sold 9 of these dishonest pipes on eBay. I think the group brought $3.56.
Good riddance.
The only reason they brought that much was because one of the pipes was unsmoked.
It too was obviously a dishonest pipe.
David

[sparrow]

The Schulte that I bought came in the mail today. And it's pretty much exactly as pictured/advertised. A simple but well-made pipe with nice fit and finish.

The drilling is spot on, the mortise/tenon fit is snug, it has a nice countersink on the shank face and the stem fits flush to it. And like David said, it does indeed have a flattened section on the bottom of the stummel so it sits upright with the bit just off the table surface. The bowl, rim, shank and stem are all finished smoothly. I think it will even have some decently pleasing grain when shined up.

The only detraction I can give is that it appears to have been dip-stained, so the inside of the bowl was stained as well. Oddly, after staining someone looks to have used a sanding bit on a drill to very lightly sand the inside of the bowl, and the stain is completely removed around the draft hole. But it's not damaged at all, and the draft hole is smooth, round, and intact.

The pipe smells pretty musty even though it is unused. It clearly spent a long long time in a forgotten closet. Nothing that a cleaning, a good buffing, and a bit of polish can't cure. These would make good project pipes to learn to shine up.

Really nice pipe for the money, I'm glad I snagged it. Thanks for mentioning these David.

Sam

[BanjoBob]

Good deal Sam.
I've now bought 29 of them.
Actually I've BOUGHT 1, then 4, then 11, then 7 more and the seller was so grateful she said she was tossing in 6 of the pipes that had problems because she couldn't sell them.
Those will probably become my smokers and I will sell the more gooder pipes.
I've had 5 delivered so far.
I want to point out that the ones that are "signed" I believe are the better
pipes so far as grain is concerned.
I suspect the old guy picked out the more perfect pipes to receive his brand, but the 4 pipes that arrived today each has a SPOT where the grain is less than perfect.
These are the ones that sell for $14, so for the extra $11 the signed ones bring,
you really do get what you pay for.
I have no complaints.
Despite the almost perfect grain, I still expect to make a little on these after they are shined up and have 12 pictures taken of them.
I listed my brand new unsmoked Viprati late last night.
I had $40 in it including shipping and listed it for $60.
The guy in China that bought my Castello snapped it right up.
I think it was a $109 pipe when new 5 years ago, and it was a pristine billiard.
That was a good start for my day.
Then somebody paid me $37.95 + shipping for my 4# copper hammer.
I also sold an ink pen I bought for $2 for $10.
Since last night I have 4 pipes I've listed.
1 Orlik Poker,
2 Savinelli Veneka's
1 Blackfriar standard POT shape.
The Blackfriar is the only one that shows any signs of being used.
I really need to sell some pipes now since I've spent over $1200 during December.
Today I bought a display of Missouri Meerschaum's w/ 7 new pipes on it.
It's pretty old but I thought it was a steal.
I love the newly listed pipes that are priced just right for me.
I figure I'll take a couple of the cobs for myself and sell the display w/ 5 pipes and get my $32 back.
If anyone wants to take a look, here they are.

http://my.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?MyEbay&gbh=1&CurrentPage=MyeBayAllSelling&ssPageName=STRK:ME:LNLK:MESX

[BanjoBob]

Here's the corn cobs I won today.
BanjoBob

http://www.ebay.com/itm/130625639361?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

[BanjoBob]

I pulled a cob from the card and tried it.
It sucked bad.
Tasted of plastic.
I was almost finished w/ the bowl when I decided to remove the filter.
I tried to re-light what was left and sucked a burning ember into the back of my throat.
It was far less pleasurable than it sounds.
I dumped the tiny bit of remaining ash and put it up.
The following day I filled it w/ 1Q and tried it again.
Not bad!
Hardly any plastic taste at all and a much improved smoke.
I tink it has possibilities.
I might just have to save 2 from the auction.
Banjo