| Archive for Dr. Grabow Pipes "America's One and Only" |
| Terry292 |
DGCF Club Pipe?Trease and I were talking today, and she made a suggestion that's made me start thinking (watch out for the smoke from my ears!). Most of the forums I follow have a "Club Pipe."Question for you all: How many people would be willing to buy a Dr Grabow stamped Dr Grabow Collectors' Forum, or something similar, if we could work out a deal with IP&A to make one? Question for Ted: How hard would it be to make such a stamp, and how many pipes would IP&A have to sell to break even on such a proposition? Of course, we'd have to work out the details of what finishes, shapes, etc. Just thought I'd throw this out to the Forum and see what kind of interest there might be. Terry |
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| ozark southpaw |
Sounds good to me !! | ||||||
| BWThomas |
I'd get one or more. Make them one of those Big Pipes with a blonde finish with a Royalton stem. Or better yet, how about a Bulldog, do they still make a Bulldog? ....I still can't find mine. | ||||||
| ozark southpaw |
Oh, and I vote for a smooth Golden Duke or Royalton Bulldog in a nice contrasted finish ! | ||||||
| ozark southpaw |
Preferably with a vulcanite stem!!! | ||||||
| LokoMac8 |
I like the way you think, BW!!! Heck of a combination. Actually, I don't mind a LITTLE darker stain -- just don't make it so dark that I can't even make out any grain when I take it outside in the bright sun light. Like OS, I wouldn't mind a vulcanite stem either. Count me in, though. I'll get a couple of whatever you fellas come up with. TED, maybe you need to find where that linotype stamping gizmo went! --RJ-- |
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| Gig |
If the price is right i will be in 
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| LokoMac8 |
I am sure they will be priceless, if not just slightly more than free. --RJ-- |
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| ted |
Several years ago the steel stamps were about $60. Probably a hundred today. As I told RJ, I designed a stamp in the 70's that was like a mini- linotype machine with removable letters. Maybe it's still there.
Sounds like the bigger problem though is everyone agreeing on the pipe we all want. One thing I learned from the tour is that the ONLY vulanite bits left are square bulldog bits...Sorry OS.....so if vulcanite is what's wanted then it's to be a square shank bulldog...80, 82, or 83... Great idea though......we'll discuss some more...ted |
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| Terry292 |
For me, the classic Sparta-made shapes were the Author and the Poker. Every time I see either of these shapes, I can tell it's a Dr Grabow without having to see anything else. I don't know if either is still in production, but I do know the models are still there on the board at the factory.
My preferences would be 1. an Author in the natural Big Pipe, Royalton, or Sculptura finishes, or 2. the Poker in the same finishes. There's also a lighter Eldorado finish I wouldn't mind on either pipe. If we do decide to pursue a Forum pipe, I think we should pick a classic Dr Grabow shape, maybe not either of these, but something identifiable as a Dr Grabow from a distance. Just my $0.02. Terry |
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| drbridges |
This is the sort of thing DG could offer easily thru their Special section of the web page. It would not compete directly with their retail customers. I hope they will see that. | ||||||
| ozark southpaw |
How about we do a poll or two. One for shape,one for finish? | ||||||
| BWThomas |
How about a seven day set? | ||||||
| ted |
As Larry would say..."Git er Done".....ted |
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| steverino |
I would be in for one or more. I would imagine that we would have to go with a current production shape, though, to keep the price reasonable. Of course, if the factory is willing to dig out the old molds and cutter heads (if they still exist), it might be worth a little more money to have something that would be unique in today's market. I'm not going to bet that they would or even could do that, though. | ||||||
| Terry292 |
That might be a little premature, BW. Let's see if we can get one, first. I think I'd be willing to pay a little extra for an out of production shape, exclusively for the members of this forum. What I'd really like to have is one of the old Continental shapes, but I think that might be asking a little too much for a somewhat limited run of pipes. And, of course, Mr Burns would have to make a little profit out of it, also. Then again, he might be able to write it off as promotion and advertising expense. Terry |
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| Terry292 |
From what I gathered from our "meeting" with Rick Wooten, this is just the kind of thing they hope to do with the web page. He said something about special offers and promotions. Mac, Steve or Ted can probably provide more information. I had to leave the room a couple of times to take calls from my daughter. She wanted to know if we were on the way home 'yet.' Terry |
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| BWThomas |
Maybe so. I did say it in jest at first, but the more I thought about it, the more I thought I'd like to see them do something like this along the lines of 'specials' and promotions. Makes me wonder...how many Dr.G smokers are out there? How many pipes is IP&A pushing out the door each week...each month? I wonder how many folks have registered for more info on their site? |
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| Terry292 |
The figure Frank gave us for production numbers is 3000 per week, about 156,000 per year, based on a 52 week year. That's down from previous times, but still a lot of pipes in a year. This output is accomplished by 26 dedicated employees. Also, Rick Wooten told us about 400 people (I think; somebody correct me if I'm wrong) have registered so far through the web. We, and the Grabow people, need to do a little more aggressive marketing about the web presence, I guess. Terry |
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| BWThomas |
[ We, and the Grabow people, need to do a little more aggressive marketing about the web presence, I guess.
