Cumberland Pipes

[jaytex1969]

Please educate me on the word Cumberland, as it pertains to pipes.
I've seen the word used to describe stems and pipes in general.
What is it? Pros & cons? Facts & opinions?
Thanks.

 

[mso489]

There are experts who can break this down with precision. As best I know, Cumberland stems are a certain variety of Vulcanite and similar material that is usually a dark brown with a kind of grain-like pattern, and of course there are acrylic imitations which, while not real Cumberland, are fetching. As a separate matter, Dunhill has a long standing series called Cumberlands that have a distinct finish. I like the acrylic Cumberland imposture stems because they are handsome and so easy to maintain.

 

[Chasing Embers]

The name "Cumberland" came from the Dunhill line that featured brindle stems. The stems usually are swirled red and black ebonite that resembles woodgrain. In recent years more colors have been made available, but have also retained the name Cumberland as that is one of their origins, though the stem design itself is brindle.

 

[Chasing Embers]

No real pros and cons to ebonite/vulcanite, just a different color option.

 

[jaytex1969]

Excellent. Thanks!

 

[Chasing Embers]

My favorite stem material.

 

[agnosticpipe]

Another example of a brindle stem are the pipes made by Ashton called Brindle. (duh) The brindle they use is sometimes quite an interesting variation of a vulcanite stem. They might be a love it or hate it type of stem though.

 

[Chasing Embers]

They might be a love it or hate it type of stem though.

No doubt there. Very eccentric!

 

[agnosticpipe]

Wow Duane, that one might give the Peterson Dracula pipe a run for the money!

 

[Chasing Embers]

Is it sad that I'm thinking about buying that?

 

[npod]

A “Cumberland Pipe” is just a pipe with a Cumberland or “Brindle” vulcanite stem. The stem denotes the pipe name and not the stummel.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Unless you're speaking of Dunhill where the line was actually called Cumberland.