A Rumination on the Luxury of Smoking a Meerschaum Pipe

[OzPiper]

That was from the Tanzanian Mine which is now closed becausethey mined all the meerschaum out so its probably a collector's item if you can find it.

Not at all difficult to find. They come up on EBay all the time

 

[Hillcrest]

Not at all difficult to find. They come up on EBay all the time

True but you can't make a new one now. NOS is the only option from what I understand. The tanzanian meer is more porous than turkish but has that yellow orange color naturally. I have read that turkish is better for carving than all other types and is the least porous. But that's from the internet sites that discuss meerschaum --- I am no expert --- I just wanted to read about what I had and that's the little I remember. I think the Tanzanian mine closed in early 2000s.

 

[OverMountain]

Felt like smoking some Raleigh this morning and puffed 3 bowls in 3 different meerschaums. They never disappoint.

Aromatic or the original? There’s a reason SWR has been around for 100 years. ?

 

[OzPiper]

True but you can't make a new one now. NOS is the only option from what I understand. The tanzanian meer is more porous than turkish but has that yellow orange color naturally. I have read that turkish is better for carving than all other types and is the least porous. But that's from the internet sites that discuss meerschaum --- I am no expert --- I just wanted to read about what I had and that's the little I remember. I think the Tanzanian mine closed in early 2000s.

African meer is actually LESS porous than Turkish meer

And the yellowish colouring is applied, not natural. Along with the fumed rim.

You can come across kits of African meer for you to carve your own pipe on EBay occasionally

 

[Hillcrest]

African meer is actually LESS porous than Turkish meer

And the yellowish colouring is applied, not natural. Along with the fumed rim.

You can come across kits of African meer for you to carve your own pipe on EBay occasionally

I apparently mis-remembered. I will have to re-research it. Thank you for the correction. I enjoy my two.

 

[OzPiper]

I enjoy my two.

I have 3 African meers - a Peterson and 2 Kikos which I bought in the late '70s.
I tend to smoke them more frequently than my Turkish ones.

 

[Hillcrest]

I have 3 African meers - a Peterson and 2 Kikos which I bought in the late '70s.
I tend to smoke them more frequently than my Turkish ones.

I have an Isle of Mann Peterson Straight Billiard which I have only smoked a few times ... it has become a family remembrance of a great (or great great) grandmother who spent summers on the Isle of Mann. Mine does not have the silver ring:



The other is a Pioneer full bent Billiard or bent egg depending on who looks at it. That one gets regular rotation. I bought it fairly inexpensively because there was a hairline crack in the around shank at tenon from when the tenon was inserted but honestly its never expanded and I have never had a problem in 30 yrs. Its rusticated with smooth side plates. Like this but full bent :



Its a great smoke but the sides can get hot unless you slow down smoking cadence!

 

[OzPiper]

This Pete meer has a Dublin hallmark for 1976

A couple of Kiko meers

 

[Hillcrest]

I have 3 African meers - a Peterson and 2 Kikos which I bought in the late '70s.
I tend to smoke them more frequently than my Turkish ones.

I (can't believe) I forgot the Peterson Kapmeer 999 which gets regular rotation and which I think everyone should try that shape at least once... I think many would switch from the 'author' shapes ! (just an opinion not a provocation ): Like this: