Anyone know what this is? Was told it breaks in meerschaum pipes

[rx2man]

Bottom reads The Tinder Box and Hand Made in Itally

 

[Chasing Embers]

They market them to color a meer with so as to not burn a meer's rim. Stick it in the pipe and smoke tobacco in it. They have several of these on eBay.

 

[dottiewarden]

My Meer smokes just fine without that dang thing.

 

[rx2man]

Its interesting but I don't really see the point either.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Man, those things are pricey! I didn't pay much more for my meer pipes! 8O
http://m.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=meerschaum+coloring+bowl&isNewKw=1&mfs=GOCLK&acimp=0&_trksid=p2053742.m2428.l1313.TR0.TRC0.Xmeerschaum+coloring+bowl&sqp=meerschaum+coloring+bowl

 

[blueeyedogre]

Supposedly a coloring bowl is use so that the pipe takes color faster due to the fact that it will build no cake in the pipe itself. The more cake you have built up in your meer the slower the "juices" will permeate the bowl material so by using the coloring bowl you will color faster...... at least that's the theory. Personally I envision the smoker using one of these would also being the guy that smokes wearing the white cotton gloves and being completely OCD on handling the pipe.

 

[mso489]

If I were a Meer smoker, I'd much rather have poor color on my pipe or a charred rim than use this gadget. Some get bewitched by the accessories and lose sight of the enjoyment. However, I guess these keep money circulating. I hope the purchasers are very happy with their gizmos. Snort.

 

[shutterbugg]

I'm confused...what's the bowl for, a hookah? I mean, I can't see how the little blue ceramic whatsis could be used to color a normal meer pipe.
And I've got a 75 y.o. meer that was my dad's and I've been smoking it 40 some years and it still has barely changed to off-white. I seem to remember reading years ago they dipped them in boiling beeswax after carving, and that's what aided in the coloring. You were warned not to touch the bowl while it was warm.

 

[stephenw]

I have used coloring bowls in the past and they did aid in coloring the bowl and kept the bowl cake free. It was a fun experiment and it worked well, but I sold all my coloring bowls many years ago and have not smoked a meer for many a year.

 

[sajgre]

It is not only for cake prevention but also for keeping meer cold which would result in even coloration. I have never used one, I love meers with beautiful patina but would find it ridiculous to smoke it like that. Besides meer coloring is impossible to predict, I have one that after half a yeara looks dark as vintage meers and some that don't color a all.