THAL HANDARBEIT Vintage Pipe, European Market, Rare, Dual Finish, Exc. Cond For Sale

Very Rare Vintage Pfeifenwerkstatt T.H.A.L. Briar Pipe, Barely Smoked. MINT condition. 9mm Filtered, Complex & Beautifully Made. I Imported from Germany.

Description & Info:

*All pipes come in a new sock and shipped as one piece for best climate acclimation. I spare no expense in shipping materials for a safe arrival.

About this Pipe:

Let me start off and say I am very impressed with this pipe! I use hashtags in my inventory system to locate my pipes and this one has #special. Something I reserve to remind me of pipes that just truly stand out or very hard to find. It’s certainly hard to find. Made by a small company and only in the European market, this pipe was personally imported from Germany myself. A friend and other pipe enthusiast/shop owner I used to buy pipes from had this and I had to have it. The month wait and costs to bring it in were worth it in my opinion.

THAL is actually an acronym from the bit of research I’ve done and they seem to be no longer made as the main site is no longer hosted. Being a German website and company/pipe maker, I’m limited in my research ability aside from asking some German pipe smoking acquaintances and forums.

It has a great dual tone and finish. The sides are brushed lines in black and the center of the pipe, front and back as well as the rim are smooth with a light golden brown stain showing off very nice cross grain all the way.

The rustic brushed lines have a worn look showing through the lighter undercoat but I don’t believe it’s from use, rather intentional though I can’t be sure.

The stummel to stem is transitioned with a nice 3 band insert with the center, widest band being briar and matching the smooth areas of the pipe. It appears to be Zebra Wood but I’m uncertain. It’s sandwiched between some contrasting material as well, possibly acrylic or Ivorite. The smaller rings are a tan color and I’m unsure of the material. It looks great and is a beautiful way to transition to the stem.

The top and bottom of the pipe have a flattened surface with the sides being slightly bulged out like a squashed oval shape. The bowl is a blend between a Pot and a Dublin with a mild rise in the center. I LOVE this designer! I am certainly taking some notes for inspiration of my own pipes.

The chamber is in top condition showing very little signs of use and the drilling is center and bottom with good air flow. It takes a 9mm filter as Germans do love their filtered pipes. I can include a 9-3mm insert should you not wish to use filters, free of charge.

This piece is loaded with style and skill without being ostentatious. It feels very light in the hand. The bit is flat and not too thick at the end.

Condition:

I see no marks or damage of any kind. I’d assume it was unsmoked and untouched if the seller had done a bowl coating. I detect only the faintest smell of tobacco and highly doubt any ghosting has taken place.

The stem is in top condition. There are no marks, tooth chatter, dents or scratches. The stem fits flush with the shank very tightly. It is drilled to take a 9mm filter as nearly every German pipe does. (They LOVE their filters) I prefer the balsa 9mm filters by Savinelli but if you’re not a filter user, I do keep some 9mm-3.5mm Inserts here that fill the gap and last forever. They’re about $2 each. My cost, not profit.

The chamber shows minimal to hardly any use with no burn out and minimal cake before reaming. The draft hole has no damage, is drilled dead center and the very bottom of the chamber. It’s as good as it gets for an estate.

The tenon fits nice and snug with no issues. It was actually a bit too snug. I used 2000 grit wet/dry sandpaper and removed a hairs width for the perfect fit.

Dimensions and Stats are below:

Brand: Pfeifenwerkstatt T.H.A.L. (German Pipe Maker) I imported this. Not available in American Market.

Shape/Model: Zulu shape is closest overall but this a variation at best. A freestyle shape.

Estimated Age: Vintage with exact years made unkown.

Country: Germany

Nomenclature/Markings:

HANDARBEIT (Tr: HANDWORK)

BY

THAL

Dimensions:

Length: 5.55”

Bowl Height: 1.80”

Bowl Width: 1.60”

Chamber Width: 0.77”

Chamber Depth: 1.40”

Weight: 1.8oz / 51 grams

Filter: 9mm - 9-3.5mm Converter Insert Available for non filter users.

Stem Material: Acrylic (I think. Sometimes difficult to tell)

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MY RESTORATION PROCESS:

As with all my pipes, this piece has first off, vetted and thoroughly inspected. The internals are cleaned very well and the chamber reamed and cleaned to minimize ghosting and ensure good condition.

