Tommy Cook #6203126 Category A  (RESERVED)
Tommy was (is?) a pipe maker from Texas, I believe.  I met him
a number of times as he attended pipe shows and  trade shows.
The last time I saw him, a few years ago, he was not looking
robust, so I don't know if he's still alive and I'd be surprised to
hear he was still making pipes, but it's possible, I suppose.  All
of this could be looked up easily enough.  Tommy did have a
devoted coterie of followers, and this pipe might illustrate why
that's the case.  It's not flashy, but it is solid, has a good draw
and the lightness of wood that indicates well aged briar.  The
condition of this pipe is very good, with just some minimal wear
on the inside of the rim.  Used. Price: $45
6.28" long, bowl 2.17" high. Weight: 1 5/8 oz., 45 grams.
Comoy's Rover #372346  Category B
I must say, the grain on this pipe isn't bad, at all, with a lot of
Bird's Eye and some nice cross grain.  But it was made during a
period when Comoy's didn't really give a crap, and the bulky,
wide molded stem gives proof to that.  It might have been the
undoing of Comoy's.  Never try to fool your customers.
5.8" long, bowl 1.77" high. Weight: 1 5/8 oz., 47 grams. $35
Achtung!  Achtung!  In my never ending quests to
provide you with more pipes at a great price and me with
more revenue,  I am going to start a new element here,
lifted from the Chinese restaurant menus of my youth
where you could select from Column A, and Column B.
Here's the deal: for $100, including postage in the
continental U.S., you can select 4 pipes, two listed as
Cagegory A, two from Category B, or more specifically,
no more than two from A and as many as 4 from B.  Is that
clear?  In short, I will be valuing the A pipes as being
worth a bit more than the B pipes.  You are welcome to
disagree and vote with your pocketbooks.  You are also
quite welcome to choose any single pipe you like, at the
stated single pipe price, which, not incidentally, should
still be an excellent value.
Not being a master of organization, logistics or anything
else that requires planning and thought, I may have to
revise, or eventually abandon this attempt altogether,
but I hope not.  My four pipes for $30 offer is going fairly
well, and this should do the same, but then again, I'm not
buying, I'm selling.  If you have thoughts on what you
see, I am all eyes.  I expect this to be fun for both of us.  
If a pipe doesn't indicate it's in Category A or B, it's not
part of this deal.  Not all pipes in this program will be
placed near one another, but they should all be on the
Specials page.  It will take a little time to build up an
appropriate inventory of these pipes, so please be a bit
patient, and then, when your patience wears thin, don't
hesitate to lambast me for my sloth.  Thank you for your
attention.
P.S. No 'holds' etc. on this page, for my mental health.
Pulvers' Prior Briar
P.O. Box 61146
Palo Alto, CA  94306

Phone/Fax:
(650) 965-7403
Email:
mpulvers@aol.com
Pipe
Categories:
Le Marche Straight Grain #7818 Category A (SOLD 7/7/08)
One of the smaller pipes in this series, it is not stamped and
could have a more open draw, although it is not bad in that
department.  What else I noticed is that the bowl is coated,
making it the only one to be so designated.  The grain on the
other side is not quite as good as this visible side.
5 5/8" long, bowl 1 7/8" high: Weight; 1.72 oz. 48.8 grams. New
Price. $50
Kaywoodie Flame Grain #4242672 Category B
This is a pretty billiard in excellent condition, with some tight
grain.  There are teeth indentations, though, on the stem and
that bloody metal fitment inhibits the draw.   That's why I'm
reducing it to a category B pipe.  Used. Price: $35
5.35" long, bowl 1.7" high.  Weight: 11/8 oz., 32 grams.
Preben Holm Fancy #4242681 Category A (RESERVED)
I can't imagine why my photographer took such revealing shots
of this pipe.  I say, the less known about it the better (for me, at
least).  There are pretty deep indentations on the stem, which
is a bit loose to begin with.  The pipe has been smoked a lot,
but I will say, the chamber is in good shape and it draws well.
6" long, bowl 2.1" high. Weight: 2 1/8 oz., 60 gr. Used. $45
Caminetto Business #4242678 Category A  (SOLD 7/3/08)
Although this pipe was smoked a lot, and the top of the
chamber was reamed a little aggressively, the rest of the
chamber is in very good condition, and it's a deep bowl and the
rim is thin at the top, so you wouldn't have wanted to put
tobacco up that far in the bowl, anyhow.  It doesn't have the
original stem, but that may turn out to be an improvement as the
replacement is vulcanite, in good condition, and much thinner
and more comfortable than lucite would have been.  There is
an indentation on the bottom of the stem, but it is not very deep.
5.6" long, bowl 2.25" high. Weight: 2.25 oz., 64 grams.
Used. Price: $45
4 assorted pipes for $30 #6203021 (SOLD 7/7/08)
From the far left, we have a black, sandblasted Stratford sitter.  
