LokoMac8
|
Dr. Grabow PAPER stuff, etc.Recently got in a nice little carved WESTBROOK #50 that came with it's paperwork and the shipping box postmarked December 26th, 1960. Love to find stuff like this! About the only way I pick up the RJR pipes anymore.
Anyway, this seems to have gotten me about the oldest RJR paper yet.
First, check out the pamphlet that comes in the box. It is hard to reproduce in whole, but I quickly scanned two pages in it and the same pages from one I dated to around 1963. There are only little differences, but they are interesting. For comparison, I am showing them side-by-side so to speak. Note the addition of the BERWYCK and EMPEROR in the later one. Also note the increase in "trays" from 240 to 381! In one I have dated to 1969, it became 365 trays and introduced the SCULPTURA to the line of available pipes.
Have five of these pamphlets from 1960, 1963, 1965, 1969 and 1981. Several have minute differences in wording, etc.
There may even be older versions -- the 1960 pamphlet states: "The DR. GRABOW WESTBROOKS are now made with English stems. The DR, GRABOW BELVEDERES continue to have the German stems." This seems to indicate that earlier Westbrooks also had German stems. The 1963 pamphlet made no distinction on what stems were used on what pipes, but merely stated, "Our stems are all custom molded for us using dies of our own design. These dies are now in several countries depending upon where best results are obtained. Some stems come from England, Germany and Italy while others are made here in the U.S."
I guess pipes could be further dated according to the stems, but figuring out what rubber came from where is probably near impossible! --RJ--
|
ted
|
Wonderful stuff RJ. The lady is Jessie Taylor..
She was the Foreperson of the Packing and Shipping Department from (before) 1969 till about 1978. Jessie planted all the trees and flowers at the old factory.
She always wore a checked smock at work. At the end of every month we all tried to ship and bill EVERYTHING possible. The joke always was....You can tell when it's the end of the month because you can play checkers on Jessie's shirt tail....ted
|
LokoMac8
|
Also in that box from 1960 were the standard "order" forms, for either ordering a WESTBROOK or BELVEDERE. These also changed some, but I have fewer examples of these than the RJR pamphlets. The ones that I have that I believe are from 1963 look identical, so that makes me wonder why there was a difference in the number of "trays" in the pamphlets.
Those "trays" by the way, are why I believe that the RJR special offer pipes were not shape number stamped -- there was no need as the orders were filled from those numbered trays.
Well, that's all for today folks -- just got called to go to work, so it's off I go for several days . . . --RJ--
|
Flycruiser
|
So you're the guy that beat me! How's the pipe?
|
LokoMac8
|
| Flycruiser wrote: | | So you're the guy that beat me! How's the pipe? |
Sorry about that! I wasn't really after the pipe, but rather the BOX with the POSTMARK and the associated paperwork. I have looked the pipe over and have photos of the stampings in case those are one day found to be relevant.
I haven't smoked it, but it seems to be in fine shape and still has its cleaner. Needs a bit of cleaning (doesn't need much) and I see no reason why it won't smoke like a dream.
If you want the pipe, just make a trade offer in tobacco and it's yours. I believe it is a #50 shape and I have an example of that already. I like the carving on this Westbrook better than any of the others I own or that I've seen. --RJ--
|
LokoMac8
|
1940s Pipe Box InsertOK, here's a bit more "paper". These are things that I have been meaning to share for some time, but I got around to it when I recently bought another pipe that had the box and papers with it.
At first, I thought this was an insert I already had -- UNTIL I actually compared the new one with it. I feel like both still come from the the 1942-44 era, but I really don't know which came first. One shows several more shapes. It also adds "College Papers" to the publications where Dr. Grabow advertised. The other very clearly shows the "plastic banded" pipes being produced during this time.
Both inserts are included below, one above the other so that quick comparisons can be made.
Just a couple of quick observations. The first ads I have that show clearly the plastic banded pipes are dated September 27th, 1942 (can't tell) and December 5th, 1942 (DEFINITELY!). The last ad that shows them is dated 1944. While the ads always had "fashioned by Linkman", the first ads I have that show "Dr. Grabow Pipe Co." in the name begin in 1945, at least by AUGUST. The 1945 pipe ads SHOW pipes with metal fitments again, but the first one I have that MENTIONS the metal fitments is in March 1946. --RJ--
 
|
ozark southpaw
|
Mac,on pages that the pipes are pictured on the top one says at the bottom "Fashioned by M. Linkman & Co. Chicago. The bottom says "Dr.Grabow Pipe Co. Chicago,Ill." and in the box to the right says "Fashioned by Linkman. Would that indicate which is older?
Edit--think I should have read your post a little closer!!
|
LokoMac8
|
| ozark southpaw wrote: | | Edit--think I should have read your post a little closer!! |
Just credit my great ability to make what is crystal clear as muddy as the Mississippi.
I would say that the one with the "DR. Grabow Pipe Company" is the later one. I am always pressed for time, think about things wheh I am gone from home, start the project when I am at home (like taking those pictures) and then finish up several days later when I get back. Anyway, I sort of answered my own question without knowing it as I got out my ads to refer to them while I was typing that up.
If that's the case, then apparently less pipe shapes were offered as the war progressed, which makes some sense. If the ads can be believed also, most of the pipes were being reserved for the serviceman, and that was an explantion to the customer as to why supplies may be dwindling at the retailers. I guess it is interesting that they were advertising at all, but if nothing else, it was the patriotic thing to do and most of the ads tied in with that theme. --RJ--
|
|
|
|