Help Identifying Salesman Sample Book of Mouthpieces for Pipes
- Thread starter thedailyb
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Very interesting though. I'm NO expert on the history of vendor operations like this, but perhaps it was a salesman's book from one specific stem manufacturer that would try and contract with stummel-makers to do their stemwork.
There are plenty of knowledgeable folks on here, though and I'm sure a satisfactory answer will be forthcoming.
There are plenty of knowledgeable folks on here, though and I'm sure a satisfactory answer will be forthcoming.
As an alternative, some like a different take:
Once your photos are on a photo hosting site (such as Imgur.com; Photobucket; Postimage; Dropbox, etc.), or on virtually any site, select the full image, then Control-click (Mac) or Right-click (Windows) on the image itself, then choose copy image location. Now paste that URL (the full web address, which should end in .jpg) into the IMG box in the reply window of the thread you're posting to.
Once your photos are on a photo hosting site (such as Imgur.com; Photobucket; Postimage; Dropbox, etc.), or on virtually any site, select the full image, then Control-click (Mac) or Right-click (Windows) on the image itself, then choose copy image location. Now paste that URL (the full web address, which should end in .jpg) into the IMG box in the reply window of the thread you're posting to.
Back in The Day, many, if not most, pipe shops had a repairman in the back.
Also, back in The Day, there were many stem manufacturers.
Also also back in The Day, there was no Internet to amazon things from (see what I did there?), and, depending how far back you go, maybe not even a telephone to pick up.
Also, back in The Day, there were many stem manufacturers.
Also also back in The Day, there was no Internet to amazon things from (see what I did there?), and, depending how far back you go, maybe not even a telephone to pick up.
So, you're thinking that this belonged to some sort of traveling salesman that hit up pipe repairmen in shops and sold them pre-cut stems?
Finding out who made these would seem somewhere between difficult and impossible.
Closest thing I've seen to that is a chart Comoy issued many years ago which included photographs of the various stems they offered, over 50 in all. Neill Roan bought it off eBay, cleaned the image up, and published it on his blog.
As for this, I think George's theory sounds good. Certainly I don't have a better one.
By the way, I can't tell see any detail on my tiny phone screen. Are these definitely vulcanite? They look pretty unoxidized considering their evident age.
As for this, I think George's theory sounds good. Certainly I don't have a better one.
By the way, I can't tell see any detail on my tiny phone screen. Are these definitely vulcanite? They look pretty unoxidized considering their evident age.
Definitely vulcanite. I have a fair number of old stock molded stems bought from long-gone repairmen, and recognize some of the numbers (they are molded on the tenon).
If kept away from light and water such stems look new for a long time. Some of the German and English stuff in my stash is pre-WWII and looks like it was made yesterday.
I remember Neill's chart. Caused a bit of a stir because of how Comoy's stamped "hand cut" on them. People assumed that meant from rod stock, but actually described only the final shaping (which isn't a trivial thing at all, but detracts from the romance/mythology).
So is there any guess as to the age of this collection? Early 40's maybe? As a salesman, I'm enamored by this and the prospect that there was just a guy with a book of stem examples traveling from town to town, walking in to a tobacconist pedaling these wares. Really fascinating.
If I saw this in an antique store I would pay a significant price for them.
If I saw this in an antique store I would pay a significant price for them.
<p>Thanks for all of the input, guys! Interesting theories!</p>
<p>I think I found the Comoy chart you were referring to. If you do a google image search for Comoy mouthpieces, it will be on the first page of hits. </p>
<p><img />https://goo.gl/images/JXvYFw</img></p>
<p> It seems that the person who purchased the chart no longer has his blog but has written some books on collecting, Neil Roan. Do you think he would be a good resource to contact? If so, anyone know how to contact him?
</p>
<p>I think I found the Comoy chart you were referring to. If you do a google image search for Comoy mouthpieces, it will be on the first page of hits. </p>
<p><img />https://goo.gl/images/JXvYFw</img></p>
<p> It seems that the person who purchased the chart no longer has his blog but has written some books on collecting, Neil Roan. Do you think he would be a good resource to contact? If so, anyone know how to contact him?
</p>
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