A White Marxman

[Briar Lee]

On eBay are five pipes for sale, for $80.



Four of them are the color we’d expect for pipes but the Marxman Jumbo A size is almost white.



It might have been bleached by the sun stored by a window, but it’s evenly white.

My theory is Marx usually oil cured or used oil cured Algerian briar and that’s what natural, completely virgin Algerian briar looked like.

Anyone else see one of these or have another explanation?

 

[Tate]

Based on the oxidation on the stem I'm leaning towards sun but I'm no expert.
That stem is pure brown and looks almost textured

 

[Briar Lee]

Based on the oxidation on the stem I'm leaning towards sun but I'm no expert.
That stem is pure brown and looks almost textured

Or it might have been stored in a hot attic.

But if that’s a special, it explains why a Marxman colors so quickly,

The oil leeches out.

And as for the oxidized stem, I think early pre war Marx pipes came with a much softer, chewer stem.

The older ones often come oxidized,

 

[Tate]

Hot attic could also explain how even the discoloration is.