GBD Model Information

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This is a work in progress, especially with regards to formatting. Please bare with us...

This GBD Model Information is the work of Jerry Hanna, which he developed for his website Perardua.net. Jerry has very kindly allowed us to adapt his work for use in this Pipedia article.

Introduction

This is a listing of some of the various pipe lines manufactured by GBD, I have gathered this information from a variety of sources including posts to the "alt.smokers.pipes" usenet newsgroup, and from the book "Who made that pipe?" by Herb Wilczak and Tom Colwell. I have read and have been told that Mr. John Tolle is working on a definitive book on GBD, I am eagerly awaiting it's publication! Until then I offer this meager webpage as a source for others like myself wishing to learn more about GBD pipes.

If you have any additional models or can fill in the "?"s and especially the finish descriptions please send me the information. I am also open to suggestions on what information needs to be listed, thanks!

A brief history of GBD

The company was founded in Paris France in the 19th century by Ganeval, Boundier and Donninger who were no longer associated with the company by the turn of the century. By the time they left the GBD name was well established and thus retained. In 1903 an additional factory was built in England and ran by Oppenheimer. The Paris factory moved to Saint-Claude in 1952. Since 1981 the majority of GBD pipes come from the English factory. At about that same time GBD merged with Comoys, since then all production for both GBD and Comoy comes from a single factory. ( I wasn't kidding when I said it was brief! )

More history and addition information can be read in the main GBD article.

Note:Information on specific GBD shapes may be found here on Pipedia at GBD Shapes/Numbers or in it's original for at: http://www.perardua.net/pipes/GBDshape.html

Notes on the listings

  • The first list below is of GBD firsts, i.e. stamped GBD.
  • Below that is a list of 2nds or pipes not stamped GBD, there may be lines misidentified as 2nds which may be firsts and vice-versa.
  • These lists are presented in alphabetical order with no emphasis on quality rankings. Near the bottom of the page is some information about quality ranking.*GBD pipes were manufactured both in England and France ( E/F ), some lines were possibly produced in both locations.
  • Incomplete/unknown information is represented by a "?"
  • Descriptive info received from others noted with their initials.
  • This information is guaranteed inaccurate and incomplete! :-)
  • Corrections, updates and additional information gladly accepted!
  • 02/19/00 - I've recently acquired a small collection of Oppenheimer GBD catalogs from the 70s & 80s and will be adding a lot of additional info to the page as time allows. It is apparent from studying these catalogs that certain lines might be considered a "first" or a "second" depending on the year of production, a line might carry the GBD logo one year and the next year be marketed as a "stand alone" line. It's also apparent some lines change over time, an example would be pipes in the Penthouse line were originally a "charcoal gray" finish but later were produced with a "tobacco brown" stain.
    • As I add descriptive info from these catalogs I will mark that info with a "-catalog". It's often interesting and amusing to read some of the prose used.
    • The catalogs refer to various finishes including one called "take off" a dual tone staining technique that darkens just the softer part of the grain creating a higher contrast.
    • If anyone out there would like to donate or loan me additional GBD catalogs please let me know.
    • I have deleted the two date columns from the line tables, it's very apparent that there is not a lot of date documentation available. Any date info I do come across will be added to the description column.
  • 02/26/00 - added info from 1980 Oppenheimer GBD catalog.
  • 03/04/00 - added info from 1981 Oppenheimer GBD catalog. Catalog format changed in 1981, not as much text as previous catalogs but nicer photos.

