Old pipe stems.

Log in

SmokingPipes.com Updates

Watch for Updates Twice a Week

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

Status
Not open for further replies.

stefank

Lurker
Jul 28, 2014
12
0
Hello.
From what materials were pipe stems made in days past? Bone, ivory, woods? What woods lend to be themselves good pipe stems if that were the case? I've been researching and finding bits and pieces of information but its always better to have pipe enthusiasts speak about the details.
Thank yoU!

 

menuhin

Part of the Furniture Now
Oct 21, 2014
642
3
Hi stefank! Welcome.
I'm not a big pipe enthusiast, but it may help to clarify your question.

How long is 'days past'? 20 years ago? 50 years? 80+ years?
Current trend of pipe stem seems to be acrylic because it's more maintenance free.

The older generations may love vulcanite / ebonite stems because they are softer to the teeth and that they can be refresh to like new condition easily.

And even earlier pipes can have their stem made of various material, including amber (Bernstein) which is still used in some of the meerschaum pipes produced today.

f68t5042p18539n2.jpg


While I have seen horn stems, it seems to be not a major practice.

The oldest of pipes were mostly made of clays and wood (but not briar) and their stems are crafted out of the same materials.

bearbeitung2.jpg


stielfertigung-gr.jpg


 

fishnbanjo

Lifer
Feb 27, 2013
3,030
63
In my opinion you can't beet briar itself for a good feel in the mouth pipe stem, I have 2 and they are wonderful, of course if you clench like the Tasmanian Devil it may not be for you.

banjo

 

puffy

Lifer
Dec 24, 2010
2,511
98
North Carolina
In old days in the south a good many folks made their own pipes out of wood from a fruit tree.Take a short stem from certain trees and the center of it soft.If you run a hot wire down that soft center it opens up an airway.The same can be done with bamboo.I'm sure that pipe companies used other materials for their pipes.

 

stefank

Lurker
Jul 28, 2014
12
0
Exactly what I meant was before the advent of "modern" polymers. Those pictures are quite spectacular Menuhin!!!!

 

menuhin

Part of the Furniture Now
Oct 21, 2014
642
3
Another noteworthy older material for pipe stem is albatross wing-bone. They were used in some very old luxury pipes as stem extensions.
1884Wm.Barling-4_pcCased60_-564x327.jpg


1890BriarSilverMountAlbatross-591x198.jpg


1900_Briar_Amber_Reading_Pipe_Albatross_Extension-772x348.jpg


Albatross_Full_Skeleton-401x264.jpg

http://www.pipecluboflondon.com/PCoL_CC_Briars1850-1900.html
And of course, for bamboo-stem enthusiasts, there has been a long tradition to use bamboo and metal as part of the pipe stem, similar to the style of Tsuge's Ichirin pipe.

KISERU_CASE_SIGNATURE.jpg


picture1.jpg


Brooklyn_Museum_-_E-Goyomi_%28Lady_Smoking%29_-_Korinsai.jpg


(This last picture dated 1785 from Wikipedia citing a research paper in Japan.)

 
Status
Not open for further replies.