Watch Out on eBay

[NeverBend]

When evaluating pipes online there can be problems that you need to notice. I’ll use this thread to post pictures and listings with comments about pipes that have distinct ‘problems’.

Lancaster meerschaum lined - imported briar. (http://www.ebay.com/itm/LANCASTER-ESTATE-PIPE-MEERCHEEM-LINED-IMPORTED-BRIAR-CIVIC-ON-STEM-/261917343569?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cfb7d7f51)
Civic was a good quality GBD second line pipe made in their conventional shapes and they’re sometimes a good value.. This isn’t a GBD shape and I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a meer lined GBD product. I don’t know the name Lancaster but assume it to be a private label of some kind.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/wAAZ9EM3BJ5aOhWkZnLeoir3FZRZ-xXzJRYP0CWC90-eDYgQ6kbrOFkKx8T1iLQcUznvdQrIFCeLnSMxs41upqmu7nuG-QCMY8gYS_Y2oxkAnc8nHRTOfJQWn9igCaDjPAmbt-M
The stem doesn’t fit flush to the shank, it’s higher. Some original stems are shorter because of buffing but never higher. There are a load of fills but that doesn’t preclude it from being a Civic.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/1-sNpr35BvYYjjtI8uR-FaLWiyyi34qdJlw9cLuPEjITZs996BaVbAttG0xGgRfl6lQ6G0 OQj0pSiZ5WZ2LpUuFk1v3Km0sdYSiCJKSP3XVM-2uZpCBuAK5HWxUt9u9t8PKFutk
This is the other side of the pipe and it’s clear that the problem (higher) is on both sides the stem.


https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/NC6egO2dYJQ39b222eAZ4FyUuqCnJpT8fWuZO46AK7PrT0qTRP 8A-9OQLdICFXbDXZph2bQyT-RILyOLxI5ewKWmJjdYlckEIGmaJZ0qp3CszJkttNRCWTnN22uN c2LW01y7Uzs
From this angle the mismatch is clear and, to me, it looks like this is a Civic stem that was straightened but originally mounted on a bent pipe.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/nB8RovIQe_NICmAbrL76ywEY1Ny4S-XU2o_K_Igv0J-IZrzgA-lWgqFKD3Q2_VmpUJPKvv-oJ5RNQF9ZsrgflqlUqyM1Gwx9fWtOYjTvAVmVOMMWvN63B0UwV Fp3F6iCi36scqs
The bit was completely remade (it’s shaved and poorly done) and the button is raw without any smoothing that should be on even a low priced pipe.


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/37CwcJ29czhA-NGO8Ti09KILMtiTwmMKQ8ShHGadqplrX2zPYk7Gz8l3Zt8GKh0 2sXlJruwevBILwMKTzjfnIhzpOjtIQCYsjLYUXp8exlONhf-fRhyK0Xkqf-gQhxu30RDLuXo
The tenon must have been a lucky fit because it appears unaltered. When you see a mismatched stem/bowl and there’s no picture of the tenon, assume that it (tenon) was altered and perhaps damaged to make it fit.

I get a kick out of mish-mash pipes like this although I don’t want to own it. The problems with this pipe are easy to see.

[NeverBend]

I always look at Barling's. If you want to waste a couple of days ask me why (careful, I give tests afterwards!).

This is a Barling currently selling on eBay with a replacement stem. To be precise, it’s a Canadian because they have taper stems (Lumberman are saddle).

Barling Canadian (http://www.ebay.com/itm/BARLING-CANADIAN-LUMBERMAN-T-V-F-PIPE-6574-VERY-CLEAN-STUNNING-GRAIN-/181772979958?)
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/At05wsQCSjugsUfoWA9_u3cVSAQF1UYfemhAlcq0ZwlAAzl4zL iFkrmaXnqepgUIEaWr9gNhIF7G-cvbQccGm4WISukuPqW8kxCz63-5tnT6E8KJHkz4mCFAx68P3uiKLsmiFz4
Side view of the pipe that has nice proportions but a distinctly non-Barling shaped mouthpiece.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/UatmZ4fxpr4SL9Awqz3F0UR0QyJIsOlyOMt7x3C6aYv3in9V61 8pJg9eIgB8AUeTyvfBgmeRUu_8Y3mV8cYBQaXuyWZiy6mKvawE 91g_vF3epIe42zKOlHSiDNUwOT9mGOI-IZ8
The density of the stain is lighter at the stem join and that’s usually an indication of replaced bit but this isn’t badly done and the stem, though ordinary and not of the quality of the original Barling stem, appears to be serviceable.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/bendTCdxg2eEaah2A2hzRjmlYr6DR262CzX5avo9FcmTbBpBBg 4Mg-MZGf5xH363_KpWy7qtqjsZDQ3Nso6EDHIxMnQOcU7BEuLMwE4F jqJuifYzeenD03Bwf5IVhLPh3E-xpqA
This is the problem that I wanted to demonstrate. Note that the draught hole bore extended into the opposite side of the bowl! This is a handmade bowl but over time, after Barling was sold, there were increasing quality issues such as this.

