Estate Koncak Bent Billiard Silver Spigot

[fred]

This Pipe was available for a short bidding time. The Seller didn't know much

about Pipes, but was able to answer my questions. I got lucky because for

some reason, this Pipe didn't attract any other bidders. It was advertised as

as a 1934 Koncak. More likely it's from the 1970's. Koncak Meerschaum

Industry and Trade Company was established in 1934. I have some of Koncak's

Meerschaums that were purchased by my Father in the 1940's, that have

the Kaywoodie style metal screw connectors. This is one of the very few

Spigot Meerschaums I've seen from Koncak Meerschaums and it's in good shape.

I should have it in a few days and know for certain if it will need more than

just a clean up, but from what I've been told, it's in good repair. Sometimes

you just get lucky.
http://pipesmagazine.com/members/fred/album/picture/1038

 

[igloo]

Very nice stem work .

 

[juni]

How can it be so white if it is an estate? Did he say it was never smoked....or has some cleanup been performed on it?

 

[mlaug]

I watched this auction with some interest. I had thought the bidding would take off at the end, figuring those that knew what it was would pounce.
You got an excellent deal, Fred. I don't see any gouges or scrapes on the bowl, the stem looks good too.
I'd rather be lucky than smart.

 

[dd951]

Good job Fred, beautiful pipe

 

[fred]

Juni, the Block is this color from light use and likely, it hasn't been smoked

in years. Part of the cleanup will be to address the layer of grime that the

Block's exterior will have, prior to waxing. It will respond well to more use

and liberal waxing. Yes Mlaug, I thought that the bidding would be a frenzy in

the last moments of the auction as well... I don't have a clue as to why it ended

so well for me, as this Pipe could have easily brought higher bids.

 

[mlaug]

Well, I assumed it would be a $100 range pipe. Good for you...now go buy lottery tickets.
Regarding the clean up...How is this done, Fred?
Can one lightly sand the meer to get the decades of gouges, scars, and what all off before you wax?
I've got a '60s Fischer smooth bowl that could use a little smoothing. The sctraches aren't deep, but annoying to my anal OCD tendencies. Its hard to know what to do. On most collectibles...less is more and one would expect a 30-40 year old pipe to have some character marks.

 

[python]

Another nice pick up Fred!

 

[unclearthur]

I passed on that one Fred. I also thought the bidding would go wild. Just goes to show ya! LOL!

 

[kcvet67]

Sometimes you just get lucky. As unclearthur said, everyone else assumes the price will skyrocket and they don't bother to bid.
About two years ago I had been watching a beautiful Autograph 5 all week long on ebay. Toward the end, the bid was still only around $20. I bid $75 with 5 seconds left, expecting to be outbid. I think the neighbors could hear my shouts when the smoke cleared and I got it for $30. Any other day it would have sold around the $100 mark.

 

[fred]

I've written and compiled a lot of information on the care of Meerschaums

over the last 2 years mlaug. The collections of information gleaned over the

life of the All Things Meerschaum Group on Smoker's Forum is available to all

ATM members, currently numbering 282. My suggestion is to avail yourself of this

information, which has been saved from periodic server purges in the sticky threads.

SF membership is free and the ATM is a public group that requires no invitation

to join. It is the only group that I'm aware of that has the scope, focus and

contributions of guys like you and me who enjoy these Pipes, but Carvers, Sellers

and even Ben Rapaport. If you're interested, come and join. It is truly an

international Forum, with Moderators and a nice place to visit. There are members

here who also belong, so the 2 Forums complement each other nicely.

http://www.smokersforums.co.uk/

 

[mlaug]

Thanks Fred...going over now.

 

[juni]

I'm still quite envious over this find.
I've been coveting a pre-colored meer, but I'm not sure what this pre-coloring actually means.

 

[fred]

Juni, when you say pre-colored Meer, are you referring to a new

or previously smoked estate Pipe?

 

[fred]

I've spent the morning cleaning this one up. The previous owner didn't leave

any tooth marks on the bit, but I don't think he ever spend a cent on Pipe

cleaners. Cleaning was done with Everclear, shank brushes and a bundle of

Pipe cleaners. The derlin push/pull connector was also replaced with a new one.

I've elected to preserve as much of the patina as possible, which

isn't much, yet. I suspect that the guy held the Pipe a lot, so getting the

color to migrate to the Block's surface may take some time. Just the same,

the Block does have the patina that age brings to Meerschaum, which is

attractive to me. After wiping the Block down with Everclear & a white cotton

rag, the next step was cold waxing, followed up with a short heat treatment,

to get a good bonding of the Beeswax to the Block's surface. It will likely color

quickly, as there is ample evidence of heavy smoking, while no evidence that

it has ever been waxed after the initial finish done by the Carver. My expectation

is that the residuals of past smoking that resides in the Block will start to migrate

to the surface, with continued smoking and waxing. I'll fire it up shortly and

discover what the previous blends are that it has incinerated.

 

[krgulick]

Excellent job fred. Great pick up. I am sure after all the TLC, it'll smoke great.

 

[juni]

A brand new Altinok one. The pre-coloring looks really nice. I am very tempted to buy it: