STATE EXPRESS - ROUNDELS

My impressions of this classic / discontinued blend

Round discs or State Street Express from 1972

DISCONTINUED

Manufacturer:  State Express (??!?)

Blend type:  English - Virgina / Perique in disc form

Components:  Virginia and Perique

Appearance:  Seductively dark presented in thin sliced discs.  Mostly dark tobacco with shades of light brown streaks throughout.  Since the tobacco came from a tin marked 5/13/1972 some of the Roundels broke apart during the move to the jar seen above.  (2 out of 2) - love the Roundel presentation)

Smoked In:  Mastro de Paja Dublin - tobacco chamber is tall and thin.

Prepared:  Completely rubbed out - rubs out to a fine shag - next time I will NOT rub it out this fine as I have a tendency to pack the bowl a bit snug and the draw is a bit on the firm side.

Nose in container:  Upon opening the 4 oz Bell Jar a concentrated sweet Christmas cookie aroma assaults you.  Notes of cinnamon, nutmeg and raisins.  Smell is divine and I usually smoke Balkan and Latakia-laden English blends.  Absolutely no latakia whatsoever in this mixure.  (2 out of 2) - this is what Virginia / Perique smokers are looking for)

Room notes:  First pass of the lighter and a few initial puffs releases a light and sweet pure fresh baked sweet-bread aroma.  Interesting and contemplative which leads to some light nutmeg spices.  As I got into the bowl about 5-10 minutes the aroma of bready Virginia was dominant with a heavy compliment of the raisin-like Perique.  I've always felt Perique offered a peppery spice but aged Perique inevitably adds a semi sweet pungent raisin-like aroma / taste.  Towards the end of the bowl, the aroma intensified and was easily one of the most pleasing pipe tobacco aromas I've had the pleasure of smelling.  The sweetness subsided and was left with incredible Virginia nuttiness and Perique richness. (3 out of 3 - no hints of off-aromas...develops in richness as the bowl progresses)

Flavors:  As noted above in the 'room note' description, this Virginia / Perique blend was astonishing and the initial sweetness was a real eye-opener.  I'm sure the 42 years of sleep this tobacco enjoyed only helped the Virginias develop a richness the newer blends only hope to attain.  The Perique in this was a real show stopper in my opinion.  I've had aged Virginias (12+ year old MacBarens and 20+ year old McClelland blends) that have been delightful.  I have not had any Perique blends THIS OLD so I was not prepared for the initial subtle Perique raisin flavors (expecting that heavy spice kick).  The Perique built in flavor as it did in the room aroma.  By the end of the bowl of tobacco (3 discs) I was left wanting to light another bowl.  Fearing palate fatique, I decided against it and grabbed a coffee instead.  (2.75 out of 3 - Exquisite spice, sweetness and approachable)

Overall:  It's tough to rate a blend that's 42 years old.  It's almost unfair in a way as some of the recent Virginia / Perique blends (flakes / plugs, etc) might eventually be this good.  But, it's a task I'm willing to inherit.  Virtually flawless.  Next time I approach this tobacco I will leave the Roundels a little chunkier instead of rubbing it out almost all the way.

If you EVER run across some of this and are a Straight Virginia / Perique fan (Escudo, Three Nuns) you owe it to yourself to jump on it if you can swing the cost.

9.75 out of 10

I'm willing to share a bowl or two with Worcester / Framingham locals if you reach out to me.  

My Tobacco Cellar - what's in there?

Tobacco Cellar

what's in dolomite128's cellar?

A collection of 1970s tins I received a few years back - some fantastic pipe weed!

I've enjoyed some fantastic blends over the years as I started piping back in the early 90s.  If you've read some of my previous posts you'll not several of my recent ancestors have enjoyed smoking pipes and cigars as I do.

I have some unopened tins and a lot of bulk / opened tins in ball jars (4 oz and 8 oz jars).  I find I can keep 2oz tins in the 4oz Ball jars and 4oz of tobacco in the 8oz jars.  Math usually works like that.  if you have 8oz of tobacco you should double the amount and put it in a 16oz jar.

