Antique tamper?

[PLANofMAN]

I recently picked up this up in a lot of pipe accessories. Really only wanted the books and the pipe stand, but you gets what you gets when you buy a 'lot.'

Approximate measurements are 7" long, and the head is about 2". Seller claims it's silver. I suspect sterling at best, and plated at worst. Seller also called the briar burl stand "petrified wood" and the horn and brass w.o. larsen tamper as "mother of pearl" so, I'm rather inclined to take his description with a grain of salt.



So, is this really a pipe accessory, or something repurposed? If it is a pipe accessory, was it designed for really long churchwarden pipes? Anyone want to guess at age? The rest of the items appear to be from the 1970's or earlier.

The only thing I can recall seeing that resembles this thing are candle snuffers.

Edit: I suspect the seller regrets listing everything as a lot. On the whole, nice stuff, but all things it would be easy to have duplicates of and not need, which drives the offering price way down. If it weren't for my fixation on acquiring burl pipe stands, I wouldn't have given the listing a second look.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Looks like a candle or lamp snuffer.

 

[PLANofMAN]

The only thing I can recall seeing that resembles this thing are candle snuffers.

Looks like a candle or lamp snuffer.

Great minds think alike?

The head is not hollow and it weighs 3 oz.

The only other thing I've seen that bears a passing resemblance are mulling spoons for cider, and that's more the handle than anything else.

 

[Chasing Embers]

The head is not hollow and it weighs 3 oz.

I was seeing that as the handle.

 

[PLANofMAN]

I was seeing that as the handle.

Muddler is what I was thinking of, not mulling spoon, but yeah, why put a 7" handle on a pipe tamper?

 

[jguss]

Definitely a Tudor coke spoon.

 

[Briarcutter]

Interesting, I don't believe it's a pipe tool though. Is there any engraving on the flat end?
Nut cracker? Used for sealing wax?
Doctor's tool?
Seems older than the 70's

After looking a bit on line, I'd agree with some others, a muddler, maybe with a ice pick on the hammer end.

 

[Roach1]

Snuff Tool?

 

[TheIronMonkey]

At first glance, I would have thought candle snuffer—but those are often hinged where the hollow cone would be; a stirrer for cider seems like a reasonable guess. In some circles, it could be a sex toy.

 

[Hillcrest]

I'm gonna guess circa 1930's Art Deco Ice hammer/cocktail stirrer in silver plate ... What do I win ?

Why do I guess that ? :

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/672443788085440344/

 

[PLANofMAN]

I'm gonna guess circa 1930's Art Deco Ice hammer/cocktail stirrer in silver plate ... What do I win ?

Why do I guess that ? :

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/672443788085440344/

You win the eternal gratitude of a grateful nation. America can never hope to repay you for the services you've rendered this forum. Where did I put my bowl of ice cream?...

It certainly does appear to be an ice pick/hammer cocktail stirrer combo. Thank you for figuring out this mystery.

Edit: I'm probably going to use it with my churchwarden, and get a chuckle out of it each time.

 

[kcghost]

Could be most anything but Art Deco ice hammer is as good as anything.

 

[Hillcrest]

You win the eternal gratitude of a grateful nation. America can never hope to repay you for the services you've rendered this forum. Where did I put my bowl of ice cream?...

It certainly does appear to be an ice pick/hammer cocktail stirrer combo. Thank you for figuring out this mystery.

Edit: I'm probably going to use it with my churchwarden, and get a chuckle out of it each time.

I am humbled. I would like to thank all those who made this moment possible and especially the Administration, our wonderful moderators, our fantastic members who are always so supportive, uplifiting and positive, and of course the internet, that vast, last bastion of occasionally useful information. I will cherish the memories of this time until this thread is locked. Thank you all and best wishes.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

It has a long handle, so that you can reach over and tamp your friend's pipe for him. You could even walk around the room, tamping everyone's pipe. It's for the thoughtful pipe smoker.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

It has a long handle, so that you can reach over and tamp your friend's pipe for him. You could even walk around the room, tamping everyone's pipe. It's for the thoughtful pipe smoker.

 

[Hillcrest]

View attachment 344458

Now I remember ! Its an ice pick, hammer, cocktail stirrer from about the 1930's !!!

 

[jpmcwjr]

No, no, no!

It's "Maxwell's Silver Hammer"—been lost for decades.

 

[bullet08]

If my tamper is like that, I would play Swedish mercenary more often.

 

[PLANofMAN]

Well it's been an entertaining thread, and helped to satisfy my curiosity. Time to satisfy yours. Here's the rest of the lot.

"Tobacco Pipes and the Pleasures of Pipe Smoking," is a 36 page pamphlet that a review on reborn pipes' blog praised for being concise, educational, and informative, and contained everything a new pipe smoker needed to know regarding both smoking and caring for one's pipe.

A Book Review – Tobacco, Pipes and the Pleasures of Pipe Smoking

This beautifully illustrated little book was produced in Canada to be given as a gift to pipe smokers by the – Turmac Tabakmaatschappij Canada Ltd. In their introductory preface they declare their …

rebornpipes.com

As I learned from the comment section, it itself is an extract of a much larger volume. "Tabago: A Picture-Book of Tobacco and the Pleasures of Smoking," which doesn't seem to come up in member's lists of tobacco and pipe books very often. It was printed in both German and English, and the English language version seems to be a bit rarer. Got that on the way as well.

If it's any good, I may have to do a separate post to discuss it.

The other book seems to be less enthusiastically received, though outside of one sarcastic reader who pointed out that the author's recommendation to use hack saw blades to cut the briar due to it's hardness was an indicator that the author lacked sharp saws and the wit to sharpen them, I haven't seen the book being discussed, negatively or positively. (Probably due to the existence of Primo's excellent primer for pipe making, and the recommendations for that little volume).