Tampers

ozark southpaw · Tampers

I have four tampers that i made and need to git rid of!! Got more pics at http://www.flickr.com/photos/fastredx/sets/ .The one on the left was made from a can opener! The business end of which you can see in the photo. Next one was made from a Duncan Hill with a lucite(I think) stem. Next is also a Duncan,this one has a partially exposed pick. The last was a Color Duke Lovat. Used to be yellow,paint was not real nice so I repainted it Chrysler engine blue! (High temp paint!!) $18.00 shipped to you for any of the three made from pipes,the can opener is $16.00 shipped.

ozark southpaw

The blue Grabow tamper has been bought by a Sirnonamousduke!!

Sir Duke

Yes, it was I who did buy..
But why?

If you visit the photo album it becomes obvious how much work goes into these and they are quite unique. I never had a Chrysler, dont the blue but this one appealed to me as a Grabow collector.

And when people (I at least) realize how much effort goes into a handmade pocket, they should know that this is value added and has a worth. This something I have wanted to write about for a while. Specifically the difference between Handmade, and Production.

As Grabow collectors, we are truely getting far more value for every pipe we buy because. although they are not made one at a time, and by one person, they can't be lumped into the category of "Mass Produced" even back when they were turning out 3 million pipes a year!

Each person had a job to do. the did it well, and they did it fast and to Quote Luther Marlow "never were they encourage to make a bad pipe" [sic] just for profit. In fact, it is the opposite. Show me a Grabow with a registration (stem to shank) problem. You won't find one you just won't. If they didn't pass the "light" test, they were pitched. This was their biggest "peeve."

Show me a Grabow were the draft hole is off center, too high, or too low. They are rare. I have seen but one.

Equally impressive, in my opinion was their treatment of natural defects. There fills do not become blatantly obvious as the wood darkens. Yes they use fills, it'd be crazy not to in their price range. There use of Stain is impeccable, even paint. If you can put leather dye on a pipe like artisans are doing now, why not a color Duke. Why throw away a good piece of briar just because %30 is bald of grain. Crazy. Their contrast staining is stunning. Their "plum" color on the Omegas, I think is beautiful, and never have I noticed the laquer to affect the pipes performance.

These pipes over perform many highgrades. They do, yet we arent affraid to mess with them, make them our own, make tampers out of them, take the stem off while the shank is still warm. They are the workhorses of the tobacco field! So, for every artisan carver out there turning out 50 pipes a year, God love ya. I am one of them, but you can't turn your back on the consistency and quality of a Grabow. So, for every carver, there is an employee at Grabow with more experience and as much pride as the artisan. All for 30 bucks.

With hundreds of shapes what better thing to collect.

As for the tamper. It rocks. Will I use it? Occasionally but typically I use my fingertip. I bought it because I like it, it was made by hand, with pride, and is worth every cent as a showpiece or a pipe tool.

Support your Carvers, your craftsman, the employees at Grabow.

ozark southpaw

I agree with you 100%. Was on Ebay last night,saw a high grade Upsall with a Starting bid of over $7000.00 !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Beautiful pipe -but will it smoke a 1000 times better than an old Grabow? It would have to before I would put out that kind of money!!!! When i get a used Grabow that I intend to smoke usually the first thing I do is grab some 320 sand paper to see whats under the laquer! I dont like that laquer but I understand why it was applied. If it is not going in my rotation I usually just shine em up a little. I have one hand made pipe,by a guy named Ben protter of New York, would love to have a collection of pipes by American carvers but my pocket book and the "boss" frown on spending the money. In the mean time I am happy to play with-and smoke- my Grabows and other "drug store" pipes.

ozark southpaw

Just to let everyone know ,the White stemmed Duncan has been sold on Ebay. The red Stemmed Duncan is on Ebay now. By the way Sir Duke,thanks for the compliments! I appreciate them.(I'm a little slowww sometimes!)

ozark southpaw

Red Duncan has been sold.