"Briaklay" pipe

[jaingorenard]

I thought this might interest some forum members:

About a year and a half ago I bought a pipe collection from a man who sadly passed away. I was unable to ask him any questions about his collection as his wife completed the sale. When the box arrived, it contained lots of interesting and quirky pieces, including this Briaklay pipe (similar to a meerschaum-lined pipe, but with removable clay inserts). The paper instructions are very crumbly as the inserts came wrapped in the paper.

The pipe was invented by Solomon Frais in around 1924, who seems to have been a tailor from Leeds/Sunderland, and part-time inventor (his other patents cover clothing and train timetables). It was being sold by Parker in 1935 for 2/6.

 

[didimauw]

.... Now I've seen everything

 

[bluegrassbrian]

Nothing new under the sun in the pipe world.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

It’s wonderful. I’ll need to keep an eye out for one with the box and all the goodies.

 

[simong]

Love it!
Old Solomon sounded like quite the inventor.

 

[jaingorenard]

It’s wonderful. I’ll need to keep an eye out for one with the box and all the goodies.

The rest of the stuff was quite interesting too, lots of handmade stuff. I don't think anything in the box was later than the 1930s, everything with a traditional mouthpiece had an orific bit.

Sadly the cork seal is gone from this one, and the metal clip in the bowl is completely rusted.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

The rest of the stuff was quite interesting too, lots of handmade stuff. I don't think anything in the box was later than the 1930s, everything with a traditional mouthpiece had an orific bit.

Sadly the cork seal is gone from this one, and the metal clip in the bowl is completely rusted.

While it’s a shame the original cork is gone, with some careful measurements and some patience, you could probably fashion a new cork gasket that would make the pipe smokable.

I will be on the hunt for a complete, possibly unsmoked package to preserve (maybe a used one to smoke will suffice)—I love the idea behind this pipe.

 

[UB 40]

Great pipe, didn’t know that kind of clay.

 

[mso489]

That is totally unique. l surmise there weren't too many of those made, so it has value in its rarity as well as in its innovative design. I wouldn't smoke it, but it is a collector's item. Thank you for posting that with the good photos.

 

[anotherbob]

if they made something like this now I'd buy one. Depending on the price of it. Love clay but also hate clay too. It smokes great but the fragility and some other factors make them the last choice.

 

[The Clay King]

if they made something like this now I'd buy one. Depending on the price of it. Love clay but also hate clay too. It smokes great but the fragility and some other factors make them the last choice.

@anotherbob I've lost count of how many clays I've broken...

 

[anotherbob]

@anotherbob I've lost count of how many clays I've broken...

13389 is my count for how many you've broken. Wait it's 13391 now.