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HLT / Grabow moves to Sparta
HL&T moved from NY to Sparta (1953) and acquired the Dr. Grabow line from Chicago, they merged or took over a couple of other New York pipe manufacturing companies. -
Viking
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Viking
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Coupon pipes begin
Westbrook was one of several pipes (Berwyck, Belvedere, Emperor, and Sculptura) that were made by Grabow and distributed by R. J. Reynolds as coupon pipes. A coupon was placed into cans and pouches of Carter Hall and George Washington tobacco that was redeemable for these Grabow pipes. Westbrook was about 5 coupons and $3.00 for part of its life. This offer started in the mid-50's and ended in the late 80's. It was the longest running redemption offer in history. -
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Westbrook
Westbrook was one of several pipes (Berwyck, Belvedere, Emperor, and Sculptura) that were made by Grabow and distributed by R. J. Reynolds as coupon pipes. A coupon was placed into bags of Carter Hall and George Washington tobacco that was redeemable for these Grabow pipes. Westbrook was about 5 coupons and $3.00 for part of its life. This offer started in the mid-50's and ended in the late 80's. It was the longest running redemption offer in history. -
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Berwyck
55-69 or later.Another RJR pipe, a filter pipe and later addition. -
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Eldorado/Emperor, Viscount, Regal & Starfire
Viscount made 1956 1992. White Viscount started 1969. Color Viscount started 1970
The Emperor and the early Eldorado are the same pipe --just different stamping. The Eldorado was the top of the line in the regular retail production. The Emperor was top of the line in the coupon pipe line up. Fills can be found in both lines--usually quite small and usually only one or two. Production ended in '89, some sold into early 90's. -
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Savoy & Riviera
SAVOY (c1956) -- First appears in a magazine ad for $2.00 as early as October 1956.
RIVIERA (c1956-57) -- First appears in a magazine ad for $1.50 as early as March 1957. -
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Belvedere
It was one of the first (maybe THE FIRST) wire carved pipes ever. Check the carving on a Starfire or Viscount.... and the a Belvedere. There is a difference. Pre- 1964 and the Surgeon Generals report... Belvedere was made from the very best briar available in our universe.. -
Grabow adds Contnental design pipes
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Silver, Crown Duke & Commodore
Silver Duke was made from late 50's or early 60's until 1992.
As far as I know all Silver Dukes were "banded", used an aluminum extension on the shank.
Mostly ajusto filter style but some push stem filter style were made.
Commodore First appears in a magazine ad for $7.95 as early as 1964. Like the Sculptura, later models were sandblasted in a "big" blast circa 1967-69 (See "Sculptura" for details.) -
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The Continentals
In the late 50's Grabow salesmen and managers bought every "fancy" pipe they could find and sent them all to Sparta. In 1958/59 Gracen Lucas and Jimmy Jones copied and designed over 100 (136 I believe) Continental shapes. At a sales meeting in 1959 the salesmen picked the 18 shapes that they wanted introduced into the Grabow lines. Since the factory had to start from scratch making these it took quite a while to get enough pipes to sell. -
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Duke
From 1964 to 1984 the "Little Duke" and the Lark were imported from Italy. Later made at Sparta to increase production at the facility. -
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Grand, Royal, Golden Duke & Lark
First appears in a magazine ad with Ajustomatic stem for $4.95 as early as December 1964. -
1964 Surgeon Generals issues warning on cigarette smoking.
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Production reaches 3.6 million pipes per year
Production is 3.6 million pipes per year making it the largest pipe operation under one roof -
Dr. Paul E. Grabow dies at age 97 from natural causes.
