piffyr
Junior Member
Posts: 422 
First Name: Anthony
Favorite Pipe: The one I'm smoking right now.
Favorite Tobacco: Revor Plug
Location:
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Post by piffyr on Nov 18, 2018 15:24:24 GMT -5
If The Doodler that I recently posted strained your boundaries of acceptable aesthetics, maybe this one will be more to your liking. It’s a simple Pipeworks Canadian with some subtle shaping elements that I think make it unique. Pipeworks began in the early 80s when pipe maker, Elliott Nachwalter, and his then wife, tobacconist, Carol Burns, bought the old Wilke Pipe Shop in New York City. The business would operate there for at least a decade before the couple moved to Vermont. I’m not sure if Nachwalter actually had a hand in the making of this pipe though. The shaping suggests, to me at least, some of the Nachwalter DNA. However, a good friend of mine that has collected many Nachwalter pipes believes that these pipes were produced by a third party, possibly Weber, for sale in the Maddison Avenue shop. There’s certainly a case to be made for that, since Elliott Nachwalter’s name isn’t present anywhere on the pipe and the stem material is not what I would expect from his work (more on that below). Still, I keep coming back to that shape...      |
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piffyr
Junior Member
Posts: 422
First Name: Anthony
Favorite Pipe: The one I'm smoking right now.
Favorite Tobacco: Revor Plug
Location:
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Post by piffyr on Nov 18, 2018 15:24:48 GMT -5
I suppose the figuring of the briar doesn’t really fit the technical definition of “good grain”. The grain on the cross-cut bowl is somewhat “twisted,” for lack of a better word, leaving some dead-ish areas near the bottom. The pipe is very finely grained though, and in my experience, all that’s required to bring those areas to life is a little attention. The Pipeworks was no exception.       Now, about that stem… I’m not really sure how well this will come through on your screen, but if you can see the tiny speckles all over the surface, that’s not dust (well,.. some of it probably is). It’s actually minuscule clumps of sulfur powder that didn’t properly mix during the vulcanization process. I’ve encountered this before, but mostly on lower-end pipes. The stem itself is fine and does what a stem is supposed to do, but I may still replace it at some point if it doesn’t stop triggering my OCD. By the way, here are the specs of the pipe for anyone interested… Weight: 44g / 1.55 oz. Length: 156mm / 6.125 in. Bowl height: 51mm / 2 in. Bowl width: 52mm / 2 in. Chamber diameter: 19mm / .75 in. Chamber depth: 43mm / 1.7 in. |
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Post by Legend Lover on Nov 18, 2018 15:27:47 GMT -5
Another terrific job, buddy. That's a born again pipe!!
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Post by puffy on Nov 18, 2018 15:33:21 GMT -5
It cleaned really well..It looks great.
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Post by mwps70 on Nov 18, 2018 16:17:42 GMT -5
I think it is a beautiful pipe. Lots of birds eye and that stem has beautiful grain. Wonderful job.
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Post by pepesdad1 on Nov 18, 2018 16:19:29 GMT -5
Always and forever...another great refurb. Looks really terrific.
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Post by Yohanan on Nov 18, 2018 16:20:38 GMT -5
All the nasty's are gone, Great Job!!!
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haveldad
Junior Member
Posts: 477
Favorite Pipe: Kaywoodie Freehand Poker
Favorite Tobacco: Vintage Syrian
Location:
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Post by haveldad on Nov 18, 2018 16:33:11 GMT -5
These are some of my favorite posts, the before and afters are so satisfying.
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Post by william on Nov 18, 2018 16:37:56 GMT -5
As usual--very nice!
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piffyr
Junior Member
Posts: 422
First Name: Anthony
Favorite Pipe: The one I'm smoking right now.
Favorite Tobacco: Revor Plug
Location:
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Post by piffyr on Nov 18, 2018 17:16:31 GMT -5
Many thanks, gents!  |
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Post by McWiggins on Nov 18, 2018 17:42:09 GMT -5
Some realy good work done here.  |
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Post by Dramatwist on Nov 18, 2018 17:47:17 GMT -5
...you obviously know what you're doing... fine resurrection...
