Information on Possible Knockoff in SIM Case

[Strandsbeachlocal]

Hello,
I was hoping to draw on the vast knowledge base in the forum to find out what’s going on with this pipe. It was purchased knowing fully that something was off. Not even sure if it’s going to be smoked, just collecting oddball pipes is fun at the right price. Regardless it’s clearly been smoked previously, and wanted to know if this was possibly made to look older. For starters the stem is clearly not amber, and there are some strange goings on with the texture of the pipe and color. I am also assuming it’s not a SIM meerschaum but could be wrong, I really don’t know.

 

[cshubhra]

I am not into old Meerschaum but to my best of abilities I think this is a older Meerschaum pipe with Redmanol stem. The stummel may be colored by Oxblood.

@ashdigger has a similar pipe to the best of my knowledge.

@weezell and @condorlover1 are experts on vintage Meerschaum- they might chime in as well.

 

[anotherbob]

I am not into old Meerschaum but to my best of abilities I think this is a older Meerschaum pipe with Redmanol stem. The stummel may be colored by Oxblood.

@ashdigger has a similar pipe to the best of my knowledge.

@weezell and @condorlover1 are experts on vintage Meerschaum- they might chime in as well.

seriously the one time we need them and where the heck are they??

 

[mikethompson]

They have been summoned. Now we wait.

 

[ssjones]

I'm familiar with SMS meerschaum pipes but not SIM.

 

[condorlover1]

Nice! Let me eat my breakfast I will then pontificate all you like about your pipe!

 

[condorlover1]

What you have here is a rather nice early 20th century meerschaum pipe. I am not familiar with the maker but there were so many pipes that were made to go into store 'badged' cases. The Redmanol stem would put the pipe between 1913-1922 since the Redmanol company was folded into the Bakelite Company and effectively became defunct in 1922. That is not to say that Redmanol stems were not made after 1922 but what some Ebay sellers describe a 'cherry' amber are actually Redmanol stems from old stock. The stem has a highly predictable bone/ish type of tenon which should be set in the shank and then unscrewed from the stem. Do not try and remove from the stem as you will obliterate a half way decent stem, that being said screwing and unscrewing the stem into the shank will destroy the threads and give you the 'string in a bucket' effect. If the stem does not line up use a couple of paper spacers purchased from your local stationary store. Turning to the pipe you have a pre-colored or pre-stained meerschaum pipe. These were done with Iron Oxide paste also known in the trade as Ox Blood and then baked in an oven with bees wax, polished and delivered to the consumer. That is about as much as I can say on this subject and I hope it is of some help.

 

[ssjones]

What is a SIM meerschaum?

 

[jpmcwjr]

No idea other than a guess it's a maker.

The Condor gave a great report!

 

[condorlover1]

A pipe that also doubles as cellphone card?

 

[ssjones]

Ok, I assume that's a typo by the OP.

 

[kcghost]

Conder really delivered for us because I had no clue.

 

[paulfg]

What is a SIM meerschaum?

SIM is the name on the inside of the case,I assume either maker or seller

That said I havent heard of them before

 

[Strandsbeachlocal]

SIM is the name on the inside of the case,I assume either maker or seller

That said I havent heard of them before

This is correct, here is a more detail photo of the case logo.

My reason for bringing up the stain is the appearance of applied after use, or post manufacture of the pipe (scratches). Sorry for the photo quality, but the included picture tries to show marks that were stained over as the surface is generally smooth where they are located.

 

[Strandsbeachlocal]

What you have here is a rather nice early 20th century meerschaum pipe. I am not familiar with the maker but there were so many pipes that were made to go into store 'badged' cases. The Redmanol stem would put the pipe between 1913-1922 since the Redmanol company was folded into the Bakelite Company and effectively became defunct in 1922. That is not to say that Redmanol stems were not made after 1922 but what some Ebay sellers describe a 'cherry' amber are actually Redmanol stems from old stock. The stem has a highly predictable bone/ish type of tenon which should be set in the shank and then unscrewed from the stem. Do not try and remove from the stem as you will obliterate a half way decent stem, that being said screwing and unscrewing the stem into the shank will destroy the threads and give you the 'string in a bucket' effect. If the stem does not line up use a couple of paper spacers purchased from your local stationary store. Turning to the pipe you have a pre-colored or pre-stained meerschaum pipe. These were done with Iron Oxide paste also known in the trade as Ox Blood and then baked in an oven with bees wax, polished and delivered to the consumer. That is about as much as I can say on this subject and I hope it is of some help.

Thank you for the great information condorlover1.

 

[condorlover1]

Fairly standard type of 'stain job' for a low priced commercial meerschaum. Pre 1918 most Austrian meerschaums would have featured the double headed eagle in the case. After 1918 the interest would have been to produce an item that could be exported for hard currency since the Austrian Schilling would have been toilet paper at that time due to hyper inflation and the breakup of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. These cheaper types of pipes were beautifully stained to hide the low quality of the meerschaum used and as such colored unevenly during the staining process. I have seen some lovely examples on here over the years and I sold one to Sheldon in CA about 10 years ago that was a better quality Austrian Ox Blood. Interestingly the pre 1914 Ox Bloods have an Aubergine hue to them and this can be seen on the inverted 'cutty' that appears at 3 o'clock on group rotation picture below. For some reason after 1918 the Austrians seemed to produce pipes in a mahogany hue - also known as post Imperial 'sh*t' color. I think Weezell might have a couple of examples kicking around, although we both prefer to color our pipes from scratch by smoking them.

 

[condorlover1]

Here is one from the above group that has been smoked and colored without the aid of a coloring agent.

 

[Strandsbeachlocal]

Here is one from the above group that has been smoked and colored without the aid of a coloring agent.

View attachment 114154

100% in agreement with natural coloring being more desirable, that is a beautiful cutty.
That’s a great point about the pipe quality pointing to probably being from post breakup. And this is working with the time period of redmanol stem. Thank you for the great history lesson and adding to my appreciation of the pipe.

 

[condorlover1]

Always glad to be of any assistance!

 

[Ahi Ka]

Fairly standard type of 'stain job' for a low priced commercial meerschaum. Pre 1918 most Austrian meerschaums would have featured the double headed eagle in the case. After 1918 the interest would have been to produce an item that could be exported for hard currency since the Austrian Schilling would have been toilet paper at that time due to hyper inflation and the breakup of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. These cheaper types of pipes were beautifully stained to hide the low quality of the meerschaum used and as such colored unevenly during the staining process. I have seen some lovely examples on here over the years and I sold one to Sheldon in CA about 10 years ago that was a better quality Austrian Ox Blood. Interestingly the pre 1914 Ox Bloods have an Aubergine hue to them and this can be seen on the inverted 'cutty' that appears at 3 o'clock on group rotation picture below. For some reason after 1918 the Austrians seemed to produce pipes in a mahogany hue - also known as post Imperial 'sh*t' color. I think Weezell might have a couple of examples kicking around, although we both prefer to color our pipes from scratch by smoking them.

View attachment 114153

In this pic, the white one directly above the inverted aubergine cutty, has that just seen less smoking or is it too finished in a way that will not colour?