3.4 THE 1968-69 KAYWOODIE LINE OF PIPES
The 1968-69 catalog offered an interesting assortment of traditional and free-hand styles (Table 4). The traditional pipes were available in over 50 shapes (see Appendix). The Birdseye and Straight Grain pipes were the top-of-the-line, selling for $100 each. Every Birdseye and Straight Grain pipe was registered and, according to the catalog, would "be serviced for life".
The Birdseye and Straight Grain pipes were packaged in special hand-fitted leather cases. Though both pipes are still highly regarded, the Birdseye pipe is probably the rarest of the Kaywoodie Pipes and is highly sought after by collectors.
The Kaywoodie Originals were "hand-carved, one-of-a-kind pipes" that were available in six general shapes in a choice of smooth or "textured" finishes. The Originals, like the Birdseye and Straight Grain Pipes, were registered and would be serviced for life. The Collector's series was also available in six shapes (1C-6C) in a choice of smooth or sandblast finishes10.
The Heirloom pipes were hand-carved briar heads of a Nobleman, a Prophet, and Satan. An undated catalog (probably from the late 1950's or early 1960's) offered these pipes as "carved heads" for $15.00 each. Another undated catalog (probably from the mid-60's) offered the Heirloom pipes for $25 each. The Kaywoodie Regent featured an "India-Grain Rubber Bit" (simulated briar grain similar to the Dunhill Cumberland bit). The Durobit pipe was a variation of the 1955 Stembiter. The Durobit featured a "twin outlet" bit instead of the 3-way outlet used on the Stembiter bit (see Section 3.3). The Super Grain Syncro-Lok also featured a modified Kaywoodie bit design. A common problem with the Kaywoodie threaded bit is its tendency to "cant" to the right over time (i.e., as the threads wear, the bit can become twisted to the right)11. The Syncro-Lok bit, that "twists to any angle most comfortable to your individual bite," was apparently intended to eliminate this problem.
In addition to the two-, five-, and seven-pipe Matched Grain pipe sets listed in Table 4, the 1968-69 catalog introduced the Presentation Pipe. The catalog states that in "Every 8 or 10 thousand briar blocks, we come across a single piece that is as near to perfection as briar can get. This rare find is set aside and turned over to a master pipe craftsman. He lovingly sees this precious briar through each step, until it takes shape as one of the rarest pipes in the century." The Presentation Pipe was packaged in a walnut grain, velvet lined, leather case. (See Section 3.5 for description of other Kaywoodie Presentation Pipes).
|
Grade |
Price (1968-69) |
|
Birdseye |
$100.00 |
|
Straight Grain |
100.00 |
|
Originals |
50.00 (100 for "selected grain") |
|
Gourd Calabasha |
50.00 (hand-etched) 75 (smooth) |
|
Heirlooms |
50.00 |
|
Block Meerschauma ("Coral" or Smooth Finish) |
40.00-50 (Priced according to size) |
|
Collectors |
35.00 |
|
Centenniala |
25.00 |
|
Connoisseura |
20.00 |
|
Flame Grain w/Meerschaum Inlaid Bowla |
17.50 |
|
Flame Graina |
15.00 |
|
Chesterfielda |
12.50 |
|
Relief Grain w/Meerschaum Inlaid Bowl |
12.50 |
|
Custom Grain |
12.50 |
|
Silhouettea |
10.95 |
|
Regent |
10.95 |
|
Carburetora |
10.95 |
|
Chinrestera |
10.00 |
|
Signet |
10.00 |
|
Prime Grain |
10.00 |
|
Durobit |
10.00 |
|
Filter Pipea |
9.50 |
|
Relief Graina |
8.95 |
|
White Briara |
8.95 |
|
Super Grain Syncro-Lok |
8.95 |
|
Standard |
7.95 |
|
Fine-Line |
6.95 |
|
Colt |
6.95 |
|
Campus White Briar |
6.95 |
|
Campus |
6.95 |
|
Drinklessa |
5.95 |
|
Companion Sets (2-Pipes) |
|
|
Connoisseur |
40.00 |
|
Flame Grain w/Meerschaum Insert |
35.00 |
|
Flame Grain |
30.00 |
|
Custom Grain |
25.00 |
|
Prime Grain/Relief Grain |
18.95 |
|
Super Grain/Signet |
18.95 |
|
Super Grain |
17.95 |
|
Standard/White Briar |
16.95 |
|
Standard |
15.95 |
|
Presentation Pipe |
50.00 |
|
Matched Grain Sets |
|
|
2 Pipesa |
75.00 |
|
5 Pipes |
175.00 |
|
7 Pipesa |
250.00 |