If one were to buy this pipe they would need to ‘plug’ the hole on the opposite wall with pipe mud.



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/xUbhPNEY0TzlRMd3he4972Er469EkbHfrfEw6zJFIhU_j9QW2q wsw0d6XqojBpNbXJmNkmXUB2ubx6MzukNfzq2YRLULzp3DEIzd nhTOGztuGW4jp-8oRB7D4vqOWgQkaHiPGDk
In this picture you can see that they draught hole coming out of the shank is right at the bottom and well centered and that the over-extended boring that hit the opposite wall hasn't created a channel (that would be a more difficult and tenuous repair).

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/fLfup3q7xpCb5oxckrwI7YR-TV2RqplOIPi-kDIEsiHPNVidziX62R-kw8gxkB3M2tMJI0MrGI-vs2_d4i9qiv8xxCJAevx0EwQ246G95SHaS00_KZyVSZiyzCVin lSPgSA5Sr4
I’d like to see the bottom of the bowl but this picture of the front (where the extended bore is) shows no discoloration (not a hotspot or burning out).

This is a handmade Barling bowl and these are the exceptional pipes from the post Family Era (post transition) and some are great smokers. Briar looks like it was a quality piece and the shaping is good if not quite the same as a Family Era Barling but it’s fortunate that the seller included these photos that seems to clarify what the problem is. If it were an original stem I’d be all over it.

[NeverBend]

June 24th, 2015

Dunhill Bruyere billiard (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Estate-DUNHILL-Bruyere-253F-T-Group-4-Restored-Good-Condition-/121685079879?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c54fef747)

Know the models of the manufacturer. The Bruyere is the oldest Dunhill finish and it’s a deep red with black background. The stain has been stripped on this pipe so that it’s far more similar to the Root finish. The rim has been sanded and rounded.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/SFKdrCOFMyCUjIoVSW2kGwEDn4f_PGdgFlrfN5sbCyTluTaDBq G8ueFrZ_sZ1GY6R-tLgV_uP2ZUr26awYvjedV5g6OTijaCCON9WOs3UHKxJLTQ6lf6 TUjIJXGagtRimRxhwEk

You can see some remaining spots of the Bruyere red stain around the nomenclature that’s been severely buffed. There’s a little damage on the shank at the stem join.
This pipe could be purchased as a smoker but its intrinsic value, and on Dunhill that’s normally high, is all but gone in an inept and thoughtless attempt at restoration.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/IGXVmT_y7Ln_7N7ttyn19lOOUIMNOnvKJz_bO7nvYUB-Tmg7I9NZg6ThFC3ilgvIF_S2AbXh4SDgiz3MbTrwvbVLk8Dqvr iY4G9Mp-JpT-QdGVzCEcnaskhus7d3OUa5spgHKOY

Dunhills are costly so know what you’re looking at before dropping good coin on them.

[NeverBend]

June 24th, 2015

This pipe was incorrectly described as having been made by Ser Jacopo so I wrote to the seller who changed their listing and sent a nice note to me.
Kudos to them. I have no issue now with pipe and I leave the picture and link for those who want to see it (rather than a blank post).

Gepetto (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ser-Jacopo-Geppetto-Grotto-estate-pipe-/131541260455?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1ea07858a7) Pipe
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/BIzEzZA-qCN9s7bJ1rB_xMI0fmo4jgykO1aGZnsuFiZWOC0_tS_dMhdao1 Ta8LXH89TF0ise43TBVyE5UoZy-PfyOcQrsRihdRpUNy9TQ6FX8PiUj-aGhKvoDTspxjTbhws6vdo