70+ years of age & Made by Hand. A Custom artisan creation - by the Boise Idaho House of Robertson, signed J.W. is a One of a Kind. I would call this a straight Acorn shape - with glorious grain of Birdseye, and mixed grain. with four distinct HOR carvings/ flourishing on the longitude of the bowl. The GRAIN on this pipe is mesmerizing - This particular shape is obviously a work of artistic and best use of the briar. Many of the other shapes I have in my collection are even less conventional. Please read condition notes as I’ve updated the observations. This will make for a Fantastic History display, and a careful smoker. Cracks a the mortise repaired and supported by the Sterling band. Cracks in the briar appear to have long been filled, possibly by HOR at time of carving. It appears a former owner used a pipe knife to maintain the bowl which may have created hot spots, briar darkening, and the the out of round rim. The stem fits snug to the shank, and has shallow tooth impressions, near the button.
This HOR remains as piece of tobacco & pipe history, a NorthWest artifact, a slice of Americana - and remains plenty smokable with care. House of Robertson J.W. Vintage Idaho PNW Pipe Maker Details:
I ENJOY researching makers, and feel it tells me more about what went into this particular pipe….
The pipes Thayne Roberson started carving as a hobby in college became so popular that in 1940-41 he opened the Ye Olde Pipe Shop in the Egyptian Theater building. A year later he moved his shop to 203 N. 9th Boise, Idaho. By 1948 he needed more room and moved his shop next door to 205 N. 9th, and renamed his business House Of Robertson. In 1951 he moved the shop once again. This time to 105 S. 9th, on the other side of Main Street from his old shop. He stayed there until 1956.
In April of 1956 Thayne announced that he was closing shop and leaving Boise, but it appears that there was a change in plans. In November of the same year he reopened the business out of his home shop on Clark Street, then in 1964 Thayne announced that he was once again opening a new pipe store downtown, at 216 N. 9th. This would be his final location. The store most of us probably remember.
Robertson pipes were, in fact, world renown. Pipes being produced at the time were holdovers from the previous century. Thayne’s new free form designs turned the pipe world on its ear. Few crafts have been infuenced more by one artist than pipe making was by Thayne. Other makers scrambled to get his latest catalog to copy his work. Thayne mastered mail order sales early on, and had by 1948 mailed pipes to sixteen foreign countries and all 48 states. When Britian’s Ambassador Lord Invechapel came through Boise he stopped and picked up a couple of pipes from Thayne. One Mr. E. Housinkveld from the Netherland’s ordered a Calabash, a style unavailable in Holland. Thayne also carried a patent on a model he called the “Stoker”, which operated on the same principle as an old coal stoker, the bowl being fed through an auger system.
I ship within one business day from purchase -*- CHECK OUT MY OTHER PIPES LISTED ON EBAY ALSO, and save on shipping!
I’m selling a substantial quantity of my diverse pipe collection on eBay. As I decide which parts of the collection to let go, I’m adding a variety of pipes to the offer. My pipes are generally well-cared for and have been on display for too long. It’s time they’re smoked and enjoyed. If you’re looking for something specific, let me know. I may have it!
Many of my pipes will have stem oxidation removed and will be polished. Shipping fees include postage & partial cost recovery of packing materials to ensure the safe delivery of your pipe.