My Custom-bilts

Reclaimed from the other forum. These are some Custys I have received and restored. Figured I would post them over here at my new home. I have added some more to my collection since posting these, I will add them as I have time.

Well I just finished this up...I think I over-paid a bit for it, but I am OK with it :D

http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/...psijqzwzvx.jpg

http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6jlznahv.jpg

http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/...psjr7lc7ck.jpg

http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/...psuyu7ammz.jpg

For those of you who don't know, I have been hunting for a Custombilt for a while now, and when I found this one and saw the shape it was in, I decided to pull the trigger. When it arrived, it really didn't need too much more work. Just some finishing touches. The previous owner seems confident that it is a Tracy Mincer from the time just before he left Custombilt, but I have my doubts. It does have a couple of his signature marks, but I know that dating these post "Custom-bilt" era Tracy pipes is very difficult. Either way, I am very happy with the purchase...So happy in fact that a PAD attack took place...I'll be posting damage when they arrive :lol:

Well it finally came...been waiting a while for this thing. It needs a lot of work, but it is a true blue 1940's Custom-bilt, and I am really excited to get cracking on it. Some bozo who owned it before tried to wax it I think, so there is white residue all over the pipe and in a lot of the crevices...with this deep of a rustication, it sure is gong to be fun to clean up...

http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/...psehsbaut4.jpg

http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/...psqpieo4lc.jpg

http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/...psson6kfev.jpg

Finished that last one:

http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/...pstibc6yvu.jpg

http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/...psexitfzfy.jpg

http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/...psh4shcgkn.jpg

http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/...psevjp5epo.jpg

Getting all the built up wax out of the rustication was a real chore...a lot of hand work involved there! Other than that it was a pretty straight forward restore! My first pre-1940 pipe restore I think! :D

Just finished up another Custombilt. Probably going to be my last one for a bit!

Here's some before pics. Luckily it was in pretty good shape from the get go. The stem was a little beat up, but I forgot to take before shots of it

http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/...psfbkxdimq.jpg

http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/...pswrrvw7nw.jpg

And the After:

http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/...psaokkdhgk.jpg

http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/...psvzs2yasi.jpg

I'm not seeing any pics :confused:

Probably have to edit in the pics again

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Originally Posted by 04EDGE40

I'm not seeing any pics :confused:

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Originally Posted by LandonColby

Probably have to edit in the pics again

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Grrr....annoying imagestore hyperlinks.... All the pictures show up fine on my end, but until you hit edit you couldn't see the hidden code in there.... :livid:

I think I fixed it?

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Originally Posted by Branzig

Grrr....annoying imagestore hyperlinks.... All the pictures show up fine on my end, but until you hit edit you couldn't see the hidden code in there.... :livid:

I think I fixed it?

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Yup!

Good work, sir!

Excellent. I am a huge fan of CBs and Tom Howards. I have a little collection so to speak. Great smokers they are and it's nice to see a feller who enjoys them as much as I do.

Would you mind if I posted mine here or would you prefer that be in another thread?

Very nice! I like the rugged carved style. I have a Kaywoodie Hand Made that is very similar.

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Originally Posted by Mr Motoyoshi

Excellent. I am a huge fan of CBs and Tom Howards. I have a little collection so to speak. Great smokers they are and it's nice to see a feller who enjoys them as much as I do.

Would you mind if I posted mine here or would you prefer that be in another thread?

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I have a couple Tom Howards on my "want" list...there has been one I have been watching for quite a long time. I just need to finally pull the trigger on it!

Feel free to post what you have! No worries!

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Originally Posted by spyder

Very nice! I like the rugged carved style. I have a Kaywoodie Hand Made that is very similar.

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Another pipe that is on my wish list! I have been trying to find a nice Hand Made series Kaywoodie for a long time. I have come across a couple, but the prices were all way to high!

@Branzig These are cool! The rugged style speaks to me. I'm going to have to find one or two for myself!

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Originally Posted by Chris0673

@Branzig These are cool! The rugged style speaks to me. I'm going to have to find one or two for myself!

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Thanks!

Yeah, I love the rugged American look too. They are excellent smokers to boot. I have a couple more I am working on now that I will post here when I am finished.

As was mentioned, if you like these CBs, be sure to check out some Tom Howards and Kaywoodie Handmade series as well. They are both on my want list and have great looks to them :encouragement:

Attachment 529

Enjoying some 1949 in one of my favorite CBs

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Originally Posted by Mr Motoyoshi

Attachment 529

Enjoying some 1949 in one of my favorite CBs

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That's one clean Custy! Be sure to post those Tom Howard's as well :D

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Originally Posted by Branzig

Just finished up another Custombilt. Probably going to be my last one for a bit!

