My klutziness strikes again! Amber is fragile...

[jonasclark]

This pipe, one for which I'd been bhunting for 25+ years, fell out of my pocket today onto a tile floor, and the stem snapped, losing a large chip which I couldn't locate. Of course, this gives me a sudden wave of extreme PAD, which I'm trying to force down because I really can't afford another antique pipe right now (this one cost me about $45, and I'll never find another similar at even three times that!)

I've sent photos to Briarville in hopes that he can cut a stem from rod in this shape. Not only a diamond with a fat oval profile and orific button, the shoulders of the saddle are extremely sharp. It was gorgeous. If I could get it banded, I would, but I probably can't afford that. It would need to be curved to match, and be able to also fit the (admittedly not in great condition) case.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

Is that meerschaum?

I have a somewhat similar pipe - briar/silver/amber.

 

[anotherbob]

Is that meerschaum?

I have a somewhat similar pipe - briar/silver/amber.

I think at that point it's more tar then meer.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

I think at that point it's more tar then meer.

It’s not natural color from smoking, it’s an ox blood stained meer.

 

[georged]

Does some amber get orangey-dark on the surface over time but remain yellow inside?

If not (I've never seen that happen before), the stem is Bakelite.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

That’s a bummer, amber is indeed a fragile material. At least the meer didn’t crack.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

Does some amber get orangey-dark on the surface over time but remain yellow inside?

If not (I've never seen that happen before), the stem is Bakelite.

Amberol does, it was reconstituted amber with some of the same binding agents as Bakelite. So it can kinda oxidize like Bakelite. The way it broke with the flake coming off like that makes me think Amber/Amberol.

 

[condorlover1]

Amberol. If you drill into it it will smell of Eucalyptus. Normally shatters into a thousand pieces if dropped.

 

[AroEnglish]

What pipe is this? That’s some diligence searching 25 years for it. I’m so sorry for this tragic accident.

 

[jonasclark]

What pipe is this? That’s some diligence searching 25 years for it. I’m so sorry for this tragic accident.

Little apple-shape, yes oxblood coloring. I'd walk ten miles for another like it, if anyone has a lead. I've seen ones like this with Bakelite stems, too.

 

[AroEnglish]

Little apple-shape, yes oxblood coloring. I'd walk ten miles for another like it, if anyone has a lead. I've seen ones like this with Bakelite stems, too.

No markings though? I guess I assumed that you were looking for that specific pipe for 25 years but maybe you just meant a pipe to fit the bill of this pipe.

And did it come with a case?

 

[irishearl]

That's too bad, But then I'm not one to put pipes in my pocket.

 

[jonasclark]

No markings though? I guess I assumed that you were looking for that specific pipe for 25 years but maybe you just meant a pipe to fit the bill of this pipe.

And did it come with a case?

I mean this exact type. Small, squat apple, meerschaum, deeply bent, diamond shank with metal band, amber saddle stem. Yes, it came with a case in somewhat rough shape. For some stupid reason, I didn't have it in its case. Here's another with a plain band, uncolored, marked "Cecil"

Another, with square instead of diamond, which would be perfectly acceptable to me.

 

[AroEnglish]

I mean this exact type. Small, squat apple, meerschaum, deeply bent, diamond shank with metal band, amber saddle stem. Yes, it came with a case in somewhat rough shape. For some stupid reason, I didn't have it in its case. Here's another with a plain band, uncolored, marked "Cecil"

Another, with square instead of diamond, which would be perfectly acceptable to me.

Oh man that first one is just stunning! I would love to own one with a tapered stem. Still hoping to land a BBB dreadnought one day.

 

[anotherbob]

It’s not natural color from smoking, it’s an ox blood stained meer.

looks wonderful though. But natural is better naturally.

 

[jonasclark]

looks wonderful though. But natural is better naturally.

On antique pipes, I love the oxblood coloring.

 

[condorlover1]

What about the fellow who does @ashdigger pipes as he seems to be nothing short of a miracle worker. One thing that you might consider is to have the repair man drill a slightly wider hole in each side of the broken stem and then insert a a very narrow stainless steel tube in and cement it in place whilst simultaneously cementing the broken surface of the stem. I have had this done on a dropped meerschaum were the shank and bowl snapped off by the foot of the 'cutty' so that after the stainless steel pipe repair the entire base of the 'cutty' was silver banded in the form of a dish for added strength. You could also have the stem just banded in silver and it would look very nice.

 

[jonasclark]

What about the fellow who does @ashdigger pipes as he seems to be nothing short of a miracle worker. One thing that you might consider is to have the repair man drill a slightly wider hole in each side of the broken stem and then insert a a very narrow stainless steel tube in and cement it in place whilst simultaneously cementing the broken surface of the stem. I have had this done on a dropped meerschaum were the shank and bowl snapped off by the foot of the 'cutty' so that after the stainless steel pipe repair the entire base of the 'cutty' was silver banded in the form of a dish for added strength. You could also have the stem just banded in silver and it would look very nice.

I'd love to have it banded to cover the chip, but it'd have to fit both the oval profile and the bend very closely. I have no idea who could make that.

By Ashdigger, do you mean Rusie here who made this p-lip for one of his pipes?

Ashdigger’s 1904 Peterson Meer :: Pipe Repair and Maintenance

After seeing the acrylic P-Lip’s I’d been making for some of my pipes @ashdigger asked me if I would make an acrylic P-Lip for his 1904 Peterson meer that Ryan Alden had saved and made 3 stems for. I’ve now dubbed this pipe the Swipe Pipe (Swatch Watch) because of its collection of...

pipesmagazine.com

 

[condorlover1]

Try Northern Briars in the UK or the fellow who did @ashdigger calabash pipe which also had a damaged stem.

 

[anotherbob]

On antique pipes, I love the oxblood coloring.

frankly it has always been my fav pipe color oxblood. My first pipe was a basket rusticated 3/4 bent oxblood italian treasure.weirdly i have only one that colour the rattray old perth cutty. The pipe i bought on a whim and it is great.