BBB Unbreakable Meerschaum

[jaingorenard]

Here's a new one to me, a BBB Unbreakable Meerschaum, hallmarked by Hollins & Jacques in 1889. Unfortunately it's not in amazing condition and has a replacement stem, but I bought it for next to nothing out of curiosity. I think I've seen something similar before, but have struggled to find any information in the usual sources.

I'm not sure if the metal piece in the bowl is original or something someone has added similar to the mesh screens. The stem screws straight on to a threaded piece of silver (all the same piece as the band).

 

[Chasing Embers]

Old Meerschaum Stuck Tenon :: Pipe Repair and Maintenance

I have on my way to me an old meer,according to the seller the tenon is stuck. It is likely a bone screw type and going by the pictures is ubderclocked.I would like to free it if at all possible. I wont know until I get it if the button is a round type,in which case I may just try to loosen and...

pipesmagazine.com

 

[jerry]

Interesting

 

[condorlover1]

@jaingorenard: Very nice as Borat would say! You have a pretty pre-colored BBB meerschaum pipe with what looks to be a fairly decent case. Contrary to popular rumor I am not an expert on all things 19th century meerschaum but I can tell you a few useless bits of information about the pipe. You are correct it would have had an amber stem and probably would have unscrewed in the fashion of the pipe I posted the other day that @Chasing Embers kindly posted a link too. The metal 'thing' in the bowl is very interesting and quite rare. It is the 19th century answer to the 'Philt Pad' or 'Butt Plug' that were added to meerschaum pipes to aid in coloring. For a fuller explanation to this see @Chasing Embers very useful posts on using silver washers to color your meerschaum. I have actually seen a box of these things shown in the picture at Inderwicks Pipe Shop and they dated from the early 1900s and had been found in a store room. In this case it may have been added as a way of stopping ash getting sucked into the stem or the mistaken belief that it would aid in cooling the smoke. How much did you pay for the pipe if I may be so forward as to inquire?

 

[jaingorenard]

@jaingorenard: Very nice as Borat would say! You have a pretty pre-colored BBB meerschaum pipe with what looks to be a fairly decent case. Contrary to popular rumor I am not an expert on all things 19th century meerschaum but I can tell you a few useless bits of information about the pipe. You are correct it would have had an amber stem and probably would have unscrewed in the fashion of the pipe I posted the other day that @Chasing Embers kindly posted a link too. The metal 'thing' in the bowl is very interesting and quite rare. It is the 19th century answer to the 'Philt Pad' or 'Butt Plug' that were added to meerschaum pipes to aid in coloring. For a fuller explanation to this see @Chasing Embers very useful posts on using silver washers to color your meerschaum. I have actually seen a box of these things shown in the picture at Inderwicks Pipe Shop and they dated from the early 1900s and had been found in a store room. In this case it may have been added as a way of stopping ash getting sucked into the stem or the mistaken belief that it would aid in cooling the smoke. How much did you pay for the pipe if I may be so forward as to inquire?

Very interesting - thank you! I will make sure to leave the butt plug in situ. The case is indeed in much nicer condition than most I've picked up.

I'm wondering if it once had a silver cap, as the case is very slightly taller than the bowl (that also might explain the black staining round the top - a glue of some kind? It doesn't seem like tar or char, and isn't even enough to be a deliberate stain. Either that or someone topped it slightly and did a poor job of staining the rim black).

I paid £20, and in person I'd say it's in nicer condition than it looked in the photos.

 

[jaingorenard]

Here's something I hadn't noticed. I suspect someone has been displaying it in its open case!

 

[Chasing Embers]

Here's something I hadn't noticed. I suspect someone has been displaying it in its open case!View attachment 298523

What are you seeing?

 

[jaingorenard]

What are you seeing?

Sorry, not a great photo. The fading on one side down the line of the case.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Sorry, not a great photo. The fading on one side down the line of the case.

Probably a left side clencher. The right side of all of my meerschaum pipes is darker.

 

[Chasing Embers]

May even be that the oils settle on that side while in the case.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

Absolutely brilliant, beautiful color.

 

[kcghost]

Whatever, it is a lovely pipe!!

 

[condorlover1]

@Chasing Embers : I get the same thing so you are probably right in what you are saying!

 

[simong]

A ‘reinforced’ bowl!!! Never seen that before, must be original though, hence the unbreakable name?
Definitely looks like it once had a silver cap as you say. An interesting pipe, wonder who they marketed an ‘idiot proof & unbreakable’ meerschaum for, Isle of Man? Forest of Dean? The Welsh? Surely not! Lol
More likely for the intrepid Victorian explorer or military man.

If you grow to like it, might be worth asking Peterson’s to put a new silver cap on it for you. Or Northern Briars.

 

[simong]

@Chasing Embers : I get the same thing so you are probably right in what you are saying!

You ever get a ‘straight as a dye’ difference like his though?

Left open on display & bleached by sunlight, got to be no?

 

[jaingorenard]

You ever get a ‘straight as a dye’ difference like his though?
View attachment 298568
Left open on display & bleached by sunlight, got to be no?

I must admit that's still my conclusion, I can't see tars going to one side straight as an arrow like that.

 

[jaingorenard]

If you grow to like it, might be worth asking Peterson’s to put a new silver cap on it for you. Or Northern Briars.

That is a really good idea!

 

[jaingorenard]

@condorlover1 there is a patent number on the bowl insert, partially obscured. I'll see if I can clean it up and find out some more information.

 

[condorlover1]

@jaingorenard: It is the earlier version of the little mesh wire baskets that came along during or just after WW1. I have a bag of the things that @simong gave me on a visit to the States last year when we did the cross country drive to pick up all the late @weezel tobacco and donate it to the P.A Pipe Club! Here is a picture of one....

 

[condorlover1]

@jaingorenard : As an after thought I am wondering whether the pipe had (a) a silver rim (b) or got chipped and the owner had it topped thus explaining the gap in the case. I have a couple that seem to have suffered that fate.