Blog by Steve Laug

I was gifted this old GBD Pipe reamer by Mark Domingues recently. (Thanks Mark for the great gift.) I have added it to my collection of pipe reamers. It is a frightening looking tool that for all appearances could be an instrument of torture rather than a pipe reamer. I have to say I have tried it out and I would think seriously before using it again to ream a bowl. The spikes and points are sharp like the teeth on a cheese grater. This one was unused which is amazing for a tool of this age from the 50’s. It is stamped on one side of the handle with the GBD logo in an oval over the PAT. NO. 22411-09.

On the other side it is stamped with the GBD Logo in an Oval over MADE IN ENGLAND. The reamer is made out of Sheffield Steel with the spikes hardened against damage and to promote efficiency. It measures about 5.6cm by 3.6cm.

In researching the background on the reamer I found that original patent on the reamer was for a Terry’s “Hedgehog” Pipe Reamer. It bears the same patent number and is essentially the same tool. In the 2 photos below I have put the two reamers above and below each other to show how they are the same. The Hedgehog is pictured with a Euro coin and an American 25 cent piece to an idea of its size. On the opposite side the Hedgehog reamer has the same PAT. NO. 22411-09 stamping. It appears to me that the reamer design is identical between the GBD and the Hedgehog.

I did some more digging and found that they also made one for Dr. Plumb pipes. It is stamped Dr. Plumb’s in script on one side and has the same patent information on the other side. That is not surprising as Dr. Plumb is a seconds line from GBD. But the research I did makes me believe that the Terry’s Hedgehog reamer was manufactured and stamped for a variety of pipe companies and used as an advertising gimmick.

I have no idea when the sales card in the next photo was made but it gives an idea of how the Hedgehog tools were marketed by Cadogan. These are the Dr. Plumb’s version of the tool.

I also found this modern version of the reamer that is still available today. It is clearly not as well made as the original and the two halves are not joined in the same manner. Even the spikes on the new one do not look as well made or as sharp.

Hopefully this little piece on the Hedgehog Pipe Reamer, no matter what the stamping or age, has sparked your interest in this piece of pipe history. It certainly has joined the ranks of other pipe paraphernalia that I have in my collection. I will keep an eye for more of the older versions that bear different pipe marks on the top of the reamer.