Help ID'ing Fifth Avenue Cigar Store Billiard

[ChippewaAce]

Hey all - I'm having a tough time finding much information on this Billiard (at least I'm pretty sure it's a billiard, though I've been smoking for years, I'm new to ID'ing pipe shapes).

It's marked "Fifth Avenue Cigar Store" on one side and "Made in England" on the other. It has some beautiful grain and I'm sure would look even better restored. It doesn't draw extremely well, though I think that may be due in part to the stinger installed, which doesn't seem to want to be easily extracted.

From what little I've found online, a couple folks seem to think that it's a Dunhill made for a "Fifth Avenue Cigar Store", perhaps in NYC? Would love to hear the experts thoughts and knowledge here! Thank you all for your time!

 

[dmcmtk]

I don't think it's a Dunhill. Hard to tell without a shape number. I know I've seen that stinger before, just don't remember from what maker.

 

[ChippewaAce]

I don't think it's a Dunhill. Hard to tell without a shape number. I know I've seen that stinger before, just don't remember from what maker.

Ok cool, I appreciate that insight. Are stinger shapes typically good indicators of the maker?

 

[anotherbob]

yeah doesn't strike me as a Dunhil. I always feel kind of cold to dunhills. This seems like a generally fine pipe to me so probably not a dunhil. You never know though sometimes a pipe is made by that last person you suspect.

 

[Ahi Ka]

My guess would be Orlik. Similar COM stamp, and some of their stingers had a spiral thing going on

 

[dmcmtk]

Ok cool, I appreciate that insight. Are stinger shapes typically good indicators of the maker?

They certainly can be. A trick on getting stingers out is to put a pipe cleaner through one of the holes at the top (assuming it has one) and wrap the pipe cleaner around the stinger to get more of a grip and turn it counter clockwise. It most likely is screw fitted. Some alcohol can be dripped in from the slot if needed. Recently removed a Sasieni Old England stinger with the pipe cleaner trick, I was surprised how relatively easy it came out.

 

[ChippewaAce]

yeah doesn't strike me as a Dunhil. I always feel kind of cold to dunhills. This seems like a generally fine pipe to me so probably not a dunhil. You never know though sometimes a pipe is made by that last person you suspect.

Haha gotcha! Man I've had it for quite a while because I really like the shape!

 

[ChippewaAce]

My guess would be Orlik. Similar COM stamp, and some of their stingers had a spiral thing going on

Ok right on. I've just started to do a bit of stinger research online as well, could lead to more info -

 

[Ahi Ka]

Haha gotcha! Man I've had it for quite a while because I really like the shape!

Is the rim flat or does it bevel in towards the chamber?

 

[ChippewaAce]

They certainly can be. A trick on getting stingers out is to put a pipe cleaner through one of the holes at the top (assuming it has one) and wrap the pipe cleaner around the stinger to get more of a grip and turn it counter clockwise. It most likely is screw fitted. Some alcohol can be dripped in from the slot if needed. Recently removed a Sasieni Old England stinger with the pipe cleaner trick, I was surprised how relatively easy it came out.

10-4! I've started to do a little more reading on stingers, so we'll see what might turn up. That's a great tip about getting one out, I'll give it a go and see if it smokes better without it if I can get it out!

 

[ChippewaAce]

Is the rim flat or does it bevel in towards the chamber?

Perfectly flat -

 

[ChippewaAce]

Not sure if this will help at all, but here's a view from the top of the bowl -

 

[Ahi Ka]

Not sure if this will help at all, but here's a view from the top of the bowl -

Should clean up nicely bro

 

[ChippewaAce]

Should clean up nicely bro

Thanks, I think so too!

 

[OzPiper]

Not wishing to be pedantic but it is more pot than billiard

 

[ChippewaAce]

Not wishing to be pedantic but it is more pot than billiard

No worries, like I said, I'm newer at this aspect of pipes, so any input is welcome! I guess I was thinking because of it's height that it was a billiard -

 

[ChippewaAce]

Brief update for those interested. The draw on this pipe has always been a bit tight, so I while attempting to remove the stinger, the stinger snapped in half, so I filed what was left down and it now smokes like a dream!

 

[jeremiah]

The shape looks a great deal like a Sasieni Moorgate. Sasieni made a ton of seconds and shop pipes.

 

[Mr.Mike]

Not wishing to be pedantic but it is more pot than billiard

+1

 

[Mr.Mike]

Shame the original stinger couldn't be preserved but glad to hear it smokes better now. That's all that matters!