Pipes in Selection #3 - Click the grid image to view details of each pipe

OPPENHEIMER (now Cadogan)

A well-known historic English firm of pipemakers in the UK which incorporated the brands GBD, Comoy, Orlik (Byford), BBB, Loewe, Dr Plumb, Kaywoodie, City de Luxe and others. The factory in Southend-on-Sea occupied a complete block with four addresses. When the Export Sales Manager visited South Africa we had four meetings with him, each under the auspices of a different local representative. Real cloak and dagger stuff – but great fun.

Loewe Pigalle Smooth Poker shape 22

254-RfLoewePigalle22  R395.00  

Loewe “Pigalle” made in France. Probably in Saint-Claude, in the Jura Mountains.
The rim shows Cross Grain on the bowl which continues on the front and back of the bowl. Good tight Birdseye on the sides with plenty of hard wood. Original stamped mouthpiece. Carefully smoked, quite good condition.

Weight  34g
Inside bowl diameter 18mm
Inside bowl depth 40mm

GBD one of the original brands – London Made.

254-RfGBDTrafalgarPot  R395.00   on preview days*

From the GBD stable possibly when they were still in London. Generous size bowl capacity for this classic pot shaped English pipe. Good thick wood. Unsmoked

Weight  43g
Inside bowl diameter 23mm
Inside bowl depth 37mm

GBD Virgin Sandblast, Perspex Mouthpiece; Bent Brandy shape

254-RfGBD BentSb R595.00      

The sandblasting on this pipe must have been very light – it has worn smooth after only a few months – according to the owner. Certainly it has not been very heavily smoked.
Remove mouthpiece with clockwise twist.   

Weight  46g
Inside bowl diameter  21mm
Inside bowl depth  41mm

GBD Virgin Fancy shape, Perspex Mouthpiece. Tulip shape

254-RfGBD Acryl Fancy R595.00     

This inverted bell shaped bowl has a lovely secure feel in the hand, and the thickness of the wood will keep it cool.  Remove the mouthpiece with a clockwise twist. 
Hardly smoked, just one small worn patch on the rim, and the usual few dings.

Weight  51g
Inside bowl diameter  22mm
Inside bowl depth  43mm

GBD Virgin shape 269, Bulldog, Perspex Mouthpiece

254-RfGBDAcryl269 BDog  R595.00    on preview days*

From the middle price range of GBD pipes, this pipe is a classic English shape. The wood is filled with tight grain. Mostly Birdseye with matching  Flame Grain The transparent mouthpiece brings a sense of lightness to the overall view of the pipe. Remove the mouthpiece with a clockwise twist.
Very sparingly smoked, with slight darkening of the rim of the bowl and a few “dings”.

Weight  49g
Inside bowl diameter  20mm
Inside bowl depth  40mm

CIVIC

254-RfCivic012Bent Sm  R395.00    on preview days*

Lightly smoked – lightweight briar with nice graining. The bent shape will make it feel eve lighter on the teeth.  Good condition except for a few surface “dings“

Weight  33g
Inside bowl diameter  17mm
Inside bowl depth  35mm

BYFORD bent shape 116

254RfByf 116  R550.00     

Made back in the days when Byford pipes really had quality bowls and a good trap.
Discontinued now, but still in demand. Details here  
Hardly smoked, very good condition.

Weight  42g
Inside bowl diameter  19mm
Inside bowl depth  38mm

G W Sims

G.W. Sims (just the modest G.W., though some consider that he was George) is known from the first half of the 20th century, and the first pipes of the artisan (and at times a repairman) were marked even more modestly – “GWS”. According to some sources, G. W. used to work for Charatan’s (that is clearly visible on some Sims pipes).  But finally he found himself as an independent tobacconist and an owner of a little shop in Northern London which existed till 1980. “G.W. Sims was one of the few English pipe makers who produced Danish style freehands carved from specially selected plateaux briar. Mr. Sims willingly made pipes to personal specifications”. (Pipedia).
Customers have been known to make a long way from other English cities to purchase G.W. Sims pipes for a collection.

G W Sims smooth tall Billiard

254-RfSimsTallBill Sm R395.00    on preview days*

Tall bowl – angled forward. Hardly smoked, plenty of hardwood, loose flowing grain – no apparent fillings.
Condition good as new. No filter.  Suitable for a relatively fine cut tobacco like our popular Rhodesian No.1.

Weight  32g
Inside bowl diameter  16mm
Inside bowl depth  45mm

Prolong the life of your favourite briar with a little more care and attention.

Professional Refurbishment.

