Meerschaum - Don't Touch?

[jpmcwjr]

Yep, the stores generally grade the customers, from 10- Very Likely to Buy, down to 1, Lookie Lou with dirty paws.

You have to be an 8 or higher to have a chance to fondle the pipe.

 

[orlandofurioso]

Did pipe smokers fuss about waxing their meers and using white gloves 100 years ago?

Not a clue, I was not there . But possibly will be in a few decades from now
Meers are being waxed since the beginning of times and collectors have always been an odd bunch.
As said, quality meers were expensive back in the days.
Apart from all this I'm be no means a meer expert, but I much appreciate to smoke mine every now and then. I own an antique Barling's silver mounted one I'm most careful with.

 

[pappymac]

I do believe that a discussion on Meerschaum Myths existed on this forum a long time ago. This was probably covered in that thread.

Edit: Found it.

Meerschaum Myths :: General Pipe Smoking Discussion

Here's the article that appears in the February 2011 issue of The Pipe Collector. For those who've not as yet joined the NASPC yet, I encourage you to do so. These guys are fun. MEERSCHAUM MYTHS By Fred Bass The number of myths about Meerschaum Pipes rivals those of the pantheon of Greek...

pipesmagazine.com

 

[condorlover1]

If you look at all the meerschaum pipes I own they are all in essence copies of a clay pipe. These would probably have been smoked by men who had some means but would not have aspired to own a pipe that resembled a garden ornament. They are utilitarian style and replaced the clay pipes smoked by engineers, draftsmen, journalists and those of a skilled profession. They cost between £2 to £3 in the 1880s, in those days the average working man earned 20/- (Twenty Shillings) a week and that was considered a reasonable wage. That is why good specimens are hard to come by and from what I can tell they were purchased for life time use. This is simply my opinion.

 

[xrundog]

Let’s not forget about the dark oxblood colored pipes from the 19th century. It very possible that was done to mask dirt and handling marks.

 

[The Clay King]

If you look at all the meerschaum pipes I own they are all in essence copies of a clay pipe. These would probably have been smoked by men who had some means but would not have aspired to own a pipe that resembled a garden ornament. They are utilitarian style and replaced the clay pipes smoked by engineers, draftsmen, journalists and those of a skilled profession. They cost between £2 to £3 in the 1880s, in those days the average working man earned 20/- (Twenty Shillings) a week and that was considered a reasonable wage. That is why good specimens are hard to come by and from what I can tell they were purchased for life time use. This is simply my opinion.

@condorlover1 Not like clay pipes that break easily; I should know - I've broken more than I care to remember!

 

[gervais]

I personally do not hold mine by the bowl, and it doesn't really bother me not to do so. I just kinda hold it with my fingers on the silver accent/stem area. I probably won't do it forever, but just as it initially colours, I don't want my hands to affect the process, just incase. This is at about 15 bowls.

 

[geoffs]

Shop wants to keep merchandise sparkly new. I get it.
End of the day, it’s all just stuff. Who or what are we keeping it pristine for? Use it! Ding it. Scuff it. Mark it. Give it a life well lived so that the next owner will ponder what kind of shit you did with it over a bowl.

 

[Zeno Marx]

I believe it was CAO or SMS (leaning more towards CAO) that marketed a line of meerschaums that were coated so you could handle them like any other pipe. I've only seen a couple of them, and they were VERY shiny. anyone remember those?

My 4th or 5th pipe was a meerschaum, and my mentor, the shop owner, was someone who didn't touch the bowl, so I didn't touch the bowl. I did enjoy smoking it, but I also didn't like to be mindful like that. I'm a fastidious person by nature, so if I can get away from that, I do. I've never owned one since, but if I did, there's no way I would treat it any differently than a briar or cob.

I haven't been in a shop for a while, but back when, they usually kept the meerschaums under glass to discourage people from needing to handle them. It's a nicer method than slapping hands away from them.

 

[Pipke]

Well now I know to bring a pair of white gloves with me if I ever make it to a fancy pipe shop, somewhere, like France, or Denmark. Someplace.

 

[RudyH]

The shop should have the meers in a glass case or behind a counter if they don't want people to touch them.

I smoke meerschaum pipes and could not care less about any effects my hands have on them. I handle them just as I handle any other pipe, which is to say carefully. They do naturally discolor over time depending on how much they are smoked. Depending on the finish, a lot of briars darken too.

 

[geoffs]

Think I tempted the gods with my post. Couple of days ago I dropped my favorite meer on the stone floor at lunch. Now it has a little "bruise" on it. Taking my own advice and not sweating it.

 

[AroEnglish]

I personally do not hold mine by the bowl, and it doesn't really bother me not to do so. I just kinda hold it with my fingers on the silver accent/stem area. I probably won't do it forever, but just as it initially colours, I don't want my hands to affect the process, just incase. This is at about 15 bowls.

View attachment 329728

Is this a Barling meer?

 

[gervais]

Is this a Barling meer?

Yes sir

 

[AroEnglish]

Yes sir

Those are so damn gorgeous but out of my range size (and price) wise.

 

[didimauw]

I touch the hell out of mine. Even dropped it out of my mouth onto concrete yesterday. And my favorite pipe even....


One dent, and one ding. They are pretty durable little pipes.

 

[gervais]

Those are so damn gorgeous but out of my range size (and price) wise

Yeah brother they are fucking pricey as hell, and the ONLY reason I bought it is because SP.EU was having a 20% off event and I caved, lol.

 

[AroEnglish]

Yeah brother they are fucking pricey as hell, and the ONLY reason I bought it is because SP.EU was having a 20% off event and I caved, lol.

Surely you can't be blamed for caving; at that point they were pretty much giving them away

 

[gervais]

Surely you can't be blamed for caving; at that point they were pretty much giving them away

Yeah that's what I told myself

 

[Chasing Embers]

Is this a Barling meer?

Yes sir

Altinay with a Barling logo.