Inexpensive

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I'm not going to call Dr. Grabow pipes cheap.  They are Briar pipes.  But they are all machine made from start to finish and are what we would say are mass produced.  This is mostly why Dt. Grabow sells so many pipes.  Most every pipe smoker today most likely began with a Dr. Grabow pipe and why so few stayed with it.  Obviously a Dr. Grabow is NOT the best pipe.  But those who started with one and moved to finer pipes will look at their first Dr. Grabow pipe with great fondness.

I don't have one.  My first pipe was quite expensive at the time and is now almost a collector's pipe.  It is indeed the rare collector who has a fondness of a Dr. Grabow pipe.  It is more of a novelty than collector's item.  But that said, there is something to be said for Dr. Grabow pipes.

It all began in 1932 in Chicago where two physicians were good friends.  They were Dr. Linkman and Dr. Grabow.  It was Dr. Lineman who had an idea for a special pipe design and he wanted to use Dr. Grabow's name for the name of the pipe.  The design was patented and thus the Dr. Grabow pipe was born.  In 1955 the operations were moved from Chicago to Sparta, SC, where Dr. Grabow is manufactured today.

I lifted the above photo from Amazon where this same pipe can be found on my Amazon wish list.  Yes, I have a list now, because my wife wanted me to work on it.  It's all pipe smoking related stuff.  I told her I now have a tobacco wish list on Smoking Pipes, but I purposely left out any pipes.  I just felt they were too costly for others to buy and If I wanted one, I'd just get it.  

The above pipe is simply called a Big Bowl pipe.  Dr. Grabow pipes aren't known for holding a lot of tobacco.  So, the above pipe has a bigger bowl.  The pattern is rustic and hides any flaws there might be in the Briar.  Smooth pipes are more expensive because any flaws are visible.  But when it comes to cheaper pipes I simply don't care.  Every Dunhill is a highly polished smooth pipe.  A Briar with ANY flaws simply is not used.

Some have called Dr. Grabow pipes the disposable pipes for that reason.  If it broke or burned out, one could just go the local drugstore and get a new one for about $12. The pipe above might be the most expensive Dr. Grabow pipe at about $65 on Amazon.  Everyone is always sold out of Dr. Grabow pipes, especially this time of year.  Amazon says it still has a few of these stock.  So, it's on my list.  If I don't smoke it the value could go up to $70...  In about 10 or 15 years.  

Today it is my Boswell pipe with some Tropical Export.  It' a very chilly day with the temps in the upper 60's.  I'd take this day most anywhere, but today I'm wearing long swearpants, a sweatshirt, and mt jean jacket.  I'm even wearing socks as I sit on the lanai this morning.  Thank you for your time and Peace to each one of you.

Dave

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