Antique Shop Find - Cutty

[SmokeyJock]

I need to stop nipping into the antique shop on my lunch break just spent 20 quid on this meerschaum cutty, it looks to have been barely smoked, no makers marks on it or the case. There were a couple of others in worse shape, one with some nice silverwork but no stem for £15 but I kept my PAD restrained before I bankrupt myself. It's a long shot but if anyone has any idea at all about the origins of this pipe let me know!

 

[jttnk]

Looks great! Enjoy.

 

[condorlover1]

Very good price. What would you like to know?

 

[SmokeyJock]

Very good price. What would you like to know?

Anything at all, more out of curiosity than anything else, but I don't expect there's anything that can be recognised specifically about it given the lack of markings

 

[Infantry23]

Very beautiful pipe!

 

[SmokeyJock]

Very good price. What would you like to know?

Knew you'd pop up in this thread, I should've taken photos of the others too

 

[condorlover1]

Post them please. You might have passed over something valuable!

 

[condorlover1]

You would be surprised. I'll have a few questions for you. Having the largest collection of these things does confer a few advantages especially since I have been buying non stop since the mid 1980s. I need some coffee and to get a few things off my desk and I'll be back with you shortly. Do not take the thing apart whilst you are waiting!

 

[SmokeyJock]

Post them please. You might have passed over something valuable!

Will pop back again tomorrow if I have time and get photos of the others

 

[SmokeyJock]

You would be surprised. I'll have a few questions for you. Having the largest collection of these things does confer a few advantages especially since I have been buying non stop since the mid 1980s. I need some coffee and to get a few things off my desk and I'll be back with you shortly. Do not take the thing apart whilst you are waiting!

Greatly appreciated!

 

[Snook]

Awesome find!

 

[condorlover1]

@SmokeyJock : Sorry about the delay in replying. What you have is a commercial meerschaum, probably block with an amberite stem manufactured somewhere between 1900-1925. The shank is probably threaded with a bone tenon screwed into the shank and then the stem. Resist the temptation to unscrew it since you risk either breaking the stem or threading the shank. Run a soft pipe cleaner used for model making through the stem and check that the drilling of the shank aligns with the bowl. If the stem is not clocking correctly add a paper shim but proceed with extreme care. You might wish to buy a packet of 'Philt Pads' from Sharrow's as this will assist in even colorings and keep your greasy fingers off the bowl until the meerschaum has been smoked a few times and allowed to harden. Remember these pipes are not folding rifles so resist the temptation to take them apart. Wipe out the bowl after smoking and enjoy your new friend.

 

[condorlover1]

@SmokeyJock : One last thing you might want to do is post pictures of the other pipes the shop had as I would be interested to see what they are and the condition. The condition of the cases is also very important since it is next to impossible to get anyone to repair or recover the leather on them these days.

 

[BingBong]

Ya beauty!

 

[metalheadycigarguy]

Nice find! May it bring you many happy smokes.

 

[SmokeyJock]

@condorlover1 sorry for the delay, went back today during my lunchbreak and all or at least most of the meerschaums they had before were still there, the claw one wasn't there before, it's £40, the rest are all between 15 and 30 quid. Was hard to get close enough to take a photo of them all with all the stuff on the floor (the place is jam-packed with old shite, like a proper antique shop should be) but took some close ups of the one with silverwork missing a stem

 

[SmokeyJock]

The only LB marking listed on pipehill is Lord Britton, but beyond that I've no idea what the markings mean (and they're hard to make out)

 

[jaingorenard]

The only LB marking listed on pipehill is Lord Britton, but beyond that I've no idea what the markings mean (and they're hard to make out)

It's for Louis Blumfeld (Frankau & Co.) - one of the 'B's in 'BBB'. Date looks like 1911 to me. That's briar rather than meerschaum. As long as the bowl is in good condition it would make a nice pipe with a replacement stem.

Top left is also briar - any stampings on it? Bottom left is a little cheroot holder.

 

[MisterBadger]

@condorlover1 sorry for the delay, went back today during my lunchbreak and all or at least most of the meerschaums they had before were still there, the claw one wasn't there before, it's £40, the rest are all between 15 and 30 quid. Was hard to get close enough to take a photo of them all with all the stuff on the floor (the place is jam-packed with old shite, like a proper antique shop should be) but took some close ups of the one with silverwork missing a stem
View attachment 352065View attachment 352063View attachment 352064

I like the briar cutty, though I'm not sure those are hallmarks. If it's British made, *and* the middle one is a crown, it could be a Sheffield mark, the gothic M and lion passant suggesting 1904 (but that's a big 'if'). The 'LB' above clearly isn't for Dunhill's Large Briar; could it be for 'London Brand' (a sub of Barling)? A new stem fitted could cost you between £30 and £40, and I just paid £50 for a restored briar cutty, obscure brand, band definitely not hallmarked, so I'd say this is quite reasonably priced. If I were you, I'd buy it. Looking forward to see what @condorlover1 will make of it.

 

[MisterBadger]

I like the briar cutty, though I'm not sure those are hallmarks. If it's British made, *and* the middle one is a crown, it could be a Sheffield mark, the gothic M and lion passant suggesting 1904 (but that's a big 'if'). The 'LB' above clearly isn't for Dunhill's Large Briar; could it be for 'London Brand' (a sub of Barling)? A new stem fitted could cost you between £30 and £40, and I just paid £50 for a restored briar cutty, obscure brand, band definitely not hallmarked, so I'd say this is quite reasonably priced. If I were you, I'd buy it. Looking forward to see what @condorlover1 will make of it.

Just seen @jaingorenard's post, which appeared while I was typing. I should have thought of Louis Blumfeld. That'll be a silver hallmark, then. Go for it