The stem almost always has an hour or more of meticulous work put in. It has been gently re-surfaced to remove any oxidation, marks or scratches and hand polished to an extremely smooth finish that’s a deep, shiny black. Obsidian Stem Oil with its UV block is applied a couple times during the process to slow down future oxidation. Any metal parts are cleaned and polished. The stummel has been carefully buffed up to White Diamond, a very smooth compound that helps remove old wax and residue and leaves the briar very smooth and shiny. The pipe recieved multiple coats of fresh carnauba wax over the course of a day. I apply thin coats with rests between and a buffing before the next coat. These stacked layers of Carnauba leave a long lasting and durable protective coat that looks and feels great. Finally, it’s hand buffed with a clean micro-fiber towel.

The stem fits nicely, air flows freely and the pipe is fully ready to smoke out of the box.

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BELOW: RETURN POLICIES, RESTORATION PROCESS, & MORE INFO.

INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING: - CANADA + Elsewhere:

I’ve made it available for Canada and other countries. For Canada, it’s typically $19.99 and costs me about $17 to ship and I insure it due to higher risk. After shipping materials, I take a loss actually but want these affordable for our friends up North!

With shipping, if you purchase a couple pipes separately and I’ve not yet packed them, I’ll refund the extra charge as I can combine them. I refund any excess costs when there are any.

I can quote the cost and allow for shipping at your request If there is not an option available automatically.

Please message me on this any time. I will only charge the cost of the postage plus insurance as it’s a bit more risky. It’s about $1 per $100 of insurance. If the cost of shipping to your area is less, I’ll refund any excess charges as well.

I BELIEVE IN THE GOLDEN RULE. I sell and ship everything as I’d expect to receive it myself or better.

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ABOUT ME:

I am obsessed with the hobby and have a deep love for it in all respects. I collect pipes and grow my cellar while enjoying several bowls a day. I have invested a large amount of money into my shop and I am always working on improving. As soon as I’m able to get a home with room, I’ll build my own shop and be making pipes much of the day too. It has to be home as I always need to be close to my son. - I am a stay-at-home dad for my special needs son who is amazing and my pride and joy. I really needed a way to feel accomplishment and stay busy while trying to earn a bit extra for equine therapy and other services that will help him and have fun too. This has really helped a lot and while stressful at times, such a fun thing to spend time doing. I do struggle to reply here and there if a lot is going on. If I take a bit longer to reply to questions or requests, I apologize in advance.

SHIPPING:

I don’t own the United States Postal Service. Once I’ve shipped your package, I have NO control on delays.

I almost always will ship the next business day. I put within 1-3 business days as sometimes on busier weeks, I’ll need an extra day to properly pack everything.

I’ve never had an item arrive damaged. In most cases, I have a poly bag on top to make it rain resistant and a bit more secure. The exception is it the package is larger than standard. I don’t profit off of the shipping fee. My fees are for postage and materials only.

RETURNS:

If you’re not 100% happy, please let me know. I’ll do whatever is fair to fix any problems. I accept returns within 1 week of arrival (unless stated as longer) and I can be flexible there. We all have lives. Returns accepted provided that: The item has not been used. It is in exact same condition as the photos in the ad and when I sent it out. Buyer pays shipping for returns unless there is an error on my end in which case I will cover the cost. I almost never get a return. I try hard to not have any surprises and you get what you see or better in person.

I RARELY ever get a return. I can count on one hand how many over several years and it’s usually because the pipe is smaller or larger than a customer expected. This is why I ask twice in the ad to review dimensions I carefully take. If you have any concerns about size, I’m happy to provide a few more photos to you with some size comparisons of your request. Refunds are for the cost of the pipes shipping if it’s your choice. If there’s a mistake on my part, I’ll pay for all of course. I very much want you to be extremely happy with your purchases. Not just for business, but because I’m an enthusiast and want the same myself.

Why the Fake Grass? - It helps the pipes stay in position for taking photos actually. It works so well, I’ve not changed to something a bit less funny looking. It stands out too doesn’t it?

If you ever have questions on any of this, feel free to email me. I’ll respond as soon as it’s possible. The site can spam my inbox a lot or glitches can happen, so sometimes they get lost or buried beneath others. Feel free to send again if I don’t reply as it’s never intentional.

~ Peter - Radiant Pipes