Dating/observations re Barling Straight Grain score?

[chiefbroom]

This is my first post here. I worked in a pipe and tobacco shop over 30 years ago when I was in college, but only recently came back around to an interest. I've always loved the smell of pipe tobacco. It reminds me of WWI vets sitting on park and court-house lawn benches when I was a kid.
Being a sucker for grails, I picked up an interest in Barlings and have managed to gather a few. The one shown below is an eBay score. I didn't steal it by any means, but I think I might have done OK. The seller (who was terrific, BTW) didn't identify it as a Straight Grain, and I suspect only one other bidder knew what it was.
The light here wasn't good today, so the color is off in the photos. The finish is natural, as it should be for a Barling Straight Grain, i.e., more golden, less reddish than it appears. And the grain isn't really eye-popping, which I understand is somewhat characteristic of Barlings. But I assume whoever graded it had a good reason.
I'm basically interested in dating the pipe and learning whatever else I might here. This isn't a surreptitious offering. I have no intentions of selling the pipe.
It came in a vintage box, but the box has "5229" written on it, which I'm pretty sure this pipe isn't.
The only markings on the pipe are "Barling's" arched over "Make", above "Ye Olde Wood", above "Straight Grain", with "Made in London" over "England" on the other side of the shank. Some of the Barling cross, as shown, remains on the stem. No size or shape designation/number, no patent number. That's all.
Dimensions are as follows:
Overall length = about 6 7/16" (this includes the outer most point of the bowl, which has just a bit of rake, otherwise it would be closer to 6 1/4").
50mm chamber chamber depth
20mm chamber width at top
48mm bowl height at center (measured perpendicular to the shank)
37mm diameter at top of bowl
8.5mm rim width
Weight = 53 grams (1.85 oz.)
The pipe was smoked, but I don't think very much. I don't believe it was ever reamed. The chamber is perfectly round, with cake just beginning to form very evenly.
The stem had appears to be a Dunhill tube stinger inserted, which was immaculate and easily removed. The only real sign of wear on the pipe is to the Barling cross on the stem.
I haven't smoked the thing yet; I'm glad it's not completely pristine, so I can in good conscience.
Thanks in advance for any responses.

 

[oldtoby]

A beauty. :clap:

 

[sablebrush52]

Hi Chief,

I remember watching this one on eBay. I was sorely tempted to bid because the condition looked to be excellent, but having taken the pledge, refrained from doing so.

A couple of points to start. The box is not original to the pipe. The four digit model code on the box dates it to 1962 or later.
Your straight grain probably dates to the late 1940's or early '50's. Barling straight grain pipes never have a model number, because they are not standard production. The level of straight grain in your pipe is exceptional for a Barling. Many of the pipes stamped "straight grain" have only patches of straight grain. Yours has some nice angel hair. In terms of ranking, the "straight grain" was the top grade.
The "MADE IN LONDON" over "ENGLAND" is a stamp that I associate with pipes made from the late '30's thru early '40's, so it's interesting to see it on a post war pipe. The lack of a patent number suggests that the pipe was made after 1950, but that would suppose the stem to be original and there's no way to know whether it is. Part of Barling's customer service was stem replacement. A lot of older Barlings have factory made replacement stems. Or, the pipe might have been fitted with a stem that lacked the patent stamp. The type of "BARLING'S MAKE" logo is consistent with a pipe made from the mid 1940's thru earlly to mid 1950's.
In any event, congratulations on picking up a very nice example of a Barling straight grain. I hope that she smokes well for you.
Welcome to the forums.

 

[chiefbroom]

Thanks much for the reply.
I obviously need more time (and less Pusser's Rum) to proof-read posts here. A pipe with chamber depth exceeding bowl height probably wouldn't draw very well. Depth is 40mm, not 50mm.
I'd read other posts here regarding dating of Barlings with "Made in London" over "England" stamps. A replacement stem would serve as explanation, but although this stem has no discernible bite or polish marks, the Barling cross shows more wear than the bowl. I asked about provenance, and the eBay Seller responded that he picked up the pipe in a garage sale. Hard to imagine. But then I recently bought a mint >$500 Randall-made knife at an estate sale for $25.
Did Barling ever install Dunhill-type, tube stingers in pipes, or was that most likely an after-market addition?

