Are There any Carey Magic Inch Fans Out There?

[john019]

So I have come across this Carey pipe a while back. It has an "A" on the back, so I was guessing it was a grading system. Tried looking up info on it, and couldn't find anything about the grading system Carey used on their pipes. I even contacted them, and sent them some photos of the pipe, and the response I got back was, "Yes that is a Carey pipe. The carver retired awhile ago, and we don't have any more information on this pipe". So if anyone knows anymore details about the grading system that Carey pipes used, it would be greatly appreciated.

EDIT: Fixed Capitalization in Title - Bob

 

[stogie37]

I’m definitely a fan of the Carey Magic Inch pipes and have 60 of them in my rotation. I’ve probably had twice that many pass through my hands as I cherry picked the best smokers. That said, they are normally viewed as a utilitarian pipe, with the finish, graining and even fit taking a back seat to function. Your pics are one of the nicer ones I’ve seen, and I’d have to look more closely at my collection to see if any have similar grading marks. They sourced bowls from different carvers/factories over the years and some of the most beautiful examples came from the Shalom factory in Israel - home of the original Alpha pipes in the 70’s. Your pipe is from that factory and era. There were a few excellent carvers employee by Shalom that turned out some gorgeous and distinctive pipes. If I find any with grading in my collection I’ll be sure to post here. Carey is still going strong (?) in the states, and prior to moving to the Carolina coast in 2018, I lived 20 minutes from their U.S. headquarters in Canton, Ohio. While not a retail shop, I was able to hand select some pipes there and also buy a “lifetime” supply of sleeves at wholesale pricing from them! Enjoy!

 

[tomnernas2ndson]

I'm an avid Carey collector. At one time, a couple decades ago, I had about 150 or so. Now, probably 50. Great pipes.

 

[mso489]

I had one of their little carburetor straight apple pipes that may have come with a bag of tobacco, sort of a starter kit. The little vents in the stem struck me first as an annoyance, and then as an obstacle, so I taped them over, but the draw was still a little indirect and tight, so eventually, after it haunted my rack for many years, I sent it away. I'm interested that some collect an array of these, and this makes me suppose that most of their pipes are better than the one I bought. Also, the finish was notably matte and dull.

 

[tomnernas2ndson]

I had one of their little carburetor straight apple pipes that may have come with a bag of tobacco, sort of a starter kit. The little vents in the stem struck me first as an annoyance, and then as an obstacle, so I taped them over, but the draw was still a little indirect and tight, so eventually, after it haunted my rack for many years, I sent it away. I'm interested that some collect an array of these, and this makes me suppose that most of their pipes are better than the one I bought. Also, the finish was notably matte and dull.

Yes, they have a wide variety. I've got some that are magnificent and others average. I use the filters and like them. However, to each their own. Happy Holidays.

 

[condorlover1]

I remember the quarter page advertisements in the Sunday Express for Carey Pipes before it went tabloid sized. It always featured a picture of the all embracing British Father telling you about his 'magic inch' and how if you didn't absolutely love the pipe you could smash it with a hammer and return the bits to the U.K factory. One of my friends in the scouts had a Father who always had a pipe in his mouth and we used to make jokes about his 'magic inch' since my friends brother was a little on the 'special' side or as we used to say - very challenged!

 

[anotherbob]

I remember the quarter page advertisements in the Sunday Express for Carey Pipes before it went tabloid sized. It always featured a picture of the all embracing British Father telling you about his 'magic inch' and how if you didn't absolutely love the pipe you could smash it with a hammer and return the bits to the U.K factory. One of my friends in the scouts had a Father who always had a pipe in his mouth and we used to make jokes about his 'magic inch' since my friends brother was a little on the 'special' side or as we used to say - very challenged!

glad I am not the only one that can't hear magic inch with out wanting to giggle a little bit.

 

[badbriar]

Pulvers Briar currently has a few up for sale at very good prices!

 

[T-townrestore]

It show my immaturity when I giggle anytime I see that brand

 

[mso489]

Because I didn't have a good experience with my one pipe, I couldn't figure out how Carey stayed in business over so many years selling the little carburetor pipes, but I guess I just got a lemon. They sold those little pipes in the classified sections of magazines for a half century, always temptingly reasonably priced, and usually with tobacco, a pipe tool, and pipe cleaners, if I remember.

 

[T-townrestore]

Because I didn't have a good experience with my one pipe, I couldn't figure out how Carey stayed in business over so many years selling the little carburetor pipes, but I guess I just got a lemon. They sold those little pipes in the classified sections of magazines for a half century, always temptingly reasonably priced, and usually with tobacco, a pipe tool, and pipe cleaners, if I remember.

I have not tried one yet. They are all over eBay, you know they’re pretty much a dime a dozen. I would get one to fix up, but I plan on eventually selling the ones I work on and I doubt it would sell, or at least get a return on it.
Most reviews I’ve seen about them are “Rip off that stem and just get it a regular one.”

 

[jpberg]

Find an old patent number Carey. I think they went to shit with the “Grecian Briar”.
Ive got a patent billiard (with 3M tape over the vents) that smokes pretty well.

 

[gamzultovah]

One of my friends in the scouts had a Father who always had a pipe in his mouth and we used to make jokes about his 'magic inch'

I always thought this was a curse of the Irish and not the English. Who knew???

 

[condorlover1]

Here is the E A Carey advertisement I remember.....

 

[DAR]

About a year ago I bought a Magic Inch billiard from eBay for $11 just to see what they were all about. It came with their filters and I've smoked it maybe 3 times. It isn't a bad smoker. No worse and no better than any other filtered pipe. I just don't ever smoke it. Maybe because it's nothing special compared to the rest of my pipes but not because it doesn't smoke well enough........ now, since I've been reading this thread, I'm going to load a bowl.......

 

[Briar Lee]

Here is the E A Carey advertisement I remember.....

View attachment 98013

To that ad or one about like it I sent off a request the summer of 1974 for a catalog, and bought my first Carey, a slight bent Apple I still enjoy. I have maybe a dozen more.

I pull the stingers from all my Lee pipes, I don’t put filters in any of my filter pipes, but I use the Paperite sleeve on my Carey pipes.

A similar vented pipe using a tiny hole instead of a paper sleeve is sold by Carey, named the Duncan Hill Areosphere.

I think the Magic Inch works about as advertised. Especially for a new pipe smoker, it seems to cool the smoke, and reduce gurgling. Very little air enters the smoke stream, but it seems enough to make a noticeable difference if I cover the vents with a drinking straw.

A Carey is a great change of pace, I think.

 

[jewman22]

Wouldn't say I'm a fan, mine smokes well enough but has a really cheap feel to it. I only ever run Half&Half through it, has quite a large bowl on it.

 

[Puff nstuff]

I do like mine very much; it has a nice, chunky French-made stummel. Smokes nicely with the sleeve installed.

 

[telescopes]

Will someone take a picture with the pipe in pieces?

 

[TheIronMonkey]

Will someone take a picture with the pipe in pieces?

Here you go:



The paper sleeve covers the two holes in the Magic Inch: