Hilson Fantasia

[majilton]

i recently purchased a Hilson Fantasia i know nothing about these pipes it looks like a bakerlite material and inside a meerschaum insert looking at the pipe it looks really strange but i like the look of it i havent smoked it yet im still trying to work out how to clean it.Does anyone know the history of this pipe its quiet heavy for its size.And what is the quality i am also thinking what tobbacco for this

 

[shaintiques]

Post up a pic, There are lots of relatively unknown pipes out there, but lts of info too. A pic will help the guys track it down, thus help you.

 

[mluyckx]

LOL.
I just went around looking for Hilson history and have posted some here and there. I'll write a longer article on it soon.
Best site thus far (although not complete) is this one: http://www.tecon-gmbh.de/info_pages.php?pages_id=70
The Hilson Fantasia is indeed made of an outside plastic bakelite shell with a meerschaum liner. I don't have one but what I've read seems to indicate people like them. Since I don't have one, I'm no help either in how to clean them ;-)
Good luck
Edit: here's a pic of one, but they seem to come in many different colors

 

[majilton]

wow mick thanks for the link the photo is the same exact pipe i have design and everything i just think its a nice pipe im hoping once cleaned it will smoke ok

 

[cacooper]

Greetings,
Sorry to hear about your purchasing a Hilson Fantasia . I bought one back in the mid '70's when Hilson first came out with them. Frankly, one of the worst pipes I have ever owned. The Ebonite bowl does not absorb any moisture, so the Meerschaum liner gets soaked quickly, and becomes soft. It eventually fell out in chunks, rendering the pipe useless. Not very much forethought went into the design. Smoke yours carefully and infrequently. Avoid digging out any remaining dottle with a pipe tool. In other words, be gentle.
The Fantasia is typical of the 1970's "Psychedelic" era. Funny thing, Hilson (Belgium) went out of business shortly after releasing the Fantasia to the world. Coincidence? Who knows.
My first factory pipe was a Hilson "Mardi-Gras" (a second). I still have it and over the years I've collected several Hilson briar pipes. Truth be told, Hilson pipes were average smokers at best, nothing extraordinary. But I still look for old Belgian made Hilson pipes on Ebay! But NO Fantasias!
Anyway, good luck with your Fantasia. Remember, smoke it easy.
CACooper

 

[papipeguy]

Here you go.
http://www.pipephil.eu/logos/en/logo-h2.html

 

[mluyckx]

CACooper: nice !
Can you let me know which Hilsons you have and perhaps send me some pics ? I'm building a reference on Hilson/Albertson pipes since there's so little to be found out there. I'll mention credit on the pipe pictures ;-)

 

[majilton]

Thanks for the advice CA it looks like ive got a duck egg really but i got two pipes with this one that im happy with a kaywoodie and a gbd 1970s Gbd so ill leave the hilson alone a while And clean up my ropps i love these pipes. Mick i would love to see the reference once its up i couldnot find anything much about them.Will i get another hilson probebly yes but a briar i think if one comes up and take CA advice :puffpipe:

 

[majilton]

im still not clear how to clean the meersham bowl on this pipe i suppose itll be nice as a show piece

 

[jcsnaps]

I first bought a Fantasia back in the 70's, mostly cause it was really cool looking. I smoked it thru college and then the pipes went away for a while. When I started up with pipes again I looked for some old friends and bought another Fantasia. It is small, I don't smoke it often, but like to try new things in it because the meer bowl provides an impartial smoke. I clean it gently after smoking by wiping the bowl clean, usually a paper towel works well and use pipe cleaners gently down the shank and stem, like you would any meer. Perhaps the long rests between use gives the meer a chance to dry completely. I see a lot of Hilson pipes on ebay, right now someone is asking $199 for a Fantasia, I think that may be a bit much.

 

[nsfisher]

thats too bad cause its definitely a nice lookin pipe. How did it turn out for u mate, did u smoke it yet??

 

[majilton]

I Havent smoked it yet ive cleaned the inside of the bowl using a little water and a paper towel.I didnot want to chance alcahol on the insert incase it starts to crack the bowl. i did quiet well because i only paid 19 uk pounds for the 3 pipes.But the ebay seller didnot know what she had it was a woman so i think i got a ok deal.I will try it out and let everyone know what i think.I noticed my only complaint is the pipe stem into the bowl is quite loose