Dr. Grabow Pipes

BWThomas · Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 1:15 am Post subject: NO Spade???

I was just on the WVSmokeshop site ready to place an order for some baccy, and I decided to take a look at the pipes he has to offer. Did notice that there have been a number of new pipes added since the last time I had checked. Thing is... a number of the new listings are illustrated without a spade on the stem.

http://www.wvsmokeshop.com/bigpipe.aspx

Is this something new from Sparta? I sent an email asking for clarification. Just wondered if anyone else has seen this.

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BWThomas

LokoMac8 · Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 2:52 am Post subject: Re: NO Spade???

drbridges · Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 12:22 pm Post subject:

Some things Sparta does don't make sense to us outsiders.

Why aren't their BIG PIPE and CARDINAL considered DG pipes, but the VIKING was?

Why did WESTBROOKs always get orange spades, but the other RJR coupon pipes got white spades?

Why did they use white spades on ajusto models, blue spades on filtered models, and yellow spades on push tenon models, while they used white spades on ajusto filtered models? Why didn't those GOLDEN, SILVER, & COLOR DUX deserve their own spade color?

Sparta has made pipes without spade emblems, and these often were made for tobacco retailers that didn't sell DG pipes, so they went through different trade channels. Doesn't make sense to make pipes without spade emblems, but package them in DG blister pax.

BWThomas · Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 2:24 pm Post subject: Re: NO Spade???

LokoMac8 · Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 6:33 pm Post subject: Re: NO Spade???

BWThomas · Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 7:55 pm Post subject:

Well, that just looks awful. You think they could come up with a better looking stamping. On top of that, there's the dreaded leaf carving indicating a flaw right there on the shank near the fitting. The 'Big Pipe' retails for 50 bucks. The best price I've seen on them is mid 30s. It's really no wonder why people bad mouth Grabow. Most folks aren't exposed to all the different shapes and offerings that we have seen... not aware of the the quality that HAD been put into this brand in the past.

I've got to tell you, if my first and only exposure to Grabow pipes was what I see at retail, the limited selection and in most if not all instances, poor examples of the product, I would be steering clear of the brand and looking to paying more for a quality pipe brand of which all examples are first quality.

There was a time when I could not buy anyone's claim that the Grabows were junk, since each and every pipe I purchased was indeed a well made, well finished, neatly stamped product. I can't say that is true today. These pipes are still good smoking pipes, but if they look like crap, who is going to buy them to try.

I have acquired over forty Grabow pipes in the past four months. Two of those were brand new off the shelf. One was horrible looking in the blister pack, but I looked past that because I KNEW it would be a good smoker, and it is. I've since refinished it. And.. I didn't have a pipe with me that day and I was hard up. The other, the dublin I posted the other day, was a good looking example in the blister pack and is a good smoker. And it is the first new pipe that I had seen in the packaging that really made me want to buy it. I'm starting to wonder now whether this was old stock.

What I had to select from at the time of those purchases, was a group of what looked like factory rejects. The finish was poor, the fills were obvious, I could see the sanding marks through the finish, through the blister pack.

The thing is... I stop at grocery and drug stores several times a week, just to take a look at what they might have on the shelf. If there is a good looking pipe, I'll buy it. I haven't seen much of anything. 95% of what I have seen are straight stem little tiny carved bowls with bad finishes.

I can honestly say that if I could actually get my hands on, look at Grabow pipes on the store shelves that were acceptable sizes and shapes, I'd be buying 2 to 3 new pipes a week.

This is making me crazy.... or crazier ...end of rant!
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BWThomas

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

I hope you feel better now Thomas Smile

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Regards

Gig aka "Duke, Westbrook & Omega Man"

BWThomas · Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 8:38 pm Post subject:

ahgar · Grand Duke Joined: 01 Oct 2009 Posts: 24

okay now i'm confused, does "they are not dr grabows"mean that they don't make the big pipe or that it is just another line? probably a stupid question but i gots to know. also lokomac8 how does the lighter colored big pipe in your post above smoke? i really like the looks of it but hate to spend $40 on a pipe and be disappointed. thanks,ahgar

LokoMac8 · Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 1:38 am Post subject: