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Custom-Bilt: Difference between revisions
→The Alternative History
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William E. Unger, Jr., Ph.D. ("Bill") called me some time back and asked if I would be one of two people to review his book on Custombilt pipes. I said sure and waited and waited. | William E. Unger, Jr., Ph.D. ("Bill") called me some time back and asked if I would be one of two people to review his book on Custombilt pipes. I said sure and waited and waited. | ||
Finally I received the book right before the 2001 Chicagoland | Finally I received the book right before the 2001 [[Chicagoland International Pipe & Tobacciana Show]]. WOW! I spent a day or so reading and realized that no way I could finish. So on I went and after many days I have "finished." But no way can I say I have "really" finished this book because of the complexity and level of detail. | ||
Why read this book? The Custombilt is a defunct pipe company. And while I have seen many Custombilts at shows, I have never collected this pipe. So the question is, why would I be interested in reading about this brand? | Why read this book? The Custombilt is a defunct pipe company. And while I have seen many Custombilts at shows, I have never collected this pipe. So the question is, why would I be interested in reading about this brand? | ||
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Bill also spends a little time debunking Rick Hacker’s version of the Custombilt line. According to Steve Frank, it appears that Carl Weber, the original owner of the Weber factory, never owned the Custombilt name as suggested by Hacker. | Bill also spends a little time debunking Rick Hacker’s version of the Custombilt line. According to Steve Frank, it appears that Carl Weber, the original owner of the Weber factory, never owned the Custombilt name as suggested by Hacker. | ||
<gallery widths=250 heights=250 caption="A 'Stamp #5 example, thought to be the rarest Custom-Bilt, along with box and paperwork, courtesy Brian Robertson collection."> | |||
Custom-Bilt-5-1.jpg | |||
Custom-Bilt-5-1-4.jpg | |||
Custom-Bilt-5-3.jpg | |||
Custom-Bilt-5-4.jpg | |||
</gallery> | |||
==== The Alternative History ==== | ==== The Alternative History ==== | ||
[[File:Custom-Bilt-XraLongCanadian.jpg|thumb|Eugene Rich Era 8 1/2 inch long Canadian, courtesy of the Brian Robertson collection]]In 1952, Mincer began a new pipe, the Doodler, that due to the holes in the bowl had to made primarily in a billiard type shape in three sizes. In the early 1950s, National Briar was turning the bowls for Mincer. Based upon the documentation, it appears that Mincer made the pipe until the mid 1960s, when National Briar Pipe Co., Inc. began making and selling the Doodler. | |||
In 1952, Mincer began a new pipe, the Doodler, that due to the holes in the bowl had to made primarily in a billiard type shape in three sizes. In the early 1950s, National Briar was turning the bowls for Mincer. Based upon the documentation, it appears that Mincer made the pipe until the mid 1960s, when National Briar Pipe Co., Inc. began making and selling the Doodler. | |||
Mincer died in 1964. Based upon the information provided, Mincer seemed to always have money, production, distribution and other problems. Mincer was probably a terrific craftsman but a very poor businessman and administrator. To me, Mincer sounds like your typical small business entrepreneur who always knew what was right and if you disagreed¼problems. Mincer always seemed to be on the brink of going out of business, not meeting payroll and so on. | Mincer died in 1964. Based upon the information provided, Mincer seemed to always have money, production, distribution and other problems. Mincer was probably a terrific craftsman but a very poor businessman and administrator. To me, Mincer sounds like your typical small business entrepreneur who always knew what was right and if you disagreed¼problems. Mincer always seemed to be on the brink of going out of business, not meeting payroll and so on. | ||
Claude Stuart purchased the Tracy Mincer Pipe Company and began making pipes using the Tracy Mincer stamp. Stuart finished nearly all the pipes produced, mostly carved and textured bowls and the occasional straight grain. Claude made the Tracy Mincer Pipe Company a moderate success. Stuart became ill and in 1990 The Tracey Mincer Pipe Company went out of business. Currently, Jim Tedesco owns the Tracy Mincer name. | Claude Stuart purchased the Tracy Mincer Pipe Company and began making pipes using the Tracy Mincer stamp. Stuart finished nearly all the pipes produced, mostly carved and textured bowls and the occasional straight grain. Claude made the Tracy Mincer Pipe Company a moderate success. Stuart became ill and in 1990 The Tracey Mincer Pipe Company went out of business. Currently, Jim Tedesco owns the Tracy Mincer name. | ||
<gallery widths=300 heights=200 caption="A pair of unsmoked circa 1940s Custom-Bilt Courtleys, courtesy Brian Robertson collection"> | |||
Custom-Bilt-Courtleys.jpg | |||
Custom-Bilt-Courtleys2.jpg | |||
Custom-Bilt-Courtleys3.jpg | |||
Custom-Bilt-Courtleys4.jpg | |||
</gallery> | |||
=== The Pipes === | === The Pipes === | ||
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</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
<gallery widths=400px heights=300 caption="Carved Custombilts, courtesy Racine & Laramie Tobacconist"> | |||
File:Custombilt Bass.jpg|Bass carving | |||
File:Custombilt Horse.jpg|Horse Carving | |||
</gallery> | |||
<gallery widths=250 heights=185 caption="Examples and details, courtesy Doug Valitchka"> | <gallery widths=250 heights=185 caption="Examples and details, courtesy Doug Valitchka"> | ||
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File:CustomBilt09.jpg|Another geometric marking example | File:CustomBilt09.jpg|Another geometric marking example | ||
File:CustomBilt01-1.jpg | File:CustomBilt01-1.jpg | ||
Custombilt-6-01.jpg | |||
Custombilt6-07.jpg | |||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
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''These reviews originally appeared in The Pipe Collector, the official newsletter of the American Pipe Collectors Society [http://naspc.org (NASPC)] and used by permission. It's a great organization--consider joining.'' | ''These reviews originally appeared in The Pipe Collector, the official newsletter of the American Pipe Collectors Society [http://naspc.org (NASPC)] and used by permission. It's a great organization--consider joining.'' | ||
<gallery widths=250 heights=185 caption="The following Burly Briar, courtesy of Doug Valitchka, appears to be a Custom-Bilt brand or sub-brand"> | |||
BurlyBriar01.jpg | |||
BurlyBriar07.jpg | |||
BurlyBriar08.jpg | |||
BurlyBriar13.jpg | |||
</gallery> | |||
'''Note:''' If you have additional information about Burly Briar, please add it here or send it to sethile.pipes@gmail.com and we will add it for you. [https://pipesrevival.com/tag/custombilt-burly-briar/] | |||
== A REVIEW BY TONY SODERMAN == | == A REVIEW BY TONY SODERMAN == | ||