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Post by trailboss on Nov 18, 2018 17:53:17 GMT -5
Poppycock!
It may not be the most birdseye laden pipe I have seen, or a straight grain, but it is a beauty nonetheless. Another fine job at restoration!
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Post by Goldbrick on Nov 18, 2018 18:32:33 GMT -5
top notch work as always!
well done there Pal!!
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Post by Cramptholomew on Nov 18, 2018 19:51:50 GMT -5
Beautiful pipe, sir. Your work is extraordinary.
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piffyr
Junior Member
Posts: 422
First Name: Anthony
Favorite Pipe: The one I'm smoking right now.
Favorite Tobacco: Revor Plug
Location:
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Post by piffyr on Nov 18, 2018 20:42:42 GMT -5
...you obviously know what you're doing... Don't let me fool you. |
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Post by unknownpipesmoker on Nov 18, 2018 20:44:42 GMT -5
I love it... its basically a lumberman isn't it?
I still don't own any Canadian/lumberman style pipes.. I think if I bought one I'd by a comoys
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piffyr
Junior Member
Posts: 422
First Name: Anthony
Favorite Pipe: The one I'm smoking right now.
Favorite Tobacco: Revor Plug
Location:
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Post by piffyr on Nov 18, 2018 20:51:01 GMT -5
I love it... its basically a lumberman isn't it? I still don't own any Canadian/lumberman style pipes.. I think if I bought one I'd by a comoys Technically speaking, I think the lumberman shape is usually defined as a pipe with a long, oval shank and a saddle stem. The same pipe with a taper stem is usually defined as a Canadian. That seems a bit pedantic to me though. So, feel free to call it a lumberman if you like. |
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Post by peterd-Buffalo Spirit on Nov 18, 2018 20:54:23 GMT -5
...very well done! Enjoy...
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Post by antb on Nov 19, 2018 4:01:52 GMT -5
I like Canadians....the pipe shape as well  . Nice one! |
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Post by slowroll on Nov 19, 2018 15:46:52 GMT -5
Nicely done Anthony. Wouldn't expect less!
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Post by kxg on Nov 19, 2018 18:42:03 GMT -5
Excellent work and a good looking pipe!
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Post by dave g on Nov 19, 2018 18:51:28 GMT -5
Amazing transformation. Well done as always.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
Location:
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2018 18:51:42 GMT -5
Anthony, I almost missed this one!! Another beautiful restoration, looks better than new, you made the grain POP👌👍👍
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Post by smellthehatfirst on Nov 20, 2018 0:19:30 GMT -5
I have a suspected Nachwalter of my own.
It's a gold-trimmed pipe stamped "E. Wilke," but the design is so flamboyantly modern that it cannot possibly be the work of the Wilke sisters or the Weber plant.
The stem appears to be hand cut, and both stem and shank are quite boldly asymmetrical, to continue the "twist" motif from the stem's saddle into the shaping of the shank.
It has unusually fine, straight grain, except for the big honking sandpit on the rim. Not sure why the maker didn't just shape the rim a little more to remove that.
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piffyr
Junior Member
Posts: 422
First Name: Anthony
Favorite Pipe: The one I'm smoking right now.
Favorite Tobacco: Revor Plug
Location:
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Post by piffyr on Nov 20, 2018 9:21:33 GMT -5
I have a suspected Nachwalter of my own. It's a gold-trimmed pipe stamped "E. Wilke," but the design is so flamboyantly modern that it cannot possibly be the work of the Wilke sisters or the Weber plant. The stem appears to be hand cut, and both stem and shank are quite boldly asymmetrical, to continue the "twist" motif from the stem's saddle into the shaping of the shank. It has unusually fine, straight grain, except for the big honking sandpit on the rim. Not sure why the maker didn't just shape the rim a little more to remove that.
