Is "Glasschaum" just another name for meerschaum? (Mystery blue dot pipe)

[EchoPlex]

This oddball was in a large lot of pipes I bought at an antique store. On one side of the shank we have "Sterling BAND" and the other, "Glasschaum BOWL". The tarnished band itself is hallmarked and marked "Sterling". The bowl is lined with what I presume to be pressed meerschaum, but I'm wondering what, exactly, "Glasschaum" is? First time encountering the term! Hopefully glasschaum is not some asbetos glass/meer mix because I would smoke this pipe after restoring it if it were a safe material. The liner is in good, relatively clean condition with just some chipping around the rim and looks generally good to smoke. Any tips on cleaning the liner up a bit would be appreciated. Also, any ideas on the maker? Some research pulled up Wally Frank or Gordon as possibilities, but no smoking gun. Thanks for the help!

 

[Scottmi]

i would presume a ceramic/porcelain bowl insert with that name.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Appears to be some sort of artificial material.

 

[Sigmund]

Foam glass - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Glasschaum

Glasschaumschotter, Glasschaumplatten und Randdämmschalung - jetzt bei Egginger Naturbaustoffe kaufen! Gute Beratung ✓ Lieferung ✓ Für Altbau und Neubau!

egginger-naturbaustoffe.de

That is how it translates. If you are using chrome you can rt click on the german article and translate it.

 

[mikethompson]

I think I agree with the above posters, definitely some kind of engineered material. Interesting pipe though, I've never heard of glassschaum before.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

From my research, it appears to be an asbestos based lining. I would not smoke it, or mess with it at all. Your pipe is likely a Knickerbocker Pipe Co pipe, they used Glasschaum pretty heavily during WWII in "Mountain Briar" pipes to prevent rapid burnout.

 

[Sigmund]

Rusty is probably right. I wouldnt even distrub that coating or look at it funny.

 

[EchoPlex]

From my research, it appears to be an asbestos based lining. I would not smoke it, or mess with it at all. Your pipe is likely a Knickerbocker Pipe Co pipe, they used Glasschaum pretty heavily during WWII in "Mountain Briar" pipes to prevent rapid burnout.

That was exactly my biggest fear. Well shoot, here I was sniffing the bowl when I first got it and rubbing my finger around... Too bad, because the pipe has some halfway decent grain and I was kind of excited to clean it up. But glad I asked first!

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

That was exactly my biggest fear. Well shoot, here I was sniffing the bowl when I first got it and rubbing my finger around... Too bad, because the pipe has some halfway decent grain and I was kind of excited to clean it up. But glad I asked first!

That little exposure is minimal, I wouldn't worry about to much. If you want to clean up the outside of the pipe and send me pictures I'd love to add it to the Knickerbocker pipedia page.

Knickerbocker Pipe Co. - Pipedia

pipedia.org

 

[EchoPlex]

That little exposure is minimal, I wouldn't worry about to much. If you want to clean up the outside of the pipe and send me pictures I'd love to add it to the Knickerbocker pipedia page.

Knickerbocker Pipe Co. - Pipedia

pipedia.org

I would, but now I'm scared of it haha. It's in a ziplock bag waiting for tyvek suits and abatement... j/k, but seriously, I'm scared to touch it now.