List of GBD Models

Line name E F Info/Finish Description

  • Ambassador -- Y ? -
  • Baronet -- ? ? Medium dark stain. -catalog ( 1981 )
  • Bronze Velvet -- ? ? Natural finish, swirled bronze acrylic bit. Our ultimate GBD! Only the choicest natural bowls are selected for this premium newcomer. The crowning touch is the handcut mottled Bronze Velvet mouthpiece blending in complementary contrast to the bowl." -catalog ( 1976 )
  • Cavalry -- ? Y Lower priced GBD. Leather wrapped. -catalog ( 1976 )
  • Celebrity -- Y ? "A deep toned finish geared to the nation's popular price bracket." -catalog ( 1980 )
  • Century -- Y ? Introduced 1950
  • Champion -- ? ? Introduced 1981. Natural finish "premium" briar -catalog ( 1981 )
  • Chevreuse -- Y ? natural smooth -FF
  • Concorde -- ? Y Lower priced GBD, "take off" brown/black stained sandblast. -catalog ( 1976 )
  • Corinthian -- ? ? -
  • Coronet -- ? Y Lower priced GBD, "take off" brown/black stained matt finish with "recessed platform" mouthpieces. -catalog ( 1976 ) These low cost pipes were possibly not always produced in normal GBD shapes.
  • Corsair -- ? Y -
  • Decor -- ? ? Introduced 1981. Dark "take off" stain, smooth finish. White Acrylic ferrule ring. Swirled acrylic bit. Stamped GBD rondelle instead of metal insert. -catalog ( 1981 )
  • Dura Mount ? ? Metal stem/bit fitting?
  • Ebony -- Y ? light to medium brown smooth, muted black accents.-TH: Matt dual tone. -catalog ( 1976 )
  • Elite -- ? ? -
  • Export -- ? ? smooth medium -JS
  • Fantasy -- Y ? black sandblast, with smooth panels, geometric shapes (triangles, diamonds, etc.) masked before blasting. -TH
  • Flame Grain -- Y ? Natural finish
  • Giant -- ? ? -
  • Granitan -- Y ? sandblasted, then partially sanded smooth, resulting in a pebbley texture, stained light yellowish brown. -TH: "An acceptable concept in a finish which combines the light weight of a sandblasted pipe, the beauty of a Virgin finish and the attractiveness of two-tone brown coloring." -catalog ( 1976 )
  • Handhewn -- ? ? Smooth with carved patchs, dark stain. "Don't be mislead. This distinctive masterpiece of carving is not positioned to hide flaws. Rather it uniformly appears at the base of each bowl one side contrasted against the top of the bowl on the reverse side." -catalog ( 1976 )
  • International -- Y ? medium brown smooth, carved top rim, rim stained black. -TH: Matt take off finish "with just a hint of surface waxing" -catalog ( 1976 )
  • Iringa -- N N African Meerschaum, made in Tanganyika. Leather covered. -catalog ( 1976 )
  • Jenga -- N N African Meerschaum, made in Tanganyika. "Rustic" peeble finish in a yellow tone. -catalog ( 1976 )
  • Jubilee -- Y ? dark reddish smooth -JH: "Black Lucite handcut mouthpiece featuring comfort steps on top and underside." -catalog ( 1980 )
  • Kibo -- N N African Meerschaum, made in Tanganyika. High gloss finish in a yellow tone. -catalog ( 1976 )
  • Ladybird -- ? Y Some might not be marked with GBD logo. "The ultimate pipe for the ultimate lady. ... Neatly presented in an attractive sturdy box covered in contrasting blue color scheme, each unit contains a delicately colored pastel miniature tobacco pouch - in short, the complete lady's smoking companion." -catalog ( 1976 )
  • Legacy -- Y ? Oiled finish, matt "take off" stain, roughened rim, carved worm hole finish. Military style turned stem. -catalog ( 1976 )
  • London Made -- ? ? Some might not be marked with GBD logo and some with additional "house" stampings. Introduced in 1978(?) plain wax finished branded pipes" available in at least six stains. -catalog ( 1981 )
  • Mandarin -- ? Y -
  • Marquis -- ? ? -
  • Medley -- ? ? -
