Upside Down Stem

dlattim

Starting to Get Obsessed

Oct 27, 2012

233

3

• Dec 30, 2012

• #1

I've noticed that all too frequently sellers on Ebay picture their pipes with the stem mounted upside down. This seems very strange. Are the sellers just too ignorant about pipes to know what they are doing, or is there some reason they do this? It would seem obvious that many of these (if not all) could never be smoked like that. Anybody have a clue why this is done. It seems to me that this would turn more buyers off than attract. Here's a picture of one.

 

irishsmoker

Lifer

Feb 14, 2012

1,177

0

• Dec 30, 2012

• #2

I've noticed that quite often myself! But I like it because you might get a good deal if the seller doesn't know what they have!

 

bigvan

Lifer

Mar 22, 2011

2,192

14

• Dec 30, 2012

• #3

I know what you mean, dlattin. I've seen a lot of pictures with upside down stems.
However I think the pipe shown is SUPPOSED to have its stem inverted. Otherwise the bowl would facing too forward and the ash would dump in your lap. I've seen novelty pipes like this one before.
But you're point is a good one.

 

ghost

Lifer

May 17, 2012

2,001

4

• Dec 30, 2012

• #4

I see it on eBay all the time, drives me batty! Lol

 

fnord

Lifer

Dec 28, 2011

2,746

8

Topeka, KS

• Dec 30, 2012

• #5

I'm all in with seller ignorance, Dlattim. We see it all the time.

 

ace57

Lifer

Jun 21, 2011

2,145

1

• Dec 31, 2012

• #6

I think this is done to show that the stem is free not stuck in.

 

topd

Lifer

Mar 23, 2012

1,745

11

Emerson, Arkansas

• Dec 31, 2012

• #7

Non-Pipe smoker....Seller ignorance.....

 

A

acme

Starting to Get Obsessed

Dec 4, 2011

124

0

• Dec 31, 2012

• #8

The shape of pipe shown is a hawk bill, and the stem is upside down.
Ace57, that is a good idea, I never thought of demonstratings the stem's condition by showing it upside down.
anthony

 

olewaylon

Can't Leave

Oct 14, 2012

445

0

• Dec 31, 2012

• #9

this irritates me also.

 

dlattim

Starting to Get Obsessed

Oct 27, 2012

233

3

• Dec 31, 2012

• #10

Thanks for the confirmation olewaylon. I was beginning to doubt whether I had posted a good example. Whenever I see this I don't look any further at the pipe in question. The way I see it is that if the seller can't even put the pipe together correctly for a picture he probably can't accurately describe it, or it's condition as well.

 

oldshacker

Might Stick Around

Oct 26, 2012

64

1

• Dec 31, 2012

• #11

Now really, whats the issue here

 

puffy

Lifer

Dec 24, 2010

2,511

99

North Carolina

• Dec 31, 2012

• #12

That to me that's just an ugly pipe no matter how the stem is turned..If someone doesn't know which way a stem should be in a pipe he probably doesn't know enough about pipes to be selling them,and I would hesitate to buy from him.Anyway I've never bought a pipe that I didn't hold in my hand and inspect first,but then I earned a living for many years as an inspector so it's second nature to me.

 

bigvan

Lifer

Mar 22, 2011

2,192

14

• Dec 31, 2012

• #13

"The shape of pipe shown is a hawk bill"
I gotta disagree, Acme. At least slightly.
If you look at this hawkbill, you'll see how the shank opens perpendicular to the bowl; it's almost a perfect 90 degree angle.

The OP shows the shank opening at an oblique angle to the bowl. Add to that a bit with a strong bend itself, and you'd have an almost 180 degree angle from the bowl to the end of the bit if it was flipped around.
I really think this pipe was made to be this way.