If any of these pique your interest and you're in New England, I'm always happy to trade for craft beer!  Especially Treehouse, Trillium and Hill Farmstead beers.

All of these have been put into jars (as described above) and most have not been opened since.  I'm proud of my own mixtures (Classic Pipe Shop) and would be happy to supply samples if we end up trading.

Most all my loose tobacco is in ball jars sealed tightly to allow the tobacco to rest and age gracefully.  The middle box is blending tobacco for my Classic Pipe Shop blends.

Just logged in everything that I'm not puffing away at, and came up with the following tobaccos:

Brand	Tobacco	Ounces	Date
Bessai	#1200	8	14-Oct
Bessai	Three Generations #1004	1	1970s
Chief Catoonah	Princes Street Mixture	3.1	13-Feb
Classic Pipe Shops (me)	Balkan Hross	1.7	13-Mar
Classic Pipe Shops (me)	Balkan Hross	1.4	13-Feb
Classic Pipe Shops (me)	Balkan Hross	0.1	2011
Classic Pipe Shops (me)	Balkan Hross	0.2	2009
Classic Pipe Shops (me)	Cigar Mixture	0.1	14-Jul
Classic Pipe Shops (me)	Golden Pond	0.4	14-May
Classic Pipe Shops (me)	No. 1 Reserve	0.4	14-May
Cornell & Diehl	Pirate Kake	1.8	1999
Craven	Craven Mixture	1.5	1970s
Esoterica	Penzance	4.4	13-May
Garfinkel's	New World Aromatic	1.4	1980s
Hearth & Home	Black House	3.2	13-Feb
Hearth & Home	Sunjammer	1.3	13-Mar
LJ Peretti	Cambridge Flake	2.7	14-Jan
LJ Peretti	D-9575	1.1	13-Mar
LJ Peretti	English 110	1.2	13-Mar
LJ Peretti	Omega	4.4	13-May
LJ Peretti	Royal	2	13-Mar
LJ Peretti	Tashkent	0.5	13-Mar
Macbaren's	Virginia	2.2	2010
Murray's	Irish Whiskey Blend	1.8	1970s
Owl Shop	Bancroft Towers	2.7	13-Mar
Owl Shop	Harkness Tower	2.5	13-Mar
Owl Shop	Harkness Tower	1.3	13-Apr
Owl Shop	Lockwoods	0.6	13-Mar
Owl Shop	Patterson's Mixture	2.3	13-Apr
Owl Shop	WB's #3	2.5	13-Feb
Peter Stokkebye	Bullseye	3.4	2009
Peter Stokkebye	English Luxury	2	13-May
Peter Stokkebye	Stockton Blend	0.3	2010
Savory's	Baby's Bottom	1.7	1970s
Sobranie	Balkan Sobranie #10	2.8	1970s
Sobranie	Balkan Sobranie Smoking Mixture	0.3	1972
State Express	Rondels	1.5	1972
Watch City	558 Flake	2	14-Mar
Watch City	Ahab's Comfort	1.6	14-Jan
Watch City	Churchwarden	1.6	13-Feb
Watch City	Deep Elem	2	14-Mar
Watch City	Fat Bastard	1.6	13-Mar
Watch City	Noreaster	1.8	14-Mar
Watch City	Noreaster	2	13-Feb
Watch City	Old Black Magic	1.8	14-Mar
Watch City	Old Dominian	1.8	14-Mar
Watch City	Persian Slipper	2.2	13-Mar
Watch City	Stardust	2.1	13-Mar

Tins:

Brand                               Tobacco                   Weight           Date

Garfinkel's	New World Aromatic	100g	1980s
McClelland's	Unkown	100g	1990s
Havana Blends	Irish Kelly	50g	08-May
Captain Earle's (Hermit)	Ten Russians	100g	1999
Hearth & Home	Daybreaker	1.5 oz	13-Feb
Hearth & Home	Old Tartan	1.5oz	13-Feb
Hearth & Home	Ambassador's Blend	1.5oz	13-Feb
Hearth & Home	10 to Midnight	1.5oz	13-Feb
MacBaren's	Club Blend	1.5oz	1970s
Esoterica Esoterica	Margate Penzance	8 oz 2 oz (2)	14-Mar 15-Oct
Smoker's Haven	Exotique	2 oz	13-May
Sasieni	Balkan Sasieni	50g	13-Feb
MacBaren's	Dark Twist	8 oz	1974
McClelland's	Syrian Full Balkan	50g	13-May
Ashton	Artisan's Blend	50g	13-Feb
Dan Tobacco	Gordon Pymm	100g	13-Dec
Lane	Leo	50g	15-May

Favorites Pipes of My Collection:

Author / Rhodesian with wind-caps

A Savinelli product...all stampings have been removed (as purchased new - no stampings)

I've always had a preference to squat / chubby Rhodesian and Author-shaped pipes.  Here are two pipes I have in my collection that have wind-caps.  I don't often smoke outside in high winds, but they look slick and certainly keep the breeze from blowing ashes into your head.

Neither one of these are thousand dollar pipes (or even $100) but they smoke great and are utilitarian in their own right.  These two get lots of use and I just wanted to share them with the pipe smoking community.

Savinelli Produced 320 shape

 The Savinelli-produced 320 shape is a substantial Author / Tomato shape.  The wind cap is wood (seems to be a light, porous wood - persimmon?).  Fits snuggly into the bowl with four vent-holes.  Smoking it with the cap on is a challenge keeping it lit.

It's an impressive pipe and is light enough to clench in your teeth while smoking.  Feels great in the hand though.

The stem is unusual with the big red dot.  No other markings on the pipe other than on the bottom of the bowl you can make out "*aronet" over ITALY and you can make out a small crown.  I'm thinking it was going to be a Savinelli Baronet but most of those are rusticated.  There are a couple small fills on the pipe.  One fill is on the bottom and one is on the shank area.

Great

John Bessai - Saddle Bit Rhodesian

John Bessai Bent Rhodesian with after market wind cap

Many of you know my affinity towards all things John Bessai.  This pipe is likely a late-60s / early 70s offering that was likely stamped "John Bessai" on a blank pipe.  Many French made GBD products had this similar shape of the bowl/shank and stem.  JB stamped bit is faint but it's there.  No standard "IMPORTED BRIAR" stamp on the other side of the shank.  

The Wind-Cap on this one is an after-market addition which is functional as a wind-screen and as

 tamper.  You can press on the center black ball and tamp the tobacco inside the chamber as you puff away.

Smokes incredibly cool and has wonderful balance.

La Fond's Vintage Algerian
GBD House Brand 9242

Restoration Project for September / Potential Rustication

La Fond's Vintage Algerian 9242 Chubby Rhodesian (GBD Made)

Just received this pipe today in the mail.  Love getting new projects.  Pictures were a bit over-and-under exposed.  Details were slim in the listing but hey...this is my absolute favorite shape.

La Fond was a pipe shop that opened in Destroit in 1898 and operated at least through the 50s.  They got most of their pipes from GBD and possibly Comoy's. 

This pipe is simply marked La Fond's Vintage Algerian (reverse side of shank reads) Made in France 9242.  Most French Made GBDs of this period are highly collectible.  The use of alleged turn-of-the-century Algerian Briar is the main drawing point.  2nd would be the wonderful craftmanship.

Overall thoughts on this pipe:

Briar - not noticeable scratched or dents.  Nice carving and a pleasing grain.  The color is a beautiful honeyed tan color.  Clearly old briar.  Rim of the pipe shows only light use / dings.  There is a decent build-up of tar - hoping not to find any char.

Not pictured or mentioned on e-bay were some small fills on the front of the bowl.  Will get better pictures once this is cleaned up for you to see.

Stem - fits perfectly if not a bit snug.  Taking the stem out of the shank was a bit of work but cleaning it up a bit, it went back in firmly.  I'm sure after it's cleaned it will be a perfect fit.  Likely hasn't been smoked in decades.  There is a small remnant of a stinger / inner tube in the tenon that was probably broken off years ago.  Shouldn't effect smoking qualities.  We'll see...  Light chatter on the butt end of the stem.  Stem is a thick taper stem with a small 'un-flared / fish tailed' end.  This was a popular style in the 20s and 30s which is the vintage I'm guessing this is from...possibly the 40s but no later.

