Inherited Pipes

[WVOldFart]

Part of what we enjoy about pipe smoking deals with the history of pipe smoking and the past. Some have had pipes given to them from fathers or grandfathers. That is such a blessing to have such a piece of family history. Do Forum members have inherited pipes, what condition are they in and do you still use them?

 

[That Guy]

Part of what we enjoy about pipe smoking deals with the history of pipe smoking and the past. Some have had pipes given to them from fathers or grandfathers. That is such a blessing to have such a piece of family history. Do Forum members have inherited pipes, what condition are they in and do you still use them?

Briefly had my grandfather's pipe collection when I was young and didnt know anything about pipes. Tried to smoke one and of course I had no idea what I was doing and it wasn't very enjoyable so like an idiot I sold them off. Would love to be able to track them back down and have them again but I don't have any pictures or info on them.

 

[kcghost]

Unfortunately, my dad and grandfather never smoked pipes and my mothers people all died off or were non-smokers.

 

[Chasing Embers]

So far, I'm the only family smoker going back two generations.

 

[WVOldFart]

Unfortunately, my dad and grandfather never smoked pipes and my mothers people all died off or were non-smokers.

My one Grandfather chain smoked cigarettes, my other Grandfather smoked cigarettes and cigars, my Uncle smoked cigars and my Dad smoked cigarettes briefly, so no inherited pipes for me.

 

[Call Me Late]

The first memory of a pipe that I have is of my great grandfathers pipe. It is a billiard and I can still picture it sitting on the trim above the stairway at my grandparents house. I remember putting in my mouth at one point, it wasn’t too pleasant as a kid haha. At some point it went missing. I know it’s somewhere in the house but I can’t search for it as my grandmothers house has been locked since she went into a home with dementia. If I ever get a chance to I’ll scouring the house and claim it.

 

[STP]

I have a few from my grandfather and father. All Italian briars, but nothing special… except to me. I have a couple of their Zippos, tampers, and tobacco pouches as well ?

 

[Kal]

My grandfather smoked 1 pipe until it was tossed, then bought another at a drug store and repeated every few years.
He was the only one who smoked a pipe that I remember.
But I did get his old 10 Guage long tom shotgun.

 

[Stompthroat]

I have a special distant relative on my wife's side of the family that has a few pipes, but when he passes away I don't think I'd be in line to get them. Although, I probably should ask so they just don't throw them away!!!

On a related note, how many really great pipe collections do you think were just tossed in the trash by family who didn't have a clue?

 

[WVOldFart]

My grandfather smoked 1 pipe until it was tossed, then bought another at a drug store and repeated every few years.
He was the only one who smoked a pipe that I remember.
But I did get his old 10 Guage long tom shotgun.

Back in the day, that was the way it was done. Why have a lot of pipes because you could only smoke one at a time. The many pipes that we think we have to have today would have been considered excessive and unnecessary.

 

[anotherbob]

Back in the day, that was the way it was done. Why have a lot of pipes because you could only smoke one at a time. The many pipes that we think we have to have today would have been considered excessive and unnecessary.

I don't think that's true at all. I think just like now some pipe smokers have one pipe and some have collections of various sizes. There is a lot of evidence of people collecting pipes pretty much going back to the post clay period. The whole time I've been aware of pipes I've seen both types of pipe smokers. Owns one till it breaks and why would any one person have so many darn pipes that they can't even get around to smoke more then once a year.
Though the internet has probably changed the percentage of smokers that have a collection. I know before the internet really became a main stay of daily life and you had to rely on what you could get locally or during travels (mainly) one was less likely to run into another pipe they just had to have. I know when I started it the local shop had many nice pipes but not an insane selection and it was rarer to see something that really stood out from the others and when there was it was usually priced way too high for me to afford at the time.

 

[didimauw]

I have my great grandfather's Linkman's Grabow. I had sent it in to have it refurbished, and was told the stinger was seized to itself. They got it out, but the threaded part was then basically destroyed and lost somewhere from there to here. I don't know if someone can re insert the male threaded part that would "screw" into the wood shank.

So right now it's in worse shape than when I got it. It's currently just taped together hanging on my garage wall. I'd love to have it fixed if not much money.

 

[mso489]

I do have a wonderful old walnut circular pipe rack with an amber colored tobacco jar in the middle that belonged to my paternal grandfather and then to my father. My dad smoked from age 15 to 65, when he quit cold turkey for a second career job on a campus. He smoked only one pipe at a time until burnout. I think he inherited his dad's pipes, and burnt them out. I had an uncle who I suspect smoked high end pipes, but I couldn't presume to ask my cousins, his kids, if they have any of his pipes. That would be tacky, and unkind.

 

[Streeper541]

I inherited my grandfather's pipes. I had them professionally restored and use all but three of them. I gave one to a very close friend of mine when he took up the pipe.

(One briar has a cracked bowl, the meershaum is burnt through the bottom, and I've always been a little bit too nervous to play with the delicate ceramic Tyolean.)

 

[username]

I have one of my uncles cobs but that’s about it. I wish I had asked him what blend he smoked when I had the chance but I was a kid when he died.

 

[WVOldFart]

He smoked only one pipe at a time until burnout.

That's what many of the pipe smokers in our area use to do. The pipe was a functional tool to be used on a daily basis. When it was broken, just like any other tool, you got another.

 

[WVOldFart]

I inherited my grandfather's pipes. I had them professionally restored and use all but three of them. I gave one to a very close friend of mine when he took up the pipe.

(One briar has a cracked bowl, the meershaum is burnt through the bottom, and I've always been a little bit too nervous to play with the delicate ceramic Tyolean.)

What's nice is that at least you have some part of your family's history.

 

[telescopes]

I have a few:

A Medico with silver overlay
A Bent Willard
A WDC Wellington Giant
A Cherry Wood Churchwarden best fit for a Hillbilly

 

[OzPiper]

On a related note, how many really great pipe collections do you think were just tossed in the trash by family who didn't have a clue?

No pipe smokers in my family unless you count the one granduncle who was fond of opium. ?

Both my sons don't smoke, so they will be very unlikely to want any of my pipes - not that it is a "great" collection. Instructions will have to be left so my wife does not use them to fire up the BBQ or outdoor fire-pit.

 

[bullet08]

Generations of smokers. But the all smoked cigarettes.