Dr. Grabow Pipes

ted · "Old Timer" Joined: 23 Jun 2008 Posts: 1171 Location: NC'

OK, my position is pretty clear, now I'd like some more input from y'all.

Why do most posters on other Forums treat Grabow as a Bas@#*& stepchild? We probably sold more pipes from the end of the war until 1970 than any other maker. Probably had more "loyal" smokers than KYM or anyone else.

Pipes were made from the SAME briar.....SAME vulcanite (sorry OS, we changed), and the SAME finish as any other pipes from the time.

Yes, we used lacquer, but so did everyone else that made pipes during this time???? Why were they not ostracised?

Why the perception of such a "cheap", "drugstore" pipe, when, in fact, it was as good as anything available?

GRABOW, LACQUER AND ALL, ARE AS GOOD AS ANY PIPE AT ANY PRICE!!! That's my position and as Mr Lincoln said, "That's my position and I'll stand by my position until someone shows me a better one"..ted

Terry292 · Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 5:26 pm Post subject:

Ted, I'm sort of organizing my thoughts as I go along here, so please bear with me. I personally think a lot of the current perception of Dr Grabow has to do with changing tastes and attitudes. When I was growing up, every drugstore, grocery store and news stand had large displays of American made pipes, Dr G prominent amongst them. Also, there were more of what I call everyday smokers, people who smoked pipes, surely, but they also used other forms of tobacco, smoking or chew. Almost every old farmer I knew then owned one or two pipes, at the most, and had a can of PA, Half & Half, Velvet, or some other mainly burley tobacco in his bib ovealls pocket. These men were primarily smokers, not collectors. Their pipes were mostly just another nicotine delivery system. They smoked their pipes, but they were just as likely to roll a cigarette from that can of tobacco. I still consider myself amongst this group. I smoke my pipes primarily because I get the most flavor from them as opposed to other types of tobacco usage.

Nowadays, as the number of smokers has declined overall, the emphasis seems to have shifted to hand made, exclusive pipes and not the machine made variety. The perception seems to be that machine made American pipes can't deliver the same quality of flavor as one made entirely by hand by some lone craftsman who obsesses over every step. I personally subscribe to something in the middle. I think a Dr Grabow pipe is potentially as capable of delivering a good smoke as any other.

I've seen this analogy used before: is a Mercedes really that much better as a basic mode of transportation than a Ford? It's the same with pipes; it's all in your point of view. I think the artisan hand makers are doing a better job of propaganda than the makers of machine made pipes.

This diatribe probably hasn't answered any of your questions. I know it doesn't make much sense, but I'm doing it on the fly. The bottom line, IMO, is it's all in what one is seeking: do you want a good smoke, or do you want a piece of art that can also be smoked? That's the basic question we all have to answer in the end. Personally, I'll go for the good smoke every time.

Terry
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If I cannot smoke in Heaven, then I shall not go...Mark Twain

ozark southpaw · Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 6:01 pm Post subject:

I think a lot of the prejudice against Grabows is from from guys that I (and others) consider to be snobs!! They seem to think that there is no way a cheap "drug store" pipe can smoke as good or better than their million dollar high grades. I haven't seen where the KYM products get bad mouthed like the Grabow but I think that may be because they are not as prevalent as the Grabows. There have been a few guys that have came out in defense of Grabows lately-as in the SF thread-"Eating crow for Dr. Grabow-Pass the salt". Some people will always equate more expensive with better.

Lacquer on a pipe? So what? I can't tell that it affects the way a pipe smokes!! The only thing I don't like about it is that if it is worn it makes it hard to restore a pipe to original. Like the old cars I used to mess with I prefer original. I'd much rather restore a pipe as refinish it. It gripes my ass because I cannot duplicate the original finish on my pipes. I can make them pretty nice but not original.
I have never smoked a "high grade pipe" and unless I win the lottery I never will-and then it would be artisan pipes!! I cannot imagine enjoying them any more than I do my Grabows!!

As for the snobs-piss on 'em and the horse they rode in on!!
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The only thing shorter than my memory is a certain part of my anatomy!

steverino · Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 12:39 am Post subject:

Terry292 · Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 2:28 am Post subject:

One last thing on this, Ted. What was it the lady from Mastercraft told you? Sell the sizzle, not the steak? That's basically what this whole thing is all about.
Terru
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If I cannot smoke in Heaven, then I shall not go...Mark Twain

drbridges · Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 5:20 am Post subject:

This doesn't directly answer your question, ted, but it sorta might.

Fella and me have been friends for years. We both love large caliber single action revolvers. Only for him, it is only the Colt Single Action Army. For me, it includes Ruger Blackhawks and Super Blackhawks.

The Rugers are stronger and often more accurate than his Colts. I can shoot heavy loads he wouldn't dare shoot from his guns.

I will tinker and tune my Rugers, because they aren't that expensive. I won't try too much gunsmithing with my Colt SAA.

Is he a snob? Yep, no question. He won't smoke DG pipes neither. Something went wrong in his mind a long time before I met him, and I can't make it right again.

Gig · Duke & Westbrook Man Joined: 04 Jul 2008 Posts: 240

I smoke 3 types of Dr Grabow pipes, Duke, Westbrook and Omegas and they all smoke great and I thoroughly enjoy smoking them all as much as my Petersons, Cavicchis and Ardor pipes. If only the pipe snobs could lower their noses and try them I think they would have a surprise.
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Regards

Gig aka "Duke, Westbrook & Omega Man"

LokoMac8 · Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 11:22 pm Post subject:

ozark southpaw · Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 12:01 am Post subject:

Keep ramblin' and babblin" Mac-we like it!! That tractor can wait!!
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The only thing shorter than my memory is a certain part of my anatomy!

LokoMac8 · Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 3:22 am Post subject: