| Archive for Dr. Grabow Pipes "America's One and Only" |
| AmericanHussar |
Linkman RingmasterHere's an interesting pipe I just acquired:http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI....RK:MEWNX:IT&item=320344995864 It says: (Left) Linkman's (over) Ringmaster (ringmaster is actually slightly double stamped). (right) 237 with a triangle next to it, point towards top of stem. The spade has the fat part of the spade on top of the stem, pointing towards the smoker. The spade is hollow, and looks yellowish or a faded/oxidized white. The bit is black, only slightly oxidized, and the back of the button where the smokehole is, is very slightly convex. It kind of resembles the back end of an old buick skylark, but less of a V. The stinger is brass, a straight tube that appears glued into the stem, and cut off a slight angle, running top to bottom. No other balls, radiations, etc on the bit - it is an absolutely unremarkable straight bit of copper tubing. Also, the pipe is a sitter. I am guessing it's 1920's or 30's, since there is no Grabow on it at all. |
||
| ozark southpaw |
Nice score AH! Can you post pics of that triangle and the spade? Never saw a triangle before,but I don't have any pre-Grabow Linkmans. | ||
| drbridges |
Assume it is push stem? Not threaded.
I haven't collected any documents that date the Linkman RINGMASTER. It may have preceded the DG. I believe it was still being made in 1950s, but who knows? Mac has collected a few RINGMASTERs. I haven't any. The 237 stamp is curious. My first thought was that this is a 4-digit Linkman inventory stamp with the first (or last number) stamped too lightly to show. However, your pipe in the photo appears to most closely match Linkman's #36 shape (straight pear), not his #37 (straight bulldog with diamond shank); and Linkman's #7... shapes are mainly bulldogs, squat bulldogs, and mushroom shapes. I don't believe Mac has identified the inventory stamp numbers for the RINGMASTER series. I do hope you will be able to post better photos of your RINGMASTER, AH. I am interested to learn more about it. |
||
| drbridges |
Mac's pipe inventory from 2008 includes a RINGMASTER that is stamped as a 5000 series. It is a 5002. That doesn't jive with yours that is stamped 237.
We don't know much about Linkman's non-DG pipes, and I don't believe anyone has seriously pursued collecting them to learn more. Some of them include his MLC, OLDE LONDON, SUNSET GRAIN, RINGMASTER, NUVO, COURTLEIGH, HOLLYCOURT, FIFTY GRAND, HELL MARIA, and VENTILATOR. And I'm sure there are others. Some of these appear to have come before the DG line came out in about 1931-32. Some we know were produced alongside the Linkman DG pipes between 1931-1944. The 1949 Retail Tobacco Dealers Association almanac lists the DGPC making the DG SPECIAL, DELUXE, SUPREME, TRU GRAIN, and SELECT GRAIN; while also listing the M. Linkman & Co. at the same Chicago address making the HOLLYCOURT pipe. So, apparently Linkman continued to manufacture some pipes under his own name in the same factory right alongside the DG pipes. Possibly Linkman manufactured the RINGMASTER during this period. |
||
| LokoMac8 |
Re: Linkman Ringmaster
The shape appears to be the old Linkman's "71" shape, so I assume the number given in the auction of 2371 may be accurate. Here's the old Linkman shape: 
Very nice find! This explains where the RINGMASTER name that apparently was later used as a Dr. Grabow line came from. We don't know much about those except they exist and I have a couple. I would say around mid-1930's or a year or two sooner as that's about when it appeared Linkman went from a MLC two-digit pipe number stamping to four-digit. If it had an MLC logo also on it, I would say 1932 or before. Of course, as always, just guesses based on scattered information. I guess I should also mention, that when Linkman started the Dr. Grabow line, it was but another name in his lineup of pipes and the first ones appeared to have no name other than "Dr. Grabow" on them. Later, it seems that "Special", "DeLuxe", etc. were added as lines of Linkman's Dr. Grabow pipes. --RJ-- |
||
| AmericanHussar |
Thanks LM. That picture is exactly what my pipe looks like. I suppose the triangle at the end of the numbers could be the very tip of a "1", but the number would have had to have been mis-stamped - it doesn't look rubbed off.
I'll shoot a pic of the stinger and post it tomorrow. |
||
| TheDuke |
Nice Score AH! I got a Ringmaster awhile back but I'm guessing it's alittle newer than your's. It's stamped 5008 amd the shape is alittle diffrent. It's got a flat area on the bottom it can sit upright on. | ||
| AmericanHussar |
Thanks Duke. Mine has the same flatness on the bottom (i.e., it's a sitter). | ||
| LokoMac8 |
Re: Linkman Ringmaster
Our own DGCF member irishlefty has an auction that features yet another version of the RINGMASTER. This one may not be marked Linkman, but the RED SPADE is found on the stem -- the same red spade that is found on my Linkman's FIFTY GRAND! --RJ-- http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290340318834 |
||