1898 or 1889? Briar Billiard w/ Silver Work and Amber Stem (Pic Heavy)

[sablebrush52]

I'm going to sort of say uncle with the following quibble.
The description for Charles Maas that ashdigger posted above states that they registered the following makers marks: CM without a frame, CM within an oval frame, CM within an oval frame below a crown, CM above MM. No CM&C, not mentioned, nada, nothing, not evident.
That the pipe used to ID a Charles Maas pipe (the very same pipe that started this here thread) is stamped with a makers mark that isn't listed as a registered mark doesn't legitimize the stamp, or the attribution to Charles Maas. It could just be compounding the mistaken attribution.
But, given the case it's possible, though not proven.

 

[jguss]

Hi Jesse,
Certainly all circumstantial evidence; "not proven" pretty much sums it up. If the Birmingham assay office has records somewhere of the registration of this mark, that would settle it. From what I gather they don't, at least not in any of the various transcription sites available online. Not being an experts on hallmarks, I haven't a clue how complete the archives of the various assay offices really are.
In the meanwhile I consider the key point the references to a "Crown pipe". That, at least according to their London directory listings, was uniquely a Charles Maas brand. Also interesting, but less determinative in my view, is the fact that CM&Co could stand for Charles Maas & Co. There are too many similar marks floating around for me to find that argument as compelling as I do the reference to "Crown Pipe" on the case and pipe shank.
We'll fight this one out over a beer in Vegas.
Best,

Jon

 

[jguss]

It just occured to me that Julian Assange may well know the answer. Anybody have his email address? Or do I just send something to Anthony Weiner and assume it'll get through?

 

[ashdigger]

Hell, if I had known this pipe would spark this much awesome stuff, I'd have purchased years ago. lol!!
Jesse, I'll bring the pipe when we meet for a beer (whisky for me)

 

[dmcmtk]

I tried the Birmingham Assay office site for the information Jon is talking about, but the site wasn't that helpful. One would basically have to go to Birmingham to physically look through their Library and Archives to find if CM&Co was a registered mark for Charles Maas.

In the meanwhile I consider the key point the references to a "Crown pipe". That, at least according to their London directory listings, was uniquely a Charles Maas brand.

I think what you are saying here Jon does make a lot of sense, and I'll make the leap that because of this, CM&Co could, and most likely does, stand for Charles Maas & Co.
You all have a great time in Las Vegas!

 

[beefeater33]

I LOVE these pipe mysteries........... This is what keeps us LEARNING, Thanks for posting this!!........ :worship:

 

[puffermark]

Greetings, all.
I ran across this thread while researching a new acquisition off a local auction site here in SA. As you will see it has remarkably similar silver work to ashdigger's pipe. My question is what's the latest consensus, 1898 Charles Maas?
If so this will be my first pre 1900 pipe. I am anxiously awaiting it's arrival, so these pics are from the auction site. The stem is quite obviously a replacement, but I'm hoping to convince a friend to fashion me one more in the style of what I imagine would have been the original amber stem.

 

[sablebrush52]

Uncle. It's very likely made by Charles Maas given the crown.
Another Maas set has shown up on eBay with an attribution to Barling:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CHARLES-LEOPOLD-MAAS-case-of-FOUR-pipes-made-apparently-by-BARLINGs-a-FIND-/322585323431?hash=item4b1b9567a7:g:QEkAAOSwf~9ZYqQu
The silver work is pretty typical for the period, but the makers' mark isn't Barling so there's no way to prove that they were involved. Charles Maas was a pipe manufacturer, and like all of the British makers of this period, they bought unfinished bowls from St Claude or Nuremberg which they finished and mounted with stems and often sterling fitments.

Barling made some of their own bowls which they stamped Barling's Make in the tradition of the time. BBB, for example, stamped the bowls that they made as "own make". Charatan stamped their pipes "Charatan's Make". Of course, we're still guessing about some of these practices, but I'd expect to see the Barling maker's stamp on the sterling, just as Barling stamped their makers' mark on the sterling mounts that they provided for BBB in the early 1880's.

 

[condorlover1]

The silver work is pretty typical. I have a bunch of BBB meerschaum 'cutty' pipes with the BBB logo in the fitted case lid if anyone wants me to post pictures for comparison.

 

[puffermark]

Thanks, gentlemen. Much appreciated.

 

[fitzy]

Definitely 1898 for both pipes.