Watch Out on eBay

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.
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/wA...9igCaDjPAmbt-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-...xUt9u9t8PKFutk
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/NC...2uNc2LW01y7Uzs
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/nB...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/37...-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.

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
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/At...68P3uiKLsmiFz4
Side view of the pipe that has nice proportions but a distinctly non-Barling shaped mouthpiece.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Ua...NUwOT9mGOI-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/be...5IVhLPh3E-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/xU...vqOWgQkaHiPGDk
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/fL...CVinlSPgSA5Sr4
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.

June 24th, 2015

Dunhill Bruyere billiard

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/SF...XGagtRimRxhwEk

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/IG...7d3OUa5spgHKOY

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

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 Pipe
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/BI...TspxjTbhws6vdo