The Stratford is made from old wood found in the Charatan
factory about 24 years ago by David Field.  This one has a
fine, open draw.  The freehand at the top is a Dane Craft, also
with a good, open draw.  The $30 is easily made already.  Next
is the vest pocket in superb condition, and "Made in England."
The bottom most pipe is a small, sandblast Dublin, unsmoked,
called Captain Patty.  The first two mentioned are pretty large,
but not huge.  
4 assorted pipes for $30 #6203022  (SOLD 7/19/08)
At the far left is a Danish Sovereign in excellent condition.  
Then, starting at the top, is a Bulldog, with the brand name of
Executive.  Below that is a large Apple, made in England but
with no brand name.  It has an open draw.  The last pipe is a
bent Harrington Park, in superb condition, also with a
wide-open draw and made of Algerian briar.  All grp. 4 or bigger
4 assorted pipes for $30 #6203023 (RESERVED)
From the left: a Royal Danish with their typical Acorn shape,
open draw and smooth thumbprints on the side. Next is a Soren
hand carved in Copenhagen, followed by a Stratford.  The dot
logo on the top of the Stratford's stem is a bit messed up, but
the pipe is in exc. cond.  The last pipe is a Bacon Bros. of
Cambridge (Massachusetts?  England?) Squat, Bent Bulldog in
generally good cond., except for a scarred bowl rim and a tooth
indentation on the bottom of the stem.  It has a good open draw.
4 assorted pipes for $30 #6203024
Straddling 12 o'clock is a Longchamps with an oval bowl.  It's in
exc. cond.  with a wide open draw. At 8:00 is a Parker in exc.
cond. at 6:00 is an Italian Primo, if I can read the script
properly.  It's in exc. cond.  at 4:00 is a fairly large Dr. Carey,
which takes that magic inch paper cylinder on the tenon.  
4 assorted pipes for $30 #6203026  (SOLD 7/7/08)
At the top is a Matera, and I forget who makes this pipe.  It's in
exc. cond.  Below it is an unsmoked bent Poker that's stamped
with the 1996 RTDA insignia.  I forget why we got this pipe, but
I'm never going to smoke it.  Next is a very decent Parker
Tanglewood in near-new cond. and a very open draw.  Finally
is a rusticated Champion Deluxe Algerian Briar.  I'm going to
believe the Algerian Briar part of that.
4 assorted pipes for $30 #6203028  (SOLD 7/1/08)
Across the top is a wally Frank Colonel Adams in good shape
with a wide open draw.  Below that is a Parker Tanglewood in
exc. cond., and also with an open draw.  To the right of that is a
Billiard of African Meerschaum.  It has a good, open draw.  On
the bottom is a curved Squat Bulldog by Longchamp, with a
very good draw and in v. good cond.
Barling, Made in Denmark #6203096 Category B
I've got plenty of these.  They were acquired around 1990 by a
customer of mine, who found them in a 2nd hand store, and
sold them to me.  Thus, I can offer them at this stellar price for
an unsmoked 'Barling' branded pipe.  What Barling was doing
in Denmark I can't say, unless he was looking for an attractive
blonde, which I can completely understand and even empathize
with.  (And for what it's worth, I saw a brunette there that I also
found staggeringly appealing.)  It's well made enough to have a
beveled inside rim and nice blast.  New. Price: $35
5 3/8: long, bowl 1 10/16" high. Weight: 1.25 oz., 35 grams.
Kaywoodie Handmade #6203102 Category B (Reserved)
Except for the damage done to the beads, this pipe is in pretty
good shape, with an original stem, an open draw and a
meerschaum-lined bowl that is in good cond.  The carving
certainly looks like a copy of the Custom Bilt tooling. Used. $35
5.6" long, bowl 1.6" high. Weight: 2 3/4 oz., 76 grams
Comoy's Extraordinnaire #6203094 Category B
this pipe has seen better days.  It has a plug in the bottom of
the bowl, the rim of the bowl isn't of even thickness.  the
nomenclature is greatly worn down.  On the other hand, it does
have an original stem, and the draw is open.  I think the price
I'm offering it at is fair.  Used. Price: $35
6" long, bowl 1.8" high. Weight: 1 3/8 oz., 40 grams.  
Stanwell Design Choice #6203099 Category A (SOLD 7/7)
This pipe has a Registration number, making it a fairly old
Stanwell.  The cond. is exc., and the draw is wide open.  
5.4" long, bowl 1.5" high.  Weight: 1 5/8 oz., 47 grams.
Used. Price: 45
Knute of Denmark #6203103 Category A
I don't know who made Knute, although one rumor has it that
they were made by Stanwell, which is always a possibility.  
However, the stamping is decidedly un-Stanwell-like, as is the
stemwork.  But, we're talking 30 years ago.  This pipe is in very
good condition; it was smoked a lot, but clearly it was well
loved, with no teeth marks on the stem and a plateau rim that is
not worn.  Like many old freehands, it has a large, deep bowl
and a nice open draw.  Used. Price: $45
5.8" long, bowl 2.45" high. Weight: 2 1/8 oz., 62 grams.
