Yes, that's certainly possible. Forensics needed to assess the chamber's contents, hopefully not just mud! Straight Virginia? Burley? Inquiring minds and all.
19th century 'Aluma' pipe
- Thread starter archaeo
- Start date
- Status
Everything suggests that's a pre-1925 (or so) pipe. The shape does indeed look "modern," but I used to own a 1914 BBB that had a similar shape, including the oval shank.
Maybe the name is suggestive, but is that screw bone or metal? It looks like metal (aluminum?) in the second picture. Just thinking out loud here...
Maybe the name is suggestive, but is that screw bone or metal? It looks like metal (aluminum?) in the second picture. Just thinking out loud here...
Pitchfork, good catch. the screw is def metal. no sign of any corrosion. Any ideas on when metal screws first came into play?
As for contents in the bowl, out of luck there, just a wee bit of dirt left. We've never managed to find a pipe with any contents left..yet.
As for contents in the bowl, out of luck there, just a wee bit of dirt left. We've never managed to find a pipe with any contents left..yet.
That's really something! I couldn't find your pipe, but I found plenty of old advertising references to products with "Aluma" in the name (because of aluminum).
Other folks would know better than I, but metal screws are pretty common from 1940 onward, but possibly much earlier. This might just be a really early use of aluminum in the screw. My interest in old pipes stops around 1920, but there are some folks here who focus on 1930s and 40s stuff.
Doesn't prove anything, but "aluma" was definitely a "thing" around 1930 or so. The round/orific button, though, suggests the pipe is a decade older than that.
https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=aluma&year_start=1880&year_end=2000&corpus=15&smoothing=2&share=&direct_url=t1%3B%2Caluma%3B%2Cc0
https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=aluma&year_start=1880&year_end=2000&corpus=15&smoothing=2&share=&direct_url=t1%3B%2Caluma%3B%2Cc0
I was just reading another thread where sablebrush wrote of a sterling silver tenon in a pipe from 1883, but i do think this one looks more aluminium than sterling silver.
Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find any info on W B Haas & Co (checked Hass too) which might give me some clues as to a date range. It seems odd I cannot find anything, even the most 'hidden' companies usually get a mention in the Gazette at some point
Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find any info on W B Haas & Co (checked Hass too) which might give me some clues as to a date range. It seems odd I cannot find anything, even the most 'hidden' companies usually get a mention in the Gazette at some point
I found a W.B. Haas of Paris from 1896. Looks like they had at least some interest in new-fangled pipe construction:
https://books.google.com/books?id=M4VNAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA4-PR37&lpg=RA4-PR37&dq=haas+tobacconist+pipes&source=bl&ots=qaTtVSKPgk&sig=CenX_hKeRJ6qK1N89CbRned5Efs&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj6rOqtz7DQAhWC7SYKHRKkBko4ChDoAQgZMAA#v=onepage&q=w.b.%20paris&f=false
https://books.google.com/books?id=M4VNAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA4-PR37&lpg=RA4-PR37&dq=haas+tobacconist+pipes&source=bl&ots=qaTtVSKPgk&sig=CenX_hKeRJ6qK1N89CbRned5Efs&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj6rOqtz7DQAhWC7SYKHRKkBko4ChDoAQgZMAA#v=onepage&q=w.b.%20paris&f=false
There is indeed not much readily available about W B Haas & Co. I can tell you a little bit, however, that might provide some useful context for your pipe.
The firm originated in St Claude, Jura, France as W B Haas et Cie; as you probably know St Claude was the epicenter of briar pipe making for the second half of the 19th century (the focus moved to England as the 20th century wore on, but that's another story).
Haas was in business in France no later than 1883, and by 1891 a UK affiliate was listed in the London directory as W B Haas & Co. Ltd., located at 6 Castle St, Falcon Sq, EC. There it remained at least through 1899, after which its appearance in directories becomes more sporadic. About 1905 the address is listed as 23 & 25 Bevendon St., East Road, N. Shortly thereafter it appears in neither city nor early telephone directories.
Several notices make it clear that the company (described as "well known pipe manufacturers") was doing business in Australia (and presumably New Zealand) by 1891.
The Aluma name was trademarked in the UK in the first week of February in 1894. It appears in industry trade directories of "pipe, pouches, fancy goods, etc" through 1934, and is absent in 1936.
