Sir Duke
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The "Emperor"I like this pipe. Never heard of Grabow's Emperor ...
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drbridges
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EmperorI have 1 Emperor. Mac and Frenchy can tell you more about them. They were RJR Special Offer pipes made from full grain clean briar with no stain, no lacquer. Ajustomatic.
Frenchy used to have a lot of info about special offer pipes and the Emperor on his web site. Definitely one of the better garbos, if you're talking briar quality.
And it ain't no cherry wood.
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drbridges
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That one appears to be in good shape, except it has had a lot of bowls through it, judging by the color. Takes some time for natural briar to color that much.
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Frenchy
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Hiya' guys. I'd hafta see the filter to know it this beauty is from the RJR era. Durin' RJR time all but the Berwyck had a metal filter with a kinda' scoop at the end. The fitment was permanent, the scoop could be removed. The Berwick took a paper filter but the fitment was unique to the era, it was a twist-on. The emporer was the top a' the RJR line, the wood was exceptional but I've never seen one with a metal band so I'm thinkin' that one ya' got is not from RJR days. it is a rare one regardless and in my opinion the bent bulldog is the most comfortable Dr. Grabow of all of 'em. Anyway, take a look at the filter and you'll know for sure if it's an RJR era or not. They made a metal scoop filter in the Linkman era too but it was completely permanent and you'd be able to tell if it was from those days. Beauty of a Grabow ya' got there puff happy!
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drbridges
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In the 60's Sparta was making some pipes for the military that used a wide metal band and short shank. These were sold through PXs around the world. But I'm thinking these were stamped as Willards, and not Emperors.
I agree with Frenchy that RJR pipes with a wide metal band like that are novel. You gotta win it, Sir Duke! No matter the cost! And change your forum name, and pose with it for your new forum photo.
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drbridges
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Perhaps this is off topic, but in my current pipe rotation is a carved tampon ajusto Golden Duke, and it is a delightful pipe. So different from the new Golden Dukes I recently purchased. The saddle mouthpiece/stem is wonderful; thin and smooth, almost a fish tail, a real quality experience.
I wonder if the ABS stems they are using now are too brittle, because they always seem to be left thicker at the mouthpiece.
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Frenchy
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| drbridges wrote: | Perhaps this is off topic, but in my current pipe rotation is a carved tampon ajusto Golden Duke, and it is a delightful pipe. So different from the new Golden Dukes I recently purchased. The saddle mouthpiece/stem is wonderful; thin and smooth, almost a fish tail, a real quality experience.
I wonder if the ABS stems they are using now are too brittle, because they always seem to be left thicker at the mouthpiece. |
I'm not sure about the stems bein' thicker, it could be. My absolute most comfortable one is the bent bulldog but it's an older one so that may be the reason. I've sold tons a' new Grabows though and I don't really see a difference in the feel a' the bit at all. They're still Vulcanite which to me is the most comfortable stem material. What most people seem to like best are the Freehands and the Big Pipes. Very comfortable bits on both.
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LokoMac8
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Re: The "Emperor" | Sir Duke wrote: | I like this pipe. Never heard of Grabow's Emperor ...
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I still don't have an EMPEROR but I want one badly! I've got to get my web site updated! The next thing I am going to add is a whole section of pipe names. It's going to be a little raw, but I can clean it up more later -- I've waited far too long to get some really meaningful stuff up! MAYBE tomorrow . . . --RJ--
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Sir Duke
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As RJ says "somebody's got to take one for the team" I'll bid unless Mac, you want to.
Maybe we could do anoher "group buy and split it when we win. I get the briar , you get the Stem : )
Frenchy said " it is a rare one regardless and in my opinion the bent bulldog is the most comfortable Dr. Grabow of all of 'em."
Truer words have never been spoken. In the non Grabow pipe universe, I predict more demand for this shape....
As far as the ABS bits. They do seem more brittle but I have no problem with them. If a stem aint (real) amber then I don't really care.
Never new about the PX Grabows. Thats noteworthy.
I started to to keep a list of Lines in the Appendix of my collection link (a powerpoint presentation) then got overwhelmed by what order to put them in, and the number of "new" names I keep discovering. I.e. Emporer.... I think I'll rearrange the list into alphabetical order and leave it at that. RJ when it gets comprehensive enough I can send you the text. Or, I can just send you the list as a framework to satisfy your own OGD disorder. For the non doctors here, OGD is defined as "OBsessive Grabow Disorder" It is very rare afflicting on a handful of men in the United States every every 50-60 years or so....
As far as changing my name, you might be on to something,
The Emperors new clothes,
Caveat Emperor,
Tom
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drbridges
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OGB | Quote: | | ... got overwhelmed by what order to put them in, and the number of "new" names I keep discovering ... |
Yep, "cataloging frustration," one of the early and persistant signs of OGB syndrome. Chronic and incurable.
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drbridges
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Emperor BridgesAppears I wanted the Emperor most, because my bid was the highest. This particular pipe appears to be the shape 83.
Our first record of these metal banded Dr. Grabow pipes is from a brochure used in about 1964. But I don't know when these banded pipes began appearing among the RJR coupon pipes. The banded pipes continued to be available into the 1980s. The RJR coupons ended about 1974, but orders continued to come into Dr. Grabow for another 10 years.
The Emperor pipes show up infrequently on auction. It must have had limited production. It is supposed to be a natural finish, no stain, no fill, no lacquer. This demands it be #1A full grain briar. The only Emperor in my collection does show minor fills, so #2E full grain briar was sometimes used.
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Sir Duke
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hEY cONgRATUALTIONS!That's a nice pipe. Congratulations. You got a steal!
Don't forget to post pictures of the innards! Tom
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drbridges
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Military Willard | Quote: | | In the 60's Sparta was making some pipes for the military that used a wide metal band and short shank. These were sold through PXs around the world. But I'm thinking these were stamped as Willards, and not Emperors. |
One of these Military Willards has shown up on eBay. For a time Sparta was shipping 3600 units per month of these pipes to the military.
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Sir Duke
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I hope NOT to see any of the pipes I've sent to Iraq and Afghanistan on Ebay anytime soon.
On that note: If you have any smokable pipes to donate to the troops, you can send them to Frenchy. He would be most appreciative as he works hard to make there time away from home a little more pleasant if possible by sending pipes to them.
Good job Frenchy.
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Frenchy
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Thanks so much buddy. I'm gettin' packages ready for Iraq and Afghanistan now.
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