ozark southpaw
|
Latest PAD Fix.Haven't bought any pipes in a while but couldn't resist taking a shot at this one. It's the first triangular shanked pipe I've bought.
It's a Starfire.
|
Terry292
|
Good looking pipe, OS. It appears to be in pretty good condition.
Terry
|
ozark southpaw
|
Thanks Terry. It is in better shape than I was expecting! Just needs a good buffing and waxing. Looks as is someone has stripped the lacquer from it.
|
tranders
|
I have the same shape,but in a Sculptura.
It's my favorite pipe.
Congratulations!
|
steverino
|
Good looking pipe OS, congrats. I have a triangular also but I haven't seen it in a while and can't remember what it is - something similar to yours, I believe.
|
drbridges
|
Unfortunately this unique series is no longer offered by DG Sparta. Wouldn't a new Triangle Series make another wonderful Specials offer on the DG website? No retailer carries it, so it shouldn't offend any retailer.
|
ozark southpaw
|
| drbridges wrote: | | Unfortunately this unique series is no longer offered by DG Sparta. Wouldn't a new Triangle Series make another wonderful Specials offer on the DG website? No retailer carries it, so it shouldn't offend any retailer. |
I agree,with a vulcanite stem!
|
ted
|
OS...My failing memory tells me that yours came with a vulcanite bit. Please satisfy my curiosity. Does it? Thanks....ted
|
ozark southpaw
|
Ted,yes it does have a vulcanite bit,luckily in very good shape!
It's an Ajusto.
|
ted
|
OS, thanks.
Kinda' confirms what I remembered. I don't think any TR pipes were made with ABS. All of them should be vulcanite.
Bet this will be one of your favorites.
|
TheDuke
|
Very nice looking pipe OS! First I've seen with that shank shape.
|
ozark southpaw
|
Thanks Duke,doesn't seem to be many of these out there!! Would like to get more!!
|
ozark southpaw
|
| ted wrote: | OS, thanks.
Kinda' confirms what I remembered. I don't think any TR pipes were made with ABS. All of them should be vulcanite.
Bet this will be one of your favorites. |
Yep,I have made a special pipe rest for this one!
|
Gig
|
A very elegant looking pipe, congrats on it's acquisition and enjoy it in good health 
|
Flycruiser
|
That is one fine looking pipe.
|
ozark southpaw
|
Although it was decent when I got it I just couldn't stop my self from refinishing this pipe! I was setting down there in the shop looking at it and the next thing I knew I was going nuts with some 400 sandpaper. I just can't abide dings and scratches!! Guess I need professional help? Now all I gotta do is try and replicate the Starfire finish!!
|
steverino
|
And teach the rest of us how to do it.
|
ozark southpaw
|
Starfire | steverino wrote: | | And teach the rest of us how to do it. |
If I can get something close will gladly share how it was done! I still haven't figured out how the pipe makers get those contrasting finishes they put on their pipes!! It may be the stains I'm using or maybe the way I'm puttin' them on.
|
LokoMac8
|
Triangular Shank Futuras | ozark southpaw wrote: | | Thanks Duke,doesn't seem to be many of these out there!! Would like to get more!! |
I like the triangular shanks/stems as well. Usually makes for a good looking and comfortable pipe.
Curious thing about these is the numbering, when so stamped. In the special offer material they were preceded with a "TR", such as TR-60, TR-44, TR-31, TR-36 and TR-10 and were referred to simply as the "Triangle Series". Makes sense. Naturally, one quickly sees that these are triangular shanks of the usual numbered shapes. I think these started around 1963. These shapes were available only in the WESTBROOK and EMPEROR models.
What wasn't so evident -- and it took me a time to realize it, was the numbering of the retail sales pipes. For example, the ones I have so far are 311, 601 and 441. In the circa 1964 chart they are referred to as "FUTURAS" and were noted as "Handsome, non-tip pipes." They were available in STARFIRE, VISCOUNT and ELDORADO models in the same shapes as the special offer group above: 101, 361, 311, 441 and 601. Why was the number "1" used on the end of these shape numbers? Maybe because they didn't have a "T" stamp available?
Hard to pin down any dates what with hardly any Dr. Grabow printed matter being dated, but these triangular shanked pipes may have started as early as late-1961 (when the Continental shapes began) and lasted until sometime in the 1980s. --RJ--
|
ted
|
Mac, You've done well with the history of the triangles. Nothing much I can add about them.
This is a bit interesting. The stummel was "shank turned" into the triangle shape. We had triangular aluminum, but we had no triangular bits.
Regular round bits were used and had to be sanded flush with the wood. Only the BEST "flush" sander ever worked on these pipe and even he had troubles.
Imagine that the bit is round and look at the amount of vulcanite he had to sand off without changing the shape of the wooden shank or the aluminum. Also, sanding off that much vulcanite often revealed faults (pits) in the bit.
Paige Waoner was the best we ever had at this operation, so I can say that Paige sanded your pipe.
|
ozark southpaw
|
My Starfire does not have the shape number stamped on it. I finished it up last night. Was going to post some pics but the wife ran off to a baby shower with the camera. It didn't come out like I hoped!! But I think that is because of the grain or lack there of in this pipe. It is not as nicely grained as my other smooth Starfires I used a staining method that I found on the pipe makers forum. Goes like this:
1) Sand to 220
2) Stain Dark Brown
3) Sand 320/400
4) Stain Dark Brown
5) Sand 500/600
6) Stain Light Tan or British Tan
7) Rub with 0000 Steel Wool or buff with Brown Trip
8 ) Final buff with White Diamond or (my preference) Menzerna
9) Carnauba wax
Obviously you just substitute the colors of your choice for the ones above. Just do the darker color first.
|
LokoMac8
|
| ted wrote: | | Mac, You've done well with the history of the triangles. Nothing much I can add about them. |
But as usual, WHAT YOU ADDED IS GREAT!
Interestingly, triangular shaped shank pipes weren't new to the pipe industry then, or to Dr. Grabow. believe it or not, Linkman in Chicago also produced them many years earlier -- and from what you state about the work involved, I have to respect what he was doing way back then.
On the old shape charts, such as they are, it was near impossible to ascertain that this was a triangular shaped shank:
FROM CHART CIRCA 1949:
ACTUAL #70 SHAPE (9770 DeLuxe):
CLOSE UP OF STEM JOINT OF #70 SHAPE:
|
ozark southpaw
|
StarfireSome pics of the finished pipe.
Compared to another smooth Starfire with factory finish.
|
ted
|
OS, PRETTY WORK!!!
|
ozark southpaw
|
You're making my head swell Ted! Thanks!
|
TheDuke
|
Very nice OS!
|
ozark southpaw
|
Not bad for an amateur I guess? Thanks Duke!
|
|
|