Jobey Asti #6203121 Category B
This pipe is in excellent condition but  I do not like the way it
draw.  It should be opened a bit.  Other than that, it's a decent
piece and well worth the money.  Used. Price: $35
4.48" long, 1.8" high. Weight: 1.5 oz., 44 grams.
Weber "Windpruf" #6203117 Category A  (SOLD 7/23/08)
Due to the ingenious way the cap is put on 'tracks', the cap not
only folds all the way back, but also slides flat down the back of
the bowl, so that it can be entirely out of the way, if you so
choose.  The pipe is in every good cond., with only a little wear
on the inside of the bowl rim.  Pretty good cross grain.
5.28" long, bowl 1.67" high. Weight: 1.25 oz., 37 grams.
Used. Price: $45
E. Wilke,  N.Y.C. #6203136 Category A  (SOLD 7/20/08)
A fine looking and feeling Billiard, with plenty of Cross Grain
and Bird's Eye.  An open draw and comfortable stem and
excellent condition make this a pretty darn good deal for this
classic from the venerated New York City store owned by the
Wilke sisters, and then taken over by Elliott Nachwalter.
Used. Price: $45
Randy Wiley #6203130 Category B  (RESERVED)
Not the greatest draw in the world, and it has to make you
wonder why a pipe maker would make a pipe that doesn't
function.  If this sounds like a harsh condemnation of Randy, I
sincerely do not mean it to.  He is by no stretch of the
imagination alone, and Randy at least doesn't charge $2,000
for a poorly designed pipe.  I recently wrote of this problem to
one very highly regarded Danish pipe maker, and instead of
getting angry and defensive with me, he replied, basically, "you
just gave me a long story when all you had to say was 'puff on
each pipe before releasing it; thank you for the information.' "  
that was refreshing. This pipe is in excellent conditon. Used. $35

5.8" long, bowl 2.2" high. Weight: 2 oz., 57 grams
Drucquer & Sons "California" #6203127 Category A
                                (SOLD 7/20/08)
Small, but quite sweet, with a wide open draw and in exc. cond.
There is a noticeable, deep sand pit on the shank, but certainly
no fills.  As you can see, the bowl has a lot of straight grain.
5.4" long, bowl 1.58" high. Weight: 1 oz., 27 grams.
Used. Price: $45
Monterey "Mission Briar" #6203134 Category A  (SOLD)
The value of this pipe is not in its potential smokeability, of
which I would guess  is almost nil, but in its historical
significance.  The "Mission Briar" designates a pipe that was
made in the Santa Cruz Mtns. of Calif. during the 2nd World
War, when Mediterranean briar was not readily available.  To
compensate for the absence of raw material, Kaywoodie (and
maybe other producers) built factories near a supply of
Manzanita wood, which is, I guess, a sister to the Erica Arborea
that we know as briar.  Desperate smokers will smoke anything,
but we are not that desperate.  I tried a Mission Briar once, and
once was enough.  BTW, if you're an inveterate researcher,
National Geographic did an article on Mission Briar production
many, many years ago, but I'm sure you can find it if you want.
This pipe is in pretty good cond.,  but doesn't draw well and
who cares?  FYI, it has that metal fitment in the stem.  Did I
mention that the bowl is slightly oval?  Used. Price: $45
4.8" long, bowl 1.47" high. Weight: 1 oz., 27 grams.
Peterson's Rocky Donegal #6203061 Category B
The excellent shape is marred only by very slight teeth marks,
not indentations, on the stem.  I should sand them out for you,
but at this price, fuhgeddaboutit.  The rim and everything else
is very crisp.  The draw in the stem really needs to be opened.
(I had a Peterson Pre-Republic Prince shape that I loved to
look at and hold, but I could never get it to smoke well.  At that
time, I wasn't smart enough to pay attention to the draw.  I bet
with a little drilling, that pipe, with its wonderful old briar, would
have smoked like a champ.  I want it back!!!)  Used. Price: $35
5.5" long, bowl 1.5" high. Weight: 1.5 oz., 41 grams
Savinelli Capri #6203060 Category B (RESERVED)
This pipe is in near new condition.  The stem doesn't have the
"S" logo, but that's hardly worth a demerit as Savinelli saves its
money by putting on cheap blanks with shrinking tenons that
drive me crazy.  This is a quality up-grade.  The draw is pretty
decent here, too.  Not great, but ok.  Used. Price: $35
5.5" long, bowl 1.57" high. Weight: 1.75 oz., 50 grams
Barling Ye Olde Wood #6203067 Category A (RESERVED)
The pipe is in excellent condition, with an original stem although
the crossed "Barling"s are difficult to read, but they are there.  
With its good open draw, it should smoke very well.  For those
interested in details, the shape # is 5895, whatever that means.
5.9" long, bowl 1.8" high. Weight: 1.5 oz., 41 grams.
Used. Price: $45