  • Midnight -- Y ? dark brown -PR: Introduced in 1980(?): "A touch of class! A rich combination of deep charcoal briar color, complimented with a matching Hand Cut Acrylic mouthpiece. Surprisingly affordable in the middle popular price range." -catalog ( 1980 )
  • Militaire -- Y ? push/military bit, vulcanite ferrule. Usually brown sandblast. -TH
  • Millenium -- Y ? -
  • New Era -- Y ? reddish smooth generally. Occasionally a brown sandblast New Era shows up. -TH
  • New Standard -- Y ? brown smooth. -TH: Polished "tobacco" brown finish. -catalog ( 1976 )
  • Nusi -- N N African Meerschaum, made in Tanganyika. Black color, hand carved gouge finish. -catalog ( 1976 )
  • Original -- ? Y medium brown smooth. -BJ
  • Pageant -- ? ? Introduced 1981. Dark "take off" stain, smooth finish. Swirled amber/orange colored acrylic bit. Stamped GBD rondelle instead of metal insert. -catalog ( 1981 )
  • Pedigree -- Y ? -
  • Pedigree I -- ? ? -
  • Pedigree II -- ? ? -
  • Popular -- Y ? -
  • Prehistoric -- Y ? black sandblast. -TH: Available with Clear Persplex, Vulcanite, Pearl and Copper Acrylic -catalog ( 1976 )
  • Prestige -- Y ? Matt natural finish, Perspex mouthpiece
  • Premier -- Y ? Introduced in 1980(?) "premium" briar. "We proudly launch this Flagship as the latest addition to our luxury line. A unique fiery Autumn color combination has been developed. featuring a smart stylized hand finished mouthpiece." -catalog ( 1980 )
  • Prodigy -- Y ? According to the 1976 catalog these were a limited production "oversize" line available in just a few shapes. Natural finish.
  • Rock Root -- Y ? black vertically carved finish. (The lowest priced GBD in the 1960s and 70s). -TH: "Tipped" carving -catalog ( 1980 )
  • Rosé -- ? ? light reddish smooth. -TH: Introduced in 1981(?) -catalog ( 1981 )
  • Rustique -- ? ? -
  • Sablee -- ? Y medium brown smooth. -TH
  • Samuel Pepys -- ? Y Long stemmed "Desk Pipe... Truly conjuring up the Dickensian character, designed for puffing in the opulent office or dwelling in the den." -catalog ( 1976 )
  • Sauvage -- Y Y light brown stain, smooth bowl with deep carved lines to hide flaws. Similar to a Savinelli Sherwood, but much deeper carved lines. -TH
  • Seventy-Six -- Y ? Introduced 1976 in honor of the American BiCentennial, polished dark brown "take off" finish
  • Sierra -- ? ? -
  • Sieur -- ? Y dark brown blast w/wide ring groove -BJ
  • Special Standard -- ? ? medium dark reddish smooth. -TH
  • Speciales -- ? Y -
  • Straight Grain -- Y ? -
  • Stardust -- ? ? Introduced or re-introduced in 1981. "premium" briar. Light "take off" finish -catalog ( 1981 )
  • Super Grain -- ? ? -
  • Tanzania -- ? ? -
  • Tapestry -- ? ? light brown sandblast, geometric panels masked before blasting. -TH: Chairleg stem. -catalog ( 1976 )
  • Tapestry-R -- Y ? "A mainstay of our line for many years, the original Tapestry has been modified to beat inflation and now sports a regualr Vulcanite, but maintains the unique mosaic effect on the bowl. No two pipes are identical." -catalog ( 1980 )
  • Topaz -- Y ? Introduced in 1980(?). "Probably the most perfect harmony of combining the soft beige tones of the Hand Cut Acrylic mouthpiece with complimentary shades of brown in the Briar." -catalog ( 1980 )
  • Unique -- Y ? smooth freehand shapes, mostly large/oversized pipes. Possible made by the Jameson brothers. -TH
  • Universe -- ? ? -
  • Varichrome -- Y ? Matt finish, dual tone. Swirled acrylic bits in "copper, jade, champagne or pewter" -catalog (1976)
  • Virgin -- Y ? smooth light finish. For many years the one perfect (eg, no fills) GBD. -TH
  • Xtra -- ? ? Reddish smooth -PR: Introduced in 1930s?