Here's some before pics. Luckily it was in pretty good shape from the get go. The stem was a little beat up, but I forgot to take before shots of it

http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/...psfbkxdimq.jpg

http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/...pswrrvw7nw.jpg

And the After:

http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/...psaokkdhgk.jpg

http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/...psvzs2yasi.jpg

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I really like this one! What is the approx. length?

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Originally Posted by Tobias Lutz

I really like this one! What is the approx. length?

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That bad boy is around 5.5 inches long. Has a good sized bowl on it too, right around 1 3/4 inches deep and an inch wide.

Smokes like a champ too.

Those are some fine looking pipes. How did you get the wax out of the valleys?

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Originally Posted by Haebar

Those are some fine looking pipes. How did you get the wax out of the valleys?

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It was terrible... :livid:

I used a hairdrier to soften all the wax up, then had to use tooth picks and a sewing needle to carefully remove all the residue. Had to be pretty diligent and steady to make sure that I didn't scratch or gouge anything.

Worst part is how much I paid for that pipe....wasn't in the advertised condition when I received it....oh well, everything turned out alright. :pipe:

I, like @Branzig , am a huge fan of Custombilts. I asked him permission to post in the thread. Not to challenge but to share our passion for these excellent pipes.

Attachment 647

This is my humble collection. I had a Nosewarmer pot but gave it to a friend and fellow member here.

Attachment 648

These are my Tom Howard pipes. Many claim that Tracy Mincer made these pipes and Tom put his name on it. Regardless they are masculine smoking machines.


Last but not least was a pipe listed as a Custombilt but I have my suspicious. It does have a star stamped into Iike some early CBs. He has been welcomed by the other CB pipes and is one of my best smokers.

Attachment 649

Attachment 650

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Originally Posted by Mr Motoyoshi

I, like @Branzig , am a huge fan of Custombilts. I asked him permission to post in the thread. Not to challenge but to share our passion for these excellent pipes.

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Wonderful collection! Those Tom Howard squats are excellent! I have to get one!

As far as the last pipe is concerned, I agree that it doesn't look quite like a CB, but if it smokes like one, that is all that matters :D

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Originally Posted by Chris0673

@Branzig These are cool! The rugged style speaks to me.

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I agree great job Buddy! Do you guys just look up custom builts on ebay or something? would like to try and get one.

I love the looks of this pipe, Brandon. Enjoy!

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Originally Posted by cbr310

I agree great job Buddy! Do you guys just look up custom builts on ebay or something? would like to try and get one.

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If I told you my secretes, I'd have to kill you!

There is already enough kids out there grabbing up my vintage CustomBILTS :p

But on a serious note, yes, Ebay is a good source to pick up some CBs

Here is my latest resto of a Custom-Bilt. This one wasn't to terrible, the previous owner really loved and for the most part took care of her. It needed a good reaming, the stem was pretty nasty with oxidation, and the bowl needed a clean and buff. Other than that, not to bad at all. Haven't smoked it yet....so we will see if it is in need of a SA treatment.

Super pumped about the silver belt! They are rather rare and pretty hard to come by.

http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/...psle8bd8rr.jpg

http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/...pshzfskegi.jpg

That's a cool pipe, nice work!

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Originally Posted by Branzig

Here is my latest resto of a Custom-Bilt. This one wasn't to terrible, the previous owner really loved and for the most part took care of her. It needed a good reaming, the stem was pretty nasty with oxidation, and the bowl needed a clean and buff. Other than that, not to bad at all. Haven't smoked it yet....so we will see if it is in need of a SA treatment.

Super pumped about the silver belt! They are rather rare and pretty hard to come by.

http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/...psle8bd8rr.jpg

http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/...pshzfskegi.jpg

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The band on this thing is freakin cool! Great pipe.


... and of course, Kendal Cream in the background :lol:

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Originally Posted by LandonColby

The band on this thing is freakin cool! Great pipe.


... and of course, Kendal Cream in the background [emoji38]

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Yeah it is pretty awesome, and rare. Only a select run of the Mincer pipes had the silver belts added.

There is another one on the bay right now....these things never show up. Depending on price I may have to throw a bid in.

Oh, and don't worry. No Lakeland snot will be smoked on this pipe [emoji14]

I remember seeing that silver banded one and thinking "probably a cracked shank". Fool of a Took!

Now I have to find that other one you were talking bout :)

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Originally Posted by Mr Motoyoshi

I remember seeing that silver banded one and thinking "probably a cracked shank". Fool of a Took!

Now I have to find that other one you were talking bout :)

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I am thinking that is why not many people were bidding on it (although one booger must of known about it because he bid me up an extra 45 bucks from what I was thinking I would spend!) they must of thought it was a shank repair. Luckily I knew about the belted pipes and jumped on it as soon as I saw it! :pipe:

I have since smoked it, and it smoked awesome. Great pipe!