Is it a repair band off a donor pipe. I’ve seen that with old pipes.
Example I have a Comoy Sutliff of San Francisco that has an Orlik band dating it to 1919.
That’s too early for that pipe. Not to mention different companies
Help: Old Meerschaum "Hawkbill" w/ Orific Bit and Threaded Bowl
- Thread starter Humblepipe
- Start date
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Example I have a Comoy Sutliff of San Francisco that has an Orlik band dating it to 1919.
That’s too early for that pipe. Not to mention different companies
It's not a hawkbill and never was. The Birmingham date mark is for 1861. The shape is a classic Captain Warren.
I have never dealt with pipes or hallmarks that old. Is it common for there to be no mounters mark, and the use of the stamp “sterling” at that time? I see that most frequently on mid-century export (to USA) stuff.
I do not see any sign of a repair. However, someone with exceptional skills could shortened the shank and added a longer stem? I don't know, it looks all orginal to my eyes.
Repair or decoration or original, I’m not making a judgement here bro. That call
is out of my league. But the band does look bigger than the end of the shank and the stem does look smaller where it connects.
Makers' marks go back to the 14th century at least, but it wasn't obligatory. It's not common to see the word "sterling" stamped on a hallmarked band as it's a bit of a tautology, but it's not unheard of either.
In any event, font and cartouche are consistent with the 1850's and '60's for Birmingham
@simong : Didn't some associate of Abberlines have copy of book on the Whitechapel Murders where Abberline wrote some comments on the margins about who he thought the Ripper was and he mentions Kosminski as the preferred suspect. Apparently his walking stick had a carved ivory handle featuring a figural head which many said was the Ripper but turned out to actually be Dr. Ostrog who was another suspect in the case. It is all very circumstantial with the passing of time gets ever so muddled.
I am at work, but will take a good look when I get home tonight. I am open to this possibility.
Nothing written down by abberline, as far as I recall. His partner in the ripper investigation ‘George Godley’ later on arrested & convicted one ‘George Chapman’ who was a polish immigrant formerly known as Severin Klowoski (or something like that). He was a strong suspect in the original investigation but was later hanged for murders unrelated. When Godley had him convicted the then retired abberline was ‘reputed’ to have said something like ‘congratulations George, you got the ripper at last!’ But that is pure hearsay & conjecture, according to the better informed ‘ripperologists’ .
As you say it’s all very muddled & with the original case files & evidence lost to the blitz in the war, the only concrete thing we can say is we’ll never know!
No photos sadly exist of your pipes original & celebrated owner but here’s what he apparently looked like.
Abberline
Chapman / Klowoski…..was it him? (Looks a rum sort of chap!)
Sir Charles / Captain Warren (at the time of the boer war…alas no pipe!)