"..It was during one of their nightly sessions that Mr. Linkman mentioned that he was coming out with a new pipe containing some innovated improvements and was looking for a name for it. He thought if it contained a Doctor's name it would probably sell better so he asked my Father if he would mind if he could use the Dr. Grabow name as he liked the sound of it. My Father liked the idea and was flattered to have a pipe named after him...." Milford Grabow Dr. Grabow was born Nov 8, 1869 -
Price list 1967
Eldorado - $10.00
Commodore - $7.95
Viscount - $5.95
Viscount rustic - $5.95
Starfire - $4.95
Starfire rustic - $4.95
Golden Duke - $4.95
Silver Duke - $3.95
Regal - $3.50
Viking Deluxe - $2.95
Royal Duke - $2.95
Crown Duke - $2.50
Savoy - $2.50
Grand Duke - $1.95
Riviera - $1.95
Lark - $1.50 -
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Sculptura
Newest of the RJR special offer pipes. These were sandblasted in a "big" blast. The operator stood with his hands in heavy rubber gloves and blasted away grain. He could only do about 50 pieces an hour. Prior to this, most "sandblasted" pipes were tumbled in a contraption like a cement mixer using walnut shells as the media. Dr. Grabow really never got into that, but waited until they could do it "right" using glass shot. -
UST buys Grabow from HLT
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Meer lined pipes
The manufacturer of these meer lined in Italy did not have a spade insertion machine. The stems are stamped Italy underneath, and those which do have a spade are an outline only. Once Sparta learned how to insert the meer cups, they began to make them...though not for long. Sparta-made meer lined are known by their trademarked stem and Sparta made shapes. -
New Sparta facility built
This is the "new" plant, and Dr. Grabow pipes are made here, in the USA by dedicated employees that average 30 years experience. -
CDL is introduced
Comments were.. Coolest smoke I ever had.
Dryest smoke I ever had.
Lightest pipe I ever owned. -
FREEHANDS are introduced
Freehand was a copy of an Israeli pipe called Masterson. Masterson was a manmade freehand used by Brown & Wiliamson as a coupon pipe in Sir Walter Raliegh tobacco. Mastercraft had an Anderson that was the same as the Masterson. Dr. Grabow Freehand came from these. 1974-76 This shape continues to this day in about 6 shapes, rustic and smooth. -
"Color" Duke / Viscount / Viking added
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Omega
Available in 3 sizes, rustic and smooth. Omega was a copy of a well pipe imported from Italy -
Viking Pacer added, ended 2011
The Viking, Viking Pacer and CDL were great ways to use up briar that was too small for a regular pipe. -
Grabow runs ads during Monday Night Football featuring actress Erin Gray
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Dr. Grabow Corn Cob pipes are available
The cob pipes were not manufactured "in house" and many were sold until late 1980's. Grabow tried growing their own corn with the help of the state university ag department but wasn't economical. -
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Dr. Grabow Corn Cob pipes
Classic Cobs and Golden Cobs -
Stems switch to ABS plastic
Because the florescent lights or sunlight oxidized the vulcanite stems, Grabow switched to ABS plastic to increase the shelf life of their pipes as they hung on display boards or hung on pegs. -
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HLT Royalton
First year special Lucite stems included white spade, after first year was omitted. NEW Dr. Grabow Royalton came out in 1988 using old HL&T pipe line name -- and even employed the old stamp with "HLT" in a shield just because they had it on hand. Pre Sparta Royaltons exist as far back as 1944 and were made by HLT. -
Shape stamping ends
in the early eighties, all shape stamps where ended on almost all pipes. -
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Bucko & Hillcrest
Bucko was a shot to get the most profit from the smallest, cheapest bowls. Made rustic and smooth, push stem, yellow spade.
Hillcrest created to make use of poorer briar. Included new shapes and carvings. -
End of RJR copon pipes offer.
R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company had two other pipe tobaccos which were George Washington and Carter Hall that shared a good hunk of the pipe tobacco market left over from Prince Albert and Sir Walter Raleigh. Thus sets the stage for a coupon to be placed in each package or can of these tobacco products. The pipes presented to the American public were the very finest mass produced pipes ever created by man, or in all probability will ever be created by man. -
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Cardinal
Lane era pipe, named for the color of stain. -
UST sells Grabow to Lane
This was a welcome buy-out for Sparta. Lane provided much needed cash to expand the business. -
BIG PIPE
About 600 Big Pipes are created to use some existing large briar blocks in inventory. Straight, bent, smooth, rustic and even some blonde. Made late 1992- early 1994. -
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"COLLECTOR"
2002-03. Not stamped "Dr. Grabow". Dark blasted finish -
IP&A buy Grabow
International Pipes & Accessories LLC. At this time Sparta plant produces 300,000 pipes per year.
