Earl of Essex Pipe

[tuold]

I received this Earl of Essex pipe from ebay yesterday and will be doing just a bit of clean-up tonight on it.
First, I had never heard of this pipe name before even though now that I've searched they seem to be fairly common on pipe auction sites. There was a brief discussion here on these forums and a mention of a relationship between Custom-Bilt and Earl of Essex was implied. I'm not sure if that relationship was that these pipes were made by Custom-Bilt after Tracy Mincer lost control of the brand or if it's just a copy.
What had attracted me to this pipe was the shape, a sort of square, bent Rhodesian of some type? I was pleased to see that it arrived squeaky clean inside and out. All it needs is a good polishing.

 

[settersbrace]

Very nice shape. I'd almost call it a panel? Looks kind of squared off. Hope it's a good burner and I like the nice thick walls.

 

[mso489]

I'd call it a bent pot, maybe a bent pot panel -- I can't quite see the bowl configuration. Nice hefty

pipe. I don't see much Rhodesian in the shape.

 

[tuold]

Here it is post-polish and pipe cleaners. Its only flaw, as far as I'm concerned, is the charring on the rim. The rest is pretty good for 50 year-old pipe picked up on ebay for $8.99.
mso489, a "bent pot panel" is good enough for me. I'll be firing it up tonight.

 

[disinformatique]

Buff the rim with some carnuba a few times after cleaning it with a Q tip and some of your saliva :D

 

[danielplainview]

Nice resto. I have an Earl of Essex meerschaum lined bulldog/ push stem. Tis a champion smoker. I was quite surprised at the quality of an unknown brand such as this. I've never seen another until your post.

 

[tuold]

Here's an "unbent" version of the same pipe of ebay:
Earl of Essex Pipe
A day and a half left on the auction and no bids. Poor thing.