Take a look at those old discarded pipes (discoloured, sour, damaged) - some of them may easily justify the cost of a professional repair or refurbishment. The bowl will be reamed, cleaned and sweetened with "mead", and the whole pipe polished to restore its dignified appearance - only the dents will remain as a reminder of past pleasures.
As well as replacement mouthpieces, a hole in the bowl or a cracked shank can be repaired.
You won't be able to buy a new branded pipe for the R200 to R300 the professional job may cost you. Bring in your pipe for assessment.

D I Y Refurbishment

Here is a step-by-step procedure:

There are 4 distinct cleaning processes:
1. Removing the build-up of tars and juices which collect inside the shank and mouthpiece, and in the base of the bowl.Work over a tray or dish lined with paper. Remove the mouthpiece from the pipe. Insert the nozzle of the CGA Pressurised Pipe Cleaner spray into the peg of the stem and press down for 2-3 seconds to release the spray. Repeat for the shank. Use a bristle cleaner to really scrub the inside of the shank and mouthpiece. Or you could dip the bristle in a solvent (eg Savinelli Pipe Clean, or some form of alcohol). You could pour or spray just a little solvent into the base of the inside of the bowl and work the bristle cleaner through from the slightly tilted shank.           
Try not to splash the solvent on the outside of the bowl or mouthpiece. Be careful not to start a hole in the base of the bowl through excessive twisting - and for very bent pipes go easy round the bend in the mouthpiece.
You have finished when the pipe cleaner comes through clean.
2. Keeping the carbon layer under control. When necessary, ream the carbon layer inside the bowl to an even thickness of about 1.5mm (R1 coin) - the T-shaped reamer from Savinelli, the Dunhill Carbon Cutter, or the precise, high-tech Senior reamer will do the job comfortably. Wipe the inside of the bowl with a little of the solvent.
3. Polishing the vulcanite mouthpiece to remove the bitter taste. Remove the oxidation from the mouthpiece with a mild abrasive (eg Dunhill Pipe Mouthpiece Polish, Savinelli Stem Polish or Jeweller's Rouge). This might require vigorous and lengthy rubbing (a whole TV programme). If very dull and green, a buffing wheel is a big help - remove the mouthpiece to prevent accidental breakage. With the buffing wheel, take care not to buff too hard on one spot - the vulcanite may burn. If the logo is stamped on the mouthpiece it will possibly disappear.
(A recent comment from a customer was that a buffing wheel is necessary when using "jeweller's rouge" but that he found a good hand rub sufficient when using Savinelli Stem Polish regularly.)
Watchpoint - water based cleaners or abrasives (eg Handy Andy, Vim) or alcohols (eg Meths, benzine) may add to the discolouration of the outside of the mouthpiece - extra polishing will be necessary.
4. Beauty treatment for the outside of the briar bowl. Polish the outside of the bowl with a wax polish (eg Dunhill Bowl Polish; Savinelli Bowl Polish) and a clean cloth. Again a buffing wheel can help - remember to remove the mouthpiece before starting.
(Corncobs shouldn't need a polish, but a beechwood will appreciate it once the varnish has worn off.)
5. Long term protection for the whole pipe.
The Dunhill Silicone Pipe Care Cloth: 100% waxed cotton - Rub lightly over the surface of bowl and mouthpiece after cleaning and polishing. Protects the pipe with an invisible film of silicone wax.

Complete Cleaning Kits are available from Denicotea and Dunhill

Finally, leave the pipe to stand bowl down for at least 24 hours before smoking.

NB Read about cleaning your Meerschaum - a very different process.

Prevention is better than Cure!
1. Don't oversmoke a pipe (especially your favourite) - it will become saturated and turn "sour".
Do rotate your pipes to allow each to dry out properly.
2. Do polish the mouthpiece regularly, don't let the oxidation get the upper hand.
3. Do allow the carbon layer to build in your new pipe - right to the bottom of the bowl - and then keep it reamed to about 1.5mm thickness to prevent cracking.
4. If yours is a filter pipe - do use the filter or use the adapter. Don't smoke without one of them, even once, it can lead to an ill-fitting mouthpiece through a swollen shank. This is almost impossible to rectify.
5. To prevent breakage, do hold close to the join when removing the mouthpiece from the bowl, and don't remove the mouthpiece until the pipe is cool.
6. Don't use a sharp pointed instrument to clean out the bowl - you may drill a hole in the bottom.
7. Do hold your pipe by the bowl (not the stem) when "tapping out" the ash; and don't knock it against a hard surface - you may break the shank or mouthpiece or crack the bowl. Fit a "cork knocker" to a handy ashtray.
The general principle to bear in mind is that the cleaner and drier you keep your pipe, the more enjoyable it will be to smoke - and the longer it will continue to give pleasure.

ALL IMAGES AND CONTENT © Colin Wesley 2020

		. . .. . .. . .. . .. . . .