Plans for the pipe:

Will begin cleaning this pipe tomorrow and will post pictures as I progress.  I will ask for your feedback when it's cleaned up to see if you think the pipe should be rusticated.  If so, I will take step-by-step pictures and explanations.  

Until then, here are the remaining pictures of the pipe from the listing.

Reverse side reads Made in France (over) 9242

Top of pipe.  Oxidation on the stem + tar build-up on the rim

Under-side of the pipe.  Nice grain and color.  

More pictures taken 9/10/15 - pre cleaning.  Will likely get this done before the football game tonight...

Looking forward to some feedback on whether it should be a rustication project or not.  You can see from the pictures there is a fill in the front of the bowl - although it blends OK, it drives me a bit nuts.

On with the show:

Before picture

Before - showing rim build-up

Before picture side view

Before picture - showing stampings

Before - love this shape, Needs cleaned up!

Before - shape and origin stamp view

Before - Underside - nice grain on this pipe.  Hypnotic even...

Before - let's get cleaning.

On to the restoration process:

1/2 scoop of Oxi-Clean powder

Fill nearly full with semi-warm water - note the brown spot in the bubbles where I threw the stem in...

Get your gloves on - this is messy stuff.

My Grandfather's (Wade) pipe reamer -  don't see a brand name but I love this expandable reamer.  Just be sure not to crank it up too wide or you'll risk damaging the side walls

Initial carbon dust from the minor cake build-up.  

Bring out the special scraping tools my father sent my way. - Item #38028 5 Pcs Spatula & Chisel Sets - stainless, made in Pakistan (very useful for clearing out the bowl.

Filled the bowl with Isopropyl Alcohol (91%) let it soak for a minute or two then reamed around the inside of the bowl with the tall spatula from the set.  Wiped off the remnants on the paper towel.  Fairly clean bowl considering how old the pipe is (40s?).

Rim cleaned with a bit of Isopropyl Alcohol and 0000 steel wool.  Should go easy on the rim not to take it down too far but this works great.  Last bit I get off with a bit of saliva and 0000 steel wool.  

Initial bowl work completed - now it's time for the stem.

Stem taken out of Oxi-Clean bath and wiped down with a dry paper towel.  Not bad but needs some sanding.

Combination of wet and dry 1000 grit sanding gets me where I need to be.  Make sure you run the sand paper top to bottom on the stem instead of around the stem - could mark up the stem that way.  

Prepping the wheel with fresh white buffing compound.  I get mine at Ocean State Job Lot in Massachusetts.

I lightly (not lightly) take this to the bowl - I know - people might be losing their minds right now, but I find this to be a good alternative to soaking the entire bowl in alcohol (which I've done before).

After one light (and complete) run on the wheel with white compound.

After 1 coat of wax on my other wheel.  Note you can see the puck of Carnuba in the background.  I've had this for years and years.  Doesn't take much.

After two coats of wax - note the fill that is really getting on my nerves in the front of the bowl.

Second coat rubbed in with my handy Space Invaders sweatshirt...still use it...can't fit in it...

Bowl complete - three coats of wax and neatly rubbed in by the sweatshirt again.

Now time to take the stem to the wheel with white buffing compound.

Buffed and wiped down once from its turn on the white compound wheel.

Finished product all waxed and wiped down by the sweatshirt.  Very rich color.  Stem cleaned up nicely.

Once step I did not show was the cleaning of the stem and shank with pipe cleaners and Isopropyl Alcohol.  I figure you've all seen that by now.

Conclusion

I like how it turned out but the rim needs more attention.  It will likely need to be topped to get the scorch marks off the rim.  

Having said this, I'm likely going to rusticate the pipe (like previous pipes I've done).  Anyone have any thoughts or feedback on whether you WOULD or WOULDN'T rusticate this pipe.

