Looking at Old Meerschaum Pipes

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

Is there anything that could be done to make these old meers smokeable, like the ones you'll see on ebay?

Would they taste as bad as it looks like they would?

Here's an example of the kind of pipe I'm talking about.

ANTIQUE MEERSCHAUM PIPE W/ CASE Late 1800s | eBay

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0;">Estate sale find. </p> <p dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0;">Late 1800s, early 1900s. </p> <p dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0;">Case has some worn areas, see pics</p> <br>

www.ebay.com

 

[didimauw]

As far as I can tell, based on past experiments, you'd treat that pipe like any other. Clean it like normal. Bees wax will make it shine again.

Someone sure loved that thing!

 

[AJL67]

I Have bought many many many estate meers on ebay. I would not spend 70 bucks on that particular pipe, there are some real deals out there, that while some of them are colored a bit, they don't look dirty and beat to hell.

I also am wary of random people saying pipes are that old just because they "look that old".

This one i got a couple weeks ago for under $60 it's gorgeous in person with a gold band. Smokes like a dream.

 

[OzPiper]

@condorlover1 has a truckload of those ancient implements.
Along with @ashdigger.

Clean them as you would with any estate pipe.
Re-Wax if necessary
Getting them re-stemmed (if needed) is no problem
A Lakeland blend will scare off any lingering ghosts

 

[AJL67]

@condorlover1 has a truckload of those ancient implements.
Along with @ashdigger.
Getting them re-stemmed (if needed) is no problem

I'd say on the one he posted the actual bowl is really beat to shit and not worth it. I picked up a cutty from the 1860s, it was easier to date by maker and had some provenance, for about 125 and it's in wonderful shape, i only bought it to own it, it's too small for my tastes to smoke but it's old, gorgeous and something to show off to people LOL

 

[condorlover1]

That one is not that old - probably early 1900s, maybe a bit later. Once you get into the third half of the 19th century then you are really talking old!

 

[OzPiper]

I picked up a cutty from the 1860s, it was easier to date by maker and had some provenance, for about 125 and it's in wonderful shape. it's old, gorgeous and something to show off to people LOL

It’s not difficult to find old meers in very good to excellent condition.
And in most cases cheaper than an equivalent briar
These 3 are in “as found” condition

 

[AJL67]

That bottom one looks familiar, was that an ebay find?

 

[OzPiper]

That bottom one looks familiar, was that an ebay find?

All 3 were EBay finds

 

[AJL67]

All 3 were EBay finds

Thought so, i didn't bid on it, but did covet it .. god will now strike me down .. not the first commandment ive broken but i think once you hit 5 of them you're in trouble LOL

 

[condorlover1]

@AJL67 Once you get over 100+ you are destined to meet this fellow...

 

[didimauw]

Thought so, i didn't bid on it, but did covet it .. god will now strike me down .. not the first commandment ive broken but i think once you hit 5 of them you're in trouble LOL

Commandments....That all depends on who you are my friend......

Sometimes I search ebay for estate meers. Not because I'd ever dare smoke one, but I love seeing how they grow and get abused over time. I just like looking.

 

[OzPiper]

Thought so, i didn't bid on it, but did covet it .. .. not the first commandment ive broken

Oh pipes are fine !
Neighbour’s wife ?
Now THAT can be problematic. Not to mention expensive

 

[AJL67]

Oh pipes are fine !
Neighbour’s wife ?
Now THAT can be problematic. Not to mention expensive

Well ex wife's best friend, but she wasn't married (just a bf) ... one of those "why didn't i meet her and not you" type of deals. My life would have been much different and 200x better... after all the divorce was expensive anyway and not for nearly such a good reason :P

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

It’s not difficult to find old meers in very good to excellent condition.
And in most cases cheaper than an equivalent briar
These 3 are in “as found” condition
View attachment 323635View attachment 323636View attachment 323637

Beautiful

 

[AJL67]

this is the oldest estate I’ve bought, well over 100yrs old, blacked stem and interior bowl, you can suck hot air through it and get zero taste.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

Wow. Good to know!

 

[condorlover1]

This one was topped about 1900 probably due to rim damage. It has a new stem and smokes like a champ. Probably dates from the early 1880s or maybe the late 1870s. Since my taste in tobacco is not so dissimilar to that time period I have never noticed anything when smoking it.