Hey
Does anyone know if in Ireland in Late 1860s did they smoke Briar pipes?
Does anyone know if in Ireland in Late 1860s did they smoke Briar pipes?
Briar Pipes - Ireland - Late 1860s
- Thread starter MC43.
- Start date
I would guess that all tobacco was smoked in clay pipes afore briar root became the norm for pipes no matter where you were geographically.
As for when briar pipes made it into Ireland, perhaps looking at trade directories might shed some light as these were published annually.
Jay.
There are quite a few resources available in print and online regarding the history of pipe making. Briar pipes most commonly trace their historical origins to St. Claude, France in or around the mid-1850's.
The Kapp brothers formally established a pipe business in Dublin in 1866. They are first listed as sellers of meerschaum pipes, but by 1876 when Charles Peterson joined the team they were well into production of briar pipes. Prior to the Kapp & Peterson pipes, most Irishmen would've used clay or bog oak pipes as those were the materials most readily available for pipe making as Briar is not native to Ireland.
Hope that helps answer your question. I've put a couple links below that you might find to be interesting reads.
History of the Peterson Pipe
The Advent of the Briar Pipe
A Brief History of Irish Pipes
Al Pacia.com - Detailed History of PIpes & Tobacco (Several Part Series)
The Kapp brothers formally established a pipe business in Dublin in 1866. They are first listed as sellers of meerschaum pipes, but by 1876 when Charles Peterson joined the team they were well into production of briar pipes. Prior to the Kapp & Peterson pipes, most Irishmen would've used clay or bog oak pipes as those were the materials most readily available for pipe making as Briar is not native to Ireland.
Hope that helps answer your question. I've put a couple links below that you might find to be interesting reads.
History of the Peterson Pipe
The Advent of the Briar Pipe
A Brief History of Irish Pipes
Al Pacia.com - Detailed History of PIpes & Tobacco (Several Part Series)
I'm curious what the oldest date-hallmarked briar is that anyone here has seen (from any maker). K&P were the the first Dublin shop to make briar pipes, and it remained that way until at least the late 1800's. There was at least one shop selling pipes made by British pipe-makers, as early as 1891, but it wasn't that common from what I can tell.
No they used hollowed out potatoes and reeds for stems. Much easier to carve than briar or even meerschaum.
Just worth adding to the above that many Irish men and women (and British men and women) would have continued using clays well into the beginning half of the 1900s, especially the working class.
Presumably there were also other briar pipe distributers and makers besides Peterson (although admittedly I'm struggling to think of any).
Presumably there were also other briar pipe distributers and makers besides Peterson (although admittedly I'm struggling to think of any).
Going through my spreadsheet, the earliest date-hallmarked briar I have is an 1896 Peterson that I recently acquired. I have some briars that I suspect are 1880's, but don't have date hallmarks.
Great - now I have another white whale to look for
Great - now I have another white whale to look for
I've got briars hallmarked in the 1880s and one from the 1870s (not a Pete).Going through my spreadsheet, the earliest date-hallmarked briar I have is an 1896 Peterson that I recently acquired. I have some briars that I suspect are 1880's, but don't have date hallmarks.
Great - now I have another white whale to look for
Well, you know the forum rule: pics or it didn't happen!
Here's one 1880s one, I will dig out some others tomorrowWell, you know the forum rule: pics or it didn't happen!
My earliest hallmarked briar is 1882.
I’ve read ads recommending Vulcanite for use in the manufacture of stems for briar pipes dating to 1853.
I’ve read ads recommending Vulcanite for use in the manufacture of stems for briar pipes dating to 1853.
They started in London, and didn't wind up in Ireland until 1874.
Here is a BBB that appears to be hallmarked in 1876. Although having pulled this one out again, I'm a little confused by it. Simply because to me I would think it was later based on style, style of the case etc. I will try and look into the 'Sharman's Patent'.Well, you know the forum rule: pics or it didn't happen!
Of interest or maybe of no interest at all to today's ladies, but up until the first World war, pipes & specifically clay pipes were quite the norm among the women folk. Ladies seen smoking cigarettes were regarded as 'a bit racy' or 'sluttish'. That all changed with the huge growth & expansion of the tobacco houses, post ww1. Damned shame if you ask me, the gals of the roaring 20's with their bullcap pipes, dresses and hats, certainly had a certain style. Alas, not even the finest tobaccos back then could match the ease & addictive qualities of the cigarette.
Just to add that the above is not a personal opinion but one gathered reading about the social history of the day.
Yeah, the hallmark should be oval and it should have the queen hallmark as well. Don't know what that means.
True, although it's not unheard of to have odd cartouches or some missing stamps (3 rather than 4).