Chances are very high this will be listed and sold either on this site or on E-bay.  I enjoy rusticating and refinishing pipes and I feel this one would be stunning with dark brown and natural stain with a smooth top.

Anyway, I'll put it to the pipe community to set me straight!

Thanks for looking!

Rusticating Pipes

a collection of my work on new and estate pipes

Throughout the years I've acquired several pipes...my wife will tell you I've acquired too many.  Honestly, she might be right!  I've been restoring and reviving estate pipes now for several years, maybe a decade.  I've been doing this as a hobby and for my own enjoyment.  Sometimes I'll restore a pipe and sell it via e-bay or directly to friends or even donate one to my Father.

The two pipes pictured above are two similarly stained / finished pipes.  My Father picked up the Churchwarden at an Antiques Mall on the way up to visit us in Massachusetts last year.  The grain was nothing special and he asked me to rusticate the pipe similar to my oversized Colossal bent Rhodesian (also pictured above).  I've always been drawn to Ashton and Ferndown pipes and their 'style'.  With a steady hand and an eye for how I wanted the finished product to look - based on the size and shape of the pipe - I take the pipe to my workshop for its transformation.

My First Rusticated Pipe - a Watch City from Framingham

My first attempt

I had a cheap cheap basket pipe that I first tried rusticating with several different suggestions found all over the internet.  Most were not successful but one was able to dig into the pipe as desired and enable me to have the control I needed to manipulate the pipe throughout the process.  Fast forward a couple weeks...

The first pipe I completely refinished was a Watch City pipe from their Framingham location.  They had some pipes made for them that had some blemishes.  It got me thinking about rusticating and refinishing these brand new pipes into something I, and others, would enjoy holding and smoking and displaying.  I bought it and took it immediately to my work-shop.  The whole process took my 4-5 hours but the finished product got my creative juices flowing.

My First Complete pipe ready for enjoying

The finished product is to the left.   I must admit this one was more of a 'tip of the cap' to Steve Weiner and some of the pipes he made and finished - stain / color specifically.

This one was sold on e-bay to a very happy woman who gave it to her husband for his birthday.  He was very pleased with the pipe and it enabled me to move on to the next project.

Fast Forward to July 2015

I just received a pipe via e-bay that is a style and size I really like.  It's an Author Shape or a Bent Apple with a tapered stem.  I've always enjoyed the GBD 9438 and the 9242 Rhodesians but I always find myself coming back to the Author Shape.  Here are a couple pictures of the pipe before i went after it.

Pipe as received...needed thorough cleaning but was in decent shape.  It's an unidentified, undated DEL RIO pipe with a stinger - estimating 40s or 50s.

Pipe cleaned and ready for the rustication process - Made in France can be seen on the stem.

Another view of the cleaned pipe.  Grain was pretty lackluster and there was a fill on the rim.

The pipe cleaned up beautifully and if it wasn't for the fill on the back of the rim I would have left it 'as is'.  BUT - it needed a new look.  I had a Dunhill CK years ago that was a favorite of mine but I couldn't resist restoring it and selling it to fund more pipes...I'm sure we've all done that!

Below is the finished product - just finished this one this morning.  Took me roughly 4-5 hours to rusticate and refinish.  Keep in mind the work totaled 4-5 hours.  It has to rest and dry for roughly 24 hours.

A couple pieces of my polishing cloth were left behind but overall this came out as intended.

I've already smoked a bowl of the new Balkan Sobranie as well as a bowl of my personal Heritage blend of Julius (1 year old this week - Wonderful tobacco at this stage that was named after my Father's Father whom I never met).  The pipe smoked beautifully and really shows wonderful balance.  This is the first attempt at rusticating the rim of the pipe which I was afraid could have gone horribly wrong but the integrity of the rim is intact.

If you have any questions about my process or how I approach the refinishing of the pipe, I'd be happy to elaborate in a future post.  

I can tell you I use leather die for my colors and use a bit of shellac on the finished product to give it that Ashton-like finished look (think a well aged Dunhill pipe color / finish).

Thanks for looking!  Will add more pictures as I sift through previous projects!