There is a hint that W B Haas may have been absorbed by A. Oppenheimer (both are listed as producing pipes using the brand name Riseagle), but the evidence I've seen so far is too slender to feel confident. Certainly their profile, never terribly high, recedes into the mist early in the 20th century.
So to sum, the evidence is consistent with a pipe dating from 1894 onward. Personally I find Jesse's view that it dates earlier rather that later persuasive. At a pinch I'd think 1894-1904 not a bad provisional range.
The firm originated in St Claude, Jura, France as W B Haas et Cie; as you probably know St Claude was the epicenter of briar pipe making for the second half of the 19th century (the focus moved to England as the 20th century wore on, but that's another story).
Haas was in business in France no later than 1883, and by 1891 a UK affiliate was listed in the London directory as W B Haas & Co. Ltd., located at 6 Castle St, Falcon Sq, EC. There it remained at least through 1899, after which its appearance in directories becomes more sporadic. About 1905 the address is listed as 23 & 25 Bevendon St., East Road, N. Shortly thereafter it appears in neither city nor early telephone directories.
Several notices make it clear that the company (described as "well known pipe manufacturers") was doing business in Australia (and presumably New Zealand) by 1891.
The Aluma name was trademarked in the UK in the first week of February in 1894. It appears in industry trade directories of "pipe, pouches, fancy goods, etc" through 1934, and is absent in 1936.
There is a hint that W B Haas may have been absorbed by A. Oppenheimer (both are listed as producing pipes using the brand name Riseagle), but the evidence I've seen so far is too slender to feel confident. Certainly their profile, never terribly high, recedes into the mist early in the 20th century.
So to sum, the evidence is consistent with a pipe dating from 1894 onward. Personally I find Jesse's view that it dates earlier rather that later persuasive. At a pinch I'd think 1894-1904 not a bad provisional range.
It's a full e-book. You must be getting blocked. If you can't get around it, I can screen cap and post the text for you here in a bit.
Hi Jon
Thanks so much for that information, it clears it up nicely! the 1894-c1904 date range fits well with the date ranges produced from ceramic/glassware items.
To pitchfork and pipesmokingtom, I definitely am being geoblocked, as the page I can pull up shows no e-book available. Geoblocking sucks -.- but thanks very much for all your help!
The pipe will be offered back to the landowners as per the law here - a large trade tools/home improvement company who have expressed some interest in having a display of items recovered from the site within the store - but if they opt not to go ahead with this, it will stay in our reference collection.
Again, many thanks to all of you
Thanks so much for that information, it clears it up nicely! the 1894-c1904 date range fits well with the date ranges produced from ceramic/glassware items.
To pitchfork and pipesmokingtom, I definitely am being geoblocked, as the page I can pull up shows no e-book available. Geoblocking sucks -.- but thanks very much for all your help!
The pipe will be offered back to the landowners as per the law here - a large trade tools/home improvement company who have expressed some interest in having a display of items recovered from the site within the store - but if they opt not to go ahead with this, it will stay in our reference collection.
Again, many thanks to all of you
You're welcome.
Whoever winds up with the pipe, I'd like to come back to crash's point about restoration. The monetary value is perhaps too little to justify it, and there may be some academic or regulatory imperative to keep the pipe as it was found in situ, but you should be aware that its appearance can be significantly enhanced for what in absolute dollars is a modest amount. I think it's safe to say that you would be astonished what a gifted restorer can do to a pipe that looks like this one.
Whoever winds up with the pipe, I'd like to come back to crash's point about restoration. The monetary value is perhaps too little to justify it, and there may be some academic or regulatory imperative to keep the pipe as it was found in situ, but you should be aware that its appearance can be significantly enhanced for what in absolute dollars is a modest amount. I think it's safe to say that you would be astonished what a gifted restorer can do to a pipe that looks like this one.
Interested in the answer to this, if one is forthcoming.
My wife is an archaeologist here in the US, and we are following this thread closely.
I do think we will be able to have it cleaned up professionally and the briar should look quite stunning afterwards, however fixing the crack in the bowl might not be able to be done - but I will check on this with our heritage organization
generally with items being 'restored' they prefer to have the filling very noticeable, and tbh I think in this case it would detract from the beauty of the briar
generally with items being 'restored' they prefer to have the filling very noticeable, and tbh I think in this case it would detract from the beauty of the briar
- Status