The curve in the shank is certainly reminiscent of Nachwalter's shaping. I would think it a little odd if one of his pipes were stamped with the Wilke brand since I'm told that they wanted a definite separation between the pipes and tobacco business (Wilke blends / Pipeworks pipes). When it comes to Nachwalter, however, just about anything is possible. He has an artist's mentality with directions change with the wind. There's also the chance that the Steven Johnson's work, who carved pipes for the Wilke shop from the mid/late-'70s until it sold in the early '80s. I'm not familiar enough with his work to really say. I'm more convinced that Nachwalter made the Canadian after stumbling across this example after making the original post...  "made by hand in 1981 at my studio in new york. lovely lightweight classic canadian with a very nice straight/flame grain. lightly used. fit with a cumberland style mouthpiece."www.pipestudio.com/vintage-ne101.htmlSame soft beveled rim and flattened top/bottom surfaces on the shank and the dimensions are very similar. Not quite a smoking gun, but about as close as I'm likely to get I think. |
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Post by smellthehatfirst on Nov 20, 2018 19:04:45 GMT -5
There's also the chance that the Steven Johnson's work, who carved pipes for the Wilke shop from the mid/late-'70s until it sold in the early '80s. I'm not familiar enough with his work to really say. I like the idea of a Stephen Johnson / Philadelphia connection, because this particular pipe is only stamped "E. Wilke," not "E. Wilke N.Y.C." like my others. I'm more convinced that Nachwalter made the Canadian after stumbling across this example after making the original post... "made by hand in 1981 at my studio in new york. lovely lightweight classic canadian with a very nice straight/flame grain. lightly used. fit with a cumberland style mouthpiece."www.pipestudio.com/vintage-ne101.htmlSame soft beveled rim and flattened top/bottom surfaces on the shank and the dimensions are very similar. Not quite a smoking gun, but about as close as I'm likely to get I think. Unfortunately hunting for pictures of Weber Canadian shapes, it seems they had extraordinarily similar proportions to the Nachwalter you posted there, including the very gentle cant.
The grain seems a little too nice for a Weber, though  |
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Post by smellthehatfirst on Nov 20, 2018 20:28:54 GMT -5
I’m blind — the mystery Wilke is still stamped NYC.
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piffyr
Junior Member
Posts: 422
First Name: Anthony
Favorite Pipe: The one I'm smoking right now.
Favorite Tobacco: Revor Plug
Location:
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Post by piffyr on Nov 21, 2018 0:55:19 GMT -5
Unfortunately hunting for pictures of Weber Canadian shapes, it seems they had extraordinarily similar proportions to the Nachwalter you posted there, including the very gentle cant. The grain seems a little too nice for a Weber, though Who knows, my friend? I'm not particularly a Nachwalter devotee. So, I won't be losing sleep over it either way. I just kind of hate niggling questions. Don't knock Weber too much. It's my opinion that they were one of greatest American pipe companies to have ever existed. They could turn out some very high end factory pipes. Much of their business was supplying pipes to private labels and picking up production slack from other manufacturers. So, just because your pipe doesn't say "WEBER" doesn't mean that they didn't make it. Also, they were doing some of the best blast work in the industry as a whole. The problem is that they were totally cool with turning out cheap pipes made from inferior materials as well. They did this under their own name, rather than doing the sub-brand thing and I think that ultimately hurts a company's reputation. The guys overseas had the right idea; sell your first quality stuff under your own name and completely rebrand your second quality products. The briar shortage during WWII was probably the thing that kept the American manufacturers from doing the same. Most of the inventory was second quality or lower. If it was all rebranded, there would be nothing left to keep the flagship marquee alive. |
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Post by smellthehatfirst on Nov 21, 2018 1:03:00 GMT -5
I am never gonna knock Weber. They made proper pipes, correctly, every time, without fail. I have a number of "Wally Frank" stamped pipes that are almost certainly from Weber, and they are made 100% correctly.
Even their "inferior" pipes are just made from ebauchon blocks, rather than having nice symmetrical grain. What a terrible loss
I'm in this just for sport. Is it Nachwalter or Weber? An interesting question for its own sake. It won't be a less-good pipe for either outcome! |
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. Nice one!