Terry[/quote] I agree...I've been sitting here thinking the same thing. What can we do? |
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| LokoMac8 |
A seven day set in the continental shapes in a variety of finiehs and a variety of bit material! Actually, I'd compromise by personal tastes in order to narrow the choice down. One unusual or obsolete shape that hasn;t been produced in a while sounds like a good start, though. --RJ-- |
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| LokoMac8 |
One of the pipes I acquired was a lighter finish with a Royalton-type lucite stem in a 84 shape (not a Big Pipe, but I was immediately taken by your suggestion). It is a beaut to me! I'll have to get a picture posted of it. The lucite bit was about the prettiest that I've seen. --RJ-- |
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| steverino |
To me, it seems like a simple principle (notice I didn't say an "easy" principle): If pipe sales volume increases, the factory will be able to do more things in retail and with the website. I really feel that if we want the factory to stay in business and be able to offer us more of what we want, we need to promote Dr. Grabow pipes. I'm not suggesting that we all become "volunteer salesmen", just that we use the pipes (of course we already do) and let others know we use them. Show them off to other pipe smokers (on other pipe boards, maybe?) and let them know how well they smoke. Build up a display case of your favorite Grabows and show them at pipe shows, you might be surprised at how much interest that generates. Some people believe that there is about to be another resurgence in pipe smoking. Getting the truth out there about Dr. Grabow pipes might bring it on a little sooner. I really don't mean to sound like an evangelist, I just like my Grabows and I strongly dislike hearing them denigrated just because they aren't hand carved and don't cost $300 or more. If we can "lead by example", some of this might just turn around and do us some good. What do you think? |
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| LokoMac8 |
If you look at the comments I added to my Dr. Grabow photos, you'll see that I have "slipped in" some Dr. Grabow/IP&A contact info and may slide some more in there. Hopefully it won't seem as too commercial and get pulled or something. --RJ-- |
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| ozark southpaw |
I agree...I've been sitting here thinking the same thing. What can we do?[/quote] Maybe we can yak up the web site on some of the other forums!! |
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| ted |
I think it is important that we get as many pipe smokers as possible to sign up on the Grabow web-site for their upcoming consumer offers. Think Rick said they already have 400 names. I wish it were 4000. The faster the names accumulate, the faster the special offers will come.
Even non-Grabow collectors probably can't pass up a nice pipe directly from the factory. We can't help them with the Walgreens and Rite Aids of the world, there aren't enough of us, but maybe we can help with the consumer names and help improve the direct business. As Terry says, my $0.02 worth...ted |
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| Terry292 |
I made posts on Smokers Forums and Brothers of the Briar about the factory tours. Got exactly zero replies on Smokers Forums (not a great surprise; I've pretty much stopped using it-too many people who stare down their noses at my types of pipes), but I had a little better luck on Brothers of the Briar. One guy, Ol' Dawg, actually drove from Northeast Georgia to Sparta (about 250 miles) to take the tour on the 9th, and he was very impressed. I've since directed him to this site and drgrabow.net, with instructions to be sure to register. If didn't know he was actually going to be there until after we were already back, or I'd have directed him to Ted also. Another guy lives in Virginia and has indicated he might stop in Sparta during the family trip to Tweetsie Railroad next spring (I think). I also told him about the two sites. Don't know if he'll follow through, or not. Finally, I've posted a link to RJ's photo page on Brothers of Briar. Don't know how many have actually looked at it, but it's there. These are probably the kinds of things, along with Steve's suggestions, we should be trying to do, sort of "unofficial ambassadors" for Dr Grabow and IP&A. After having actually seen the operation, and met some of the fine people who make Dr Grabow's, I'm going to try harder. Terry |
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| ozark southpaw |
DG Web siteJust posted this at SF in the American Classics Social group.Thought I'd post this for those who may not know of it. http://www.drgrabow.net/ This is the official Dr. Grabow site. While you are there take a minute to register for info on up coming specials(I ain't connected to the company). Some of us at the DGCF http://drgrabows.myfreeforum.org/index.php are trying to get the Grabow folks to offer more online and they are working on it. It might help if more folks sign up . We are also talking about getting a DGCF pipe made by Grabow,kind of a POY thing. If you like Grabows,check it out! Also posted it here http://www.pipesmokerforum.com/ |
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| LokoMac8 |
Same here! --RJ-- |
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| Irishlefty |
Regardless of shape or price you can count me in for at least 2 and maybe more (depending on my financial well being at that moment)!
I sell at least 4 or 5 refurbished DG's every week - far more then any other brand so there is still a decent market out there. |
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