List of GBD "Seconds"

The lines listed below are either 2nds or lines made for other makers/pipeshops. Please send me any corrections or additional information you might have on these.

Line name E F Finish Description

  • Americana -- ? ? -
  • Arizona -- ? ? -
  • Autumn Gold -- ? ? -
  • Beau Nash -- ? ? -
  • Blue Jean -- ? ? -
  • Brunette -- ? ? -
  • Chevruese -- ? ? -
  • City Deluxe -- ? ? -
  • Clubhouse -- Y ? Similar to Penthouse but in "Mocha" Matt take off color. "Chairleg" mouthpiece.
  • Cordoban -- Y ? "More than a Sandblast, more than a Tanblast, the additional feature to the finish is a final tipping process enhancing the beauty of the sandblasted graining." -catalog ( 1976 ). This style was listed under "Private Brand Pipes" in the catalog which means that GBD would stamp a custom name of the pipe, often the name of a pipe shop or chain.
  • Cornwall(?) -- Y ? -
  • Cyclone -- Y ? "An ingeneous Swiss-made cover inset to our shape of the year. Now you can safely puff in the park, on the parkway, your friend's new couch. Finished in the dual tone Irwin's color." -catalog ( 1976 )
  • Daddy -- ? ? -
  • Davos -- ? ? -
  • Digby -- Y ? Available in a smooth walnut finish or a dark sandblast. -catalog ( 1976 )
  • Estacis -- ? ? -
  • Fouquet -- ? ? -
  • Garlan(d) -- ? ? -
  • Handmade -- ? ? -
  • House of Commons -- Y ? -
  • Insignia -- Y ? Available in Matt, Sandblast and "Handtooled", fitted with a "stylized pinched" mouthpiece. -catalog ( 1976 )
  • Irwin -- Y ? "The warm dual-tone brown finish deepens with repeated smoking. Finest Rum is used in the special process of maturing these fine pipes. It's smooth flavor complements the natural taste of fine tobacco." -catalog ( 1976 )
  • Kingswood Y ? -
  • Matt DeLuxe -- Y ? Tobacco brown "take off" Matt finish -catalog ( 1976 ). This style was listed under "Private Brand Pipes" in the catalog which means that GBD would stamp a custom name of the pipe, often the name of a pipe shop or chain.
  • Matt Special Y ? "Warm Amber" on black dual tone Matt finish, "mid-priced" private label. -catalog ( 1976 ). This style was listed under "Private Brand Pipes" in the catalog which means that GBD would stamp a custom name of the pipe, often the name of a pipe shop or chain.
  • Medley -- Y ? "A collection of oversize Conquest and Collector shapes...varying shape selection", varying finishs. -catalog ( 1981 )
  • Oxford -- Y ? -
  • Peerless -- Y ? -
  • Penthouse -- Y ? Originally finished in "Charcoal" Matt take off color. Brown take off examples exist. "Chairleg" mouthpiece. -catalog ( 1976 )
  • Pinner -- ? ? -
  • Racines -- Y ? -
  • Rest Lite -- ? ? -
  • Rockwood -- ? ? -
  • Scorpio Deluxe -- ? ? -
  • Silverado -- ? ? -
  • Sovereign -- ? Y -
  • Special A -- ? ? "Black sandblasted" private label. -catalog ( 1981 ). This style was listed under "Private Brand Pipes" in the catalog which means that GBD would stamp a custom name of the pipe, often the name of a pipe shop or chain.
  • Special B -- ? ? "Brown sandblasted" private label. -catalog ( 1981 ). This style was listed under "Private Brand Pipes" in the catalog which means that GBD would stamp a custom name of the pipe, often the name of a pipe shop or chain.
  • Superflame(?) ? ? -
  • Topper -- ? ? -
  • Triomphe ? Y -
  • White Ring -- Y ? Introduced in 1980(?), orangish-brown color. "Originally conceived as a GBD Branded pipe, we felt that this beautiful new color in combination with white acrylic collar could be the pride of your store with your own logo." -catalog ( 1980 ). This style was listed under "Private Brand Pipes" in the catalog which means that GBD would stamp a custom name of the pipe, often the name of a pipe shop or chain.
  • Wimbledon -- (?) Y ? -
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