 

[sablebrush52]

Did Barling ever install Dunhill-type, tube stingers in pipes, or was that most likely an after-market addition?

No, they didn't. So the stinger is an aftermarket addition. Barling did make several lines of filtered pipes, the Pipet, the Cig-Smoker, and the Tro-Tube. This pipe isn't any of those. In any event, you have a very nice pipe!

 

[chiefbroom]

What I thought. But I noticed another Pre-transition Barling on eBay with the same stinger, so wondered.
Thanks to all for the replies.

 

[recoilrob]

Can you tell me the Aprox. age of this straight Grain and if the Box is correct (it has no shape number but that looks like an 03 inside the bowl).
thanks,
Rob

 

[sablebrush52]

Wow! Looks completely unsmoked! Is there anything stamped on the underside of the stem?

 

[recoilrob]

No, nothing on the stem except the Barling's cross.
It is unsmoked, I got it about 20 years ago In NYS.

 

[sablebrush52]

Based on the type of "Barling's Make" logo, it's most likely mid 1940 thru mid 1950's piece. The chamois bag is a nice touch. They didn't offer that with all of their pipes, just their best ones. Anything written on the exterior of the box on one end? Also, on the interior side of the lid there should be s label. Take a look at the last line and tell me how many years it says they have been in business

 

[cigrmaster]

rob, if you are thinking of selling that pipe, I would like to make an offer.

 

[recoilrob]

Here are the inside lid label and the end label, 135 years +1912 = 1947? Didn't realize they changed the label annually.
Eventually it will be sold, unsmoked, but not right now.

 

[cigrmaster]

rob, you didn't even hear my offer. I was going to offer 119.99. I know you were never expecting that much but since you have the box, I thought I should throw in an extra 15 bucks.

 

[sablebrush52]

Okay, there's a chance that the box is original to the pipe as there's no model number on it and the period looks correct. The label was updated every 5 years, so this label covers a period from 1948 - 1952, which is consistent with the stampings. I'd lean toward 1950 - 1952 as there's no patent number stamped on the underside of the stem.
That's quite a treasure! Thanks for sharing it with us!

 

[recoilrob]

Thank you for the good info, I've known this is a special pipe since I took possession. I was tempted to smoke it once but thought better, I have plenty of good smoking pipes, a few pre-trans Barlings in the mix, I knew someday someone would take "curatorship".
Just curious Harris, would you light it up?
The way things seem to be going this may end up in China, the Chinese seem to buy all the old Dunhills and Barlings I list among others.

 

[cigrmaster]

rob, I most certainly would light her up. I would never buy a pipe just to look at as I believe that unless something is a museum piece, the pipe wants to be smoked. If it sat in my cabinet un-smoked, it would be miserable not fulfilling it's destiny. Is this the answer you were expecting? So far since I began collection pipes in 1997, I have yet to buy a pipe and not smoke it.

 

[recoilrob]

Didn't have an expectation, just curious.

 

[sablebrush52]

People buy pipes for different reasons. Some buy to smoke them, others buy to collect what they see as functional art, still others buy for both reasons. I'm in the last category. I smoke over 90% of what I own. The rest are for the pleasure of having. An unsmoked high grade pipe from a 100 years ago is an extreme rarity. Once it's smoked, it's just another used pipe.

 

[recoilrob]

My feelings also, but once you own it it's yours to do with what you please. I felt it had a lot going for it as a collectible, pre-trans, a bent, a straight grain, and unsmoked in the box! Couldn't ruin that, as I said I have plenty of others to smoke rather than breaking in another.....

 

[sablebrush52]

My feelings also, but once you own it it's yours to do with what you please. I felt it had a lot going for it as a collectible, pre-trans, a bent, a straight grain, and unsmoked in the box! Couldn't ruin that, as I said I have plenty of others to smoke rather than breaking in another.....

I absolutely agree. As a collectible it's A++++++++++++ for all of the reasons that you give. Once it's been smoked, it's still collectible, but at 1/2 to 1/3 what its value is unsmoked. That first bowl can be very expensive.