Blurry photos in eBay's Estate Pipes category

[Ropey]

I've never seen so many out-of-focus pics in my life! It seems that, as soon as someone decides he wants to sell an estate pipe, his camera immediately loses its ability to focus

I'd like to try my hand at a little pipe restoration, but I'm hesitant to drop any cash on what appears to be an endless array of brown blobs.

[Branzig]

That's odd, most the pipes I look at and buy on eBay have decent pictures. What pipes are you looking at?

Estates are great! I love buying and fixing up old pipes!

[NeverBend]

I've never seen so many out-of-focus pics in my life! It seems that, as soon as someone decides he wants to sell an estate pipe, his camera immediately loses its ability to focus

I'd like to try my hand at a little pipe restoration, but I'm hesitant to drop any cash on what appears to be an endless array of brown blobs.

Hi Ropey,
@Branzig is probably like me and I dismiss pipes that I can't see well enough to determine if it's what I want.

If you can't see it, don't buy it. If there are any bids on a lot it's doubtful that the seller can, even if they were willing, to post other pictures.

The other day I saw a pipe and the description said "no major damage" and "good condition for its age". The pictures were weak but I could see two major cracks that ran through the bowl from the rim downward (one about 1/2"). I wrote the seller complaining about the description and he omitted "no major damage".

Buyer beware!

Pete

[LandonColby]

Not trying to hijack...but I see a lot of "Algerian Briar" pipes go for dirt cheap. Any information on those?

[NeverBend]

Not trying to hijack...but I see a lot of "Algerian Briar" pipes go for dirt cheap. Any information on those?

Hi Landon,

The answer to your question is really two parts, the briar (Algerian) and the quality of the pipe.

Algeria was the primary source of briar for most brands for many years until just before the Algerian Civil War in 1954 when the supply evaporated. The myth that it's superior comes from the famous brands, like Dunhill and Barling, that used mostly Algerian briar through (about) 1954. The truth is that many brands, before 1954, used Algerian briar too.

Most pipes that are marked "Algerian Briar" were made after the Civil War using existing stocks so they were 'marketing' what was no longer available. It's not a reliable way to date the pipes but they're usually 50 or more years old.

You need to evaluate the quality of the pipe independent of the claim of Algerian briar. If you like the shape, finish and size and it's manufactured well and in a condition that you're comfortable with then it should be a good choice. That it was made with Algerian briar won't hurt.

[PMR]

My eBay Gold Coast Algerian Briar is one of the best smoking pipes I have. Its really very good.

[mooster]

I've never seen so many out-of-focus pics in my life! It seems that, as soon as someone decides he wants to sell an estate pipe, his camera immediately loses its ability to focus

That seems to happen to me. I can't take a decent shot of a pipe to save my life. I suppose I should look into a little photography instruction for my own benefit; it's probably something simple with lighting. But it all seems so pointless now that I can't use my old 35mm and get the film developed locally.

[NeverBend]

That seems to happen to me. I can't take a decent shot of a pipe to save my life. I suppose I should look into a little photography instruction for my own benefit; it's probably something simple with lighting. But it all seems so pointless now that I can't use my old 35mm and get the film developed locally.

I can't take quality pics anymore either. I did better with film cameras.
The pipes that I put on eBay were photographed and sold by my friend who took these pics. A little pipe porn and a last look for me.
Charatan's Make Special Extra Large Handmade
Loewe Ripple Grain NIB (possible)
WDC Real Amber ~1895 (almost certain)
McCranies Handmade

Charatan's Make #148X
Samuel M. Bull 1896 (almost certain)

Charatan's Make #3101DC
Sasieni Four-Dot KS 55G "Ruff-Root (maybe)

It's highly likely that 2 of these pipes were and 2 may have been made with Algerian briar.

[Trroutman22]

I am the bastage that you don't want buying your pipes if you are an ebay seller who doesn't post all of the issues with a pipe. I have literally filed 6-8 "item not as described" with ebay for pipes that had hidden or failed to mention issues. I don't care if you know anything about pipes or not, you can still see a crack or a hole in the stem. Ebay always side with the buyer on these issues, even if the seller says no returns. Sure it is a bigger pain to go thru but it doesn't bother me to go through it at all. Being a schit seller on ebay doesn't fly with me.