Modern Dunhill With Bakelite Stem ?

[misterlowercase]

Maybe you noticed this neat pipe too, I had an eye on it and it actually went for a fair price, although it did appear to be heavily smoked...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dunhill-Shell-Briar-Made-in-England-Estate-Pipe-/201203063292?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=Xjz%252BqNiMdrEYNr1KGoC0CFpJfhA%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc
...but my question is about the yellow stem,

I was unaware of them.
Were they bakelite?
Do they yellow over time?
If they did start out white, it's a pretty dramatic coloration to that buttery color...
http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/estate/england/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=75758
:
Coopersark sold a bakelite stemmed Ashton this week and said this:

The Bakelite that was used on this pipe currently appears white in color, as it was just cut. The rod had a ice pale yellow oxidation/patina to it. As time passes this stem will begin to turn a very pale yellow and give this pipe some serious character.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2014-Ashton-XXX-Pebble-Grain-Lumberman-Pipe-w-Rare-1930-039-s-Bakelite-Brand-New-/231367484526?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=Xjz%252BqNiMdrEYNr1KGoC0CFpJfhA%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc
:
I kind of regret not throwing in a bid on the Dunhill,

I think the stem looks pretty damn cool!

::

 

[sablebrush52]

It reminds me of the Charatan "After Hours", pipes which have a shank extension that I believe is bakelite, and which is yellow like the stem on this pipe. Bakelite comes in a number of colors.

 

[misterlowercase]

Was the Kaywoodie Rock Ambera stem bakelite?

 

[xrundog]

Later Kaywoodie Ambera type stems on Flame Grains and meerschaums of the 40s and 50s were a yellow Bakelite swirl. I think the earlier 30s pipes had some sort of amberoid stems. Maybe pressed amber. Those can be brittle and easy to break.

 

[ssjones]

I wouldn't have guessed that Dunhill stem was factory, but it is identical to the SmokingPipes piece. That is an attractive material.

 

[misterlowercase]

Later Kaywoodie Ambera type stems on Flame Grains and meerschaums of the 40s and 50s were a yellow Bakelite swirl. I think the earlier 30s pipes had some sort of amberoid stems. Maybe pressed amber. Those can be brittle and easy to break.

Thanks,I had an early RA and the stem was quite hard, almost rocklike, and would have been difficult for me to resto to how I would have liked it, so Gary here ended up with it.
I've never had experience with a bakelite stem, but I'd imagine them to be softer than the amberoid.
But I have heard that bakelite is notoriously brittle?

I guess there are varying quality levels just like everything else.

I wouldn't have guessed that Dunhill stem was factory, but it is identical to the SmokingPipes piece. That is an attractive material.

I thought it looked great too, but I also suspected it was an aftermarket stem, I still don't know what term they used to describe the material or how many they may have made?
But, both of them are from 2002.
At first I thought that the white on the stem was maybe light glare, but now I think it's actually teeth marks and with polishing, the stem would be white again? Although, I prefer the warm buttery color of the oxidation or whatever it is....

 

[xrundog]

I've had and have many old pipes with Bakelite stems. Like hundreds. Bakelite is actually very tough. The old stems feel almost like glass. Aside from tooth wear the stems are usually in good cndition. I have never had a pipe with a broken Bakelite stem. If somebody says they have, the stem was probably amberoid or celluloid but not Bakelite. The red Bakelite stems can be worked quite a bit without losing color.

I suspect that Dunhill original color is pretty close to what you see at the shank end. With the newer stems, the problem is that the color is pretty much on the surface. Working the bit end would make it lighter than the rest. Can you wet sand it all to an even color? I don't know. I guess it's important to know what the stem looked like originally. I wouldn't want it white if it was supposed to be yellow.