Need Help Identifying My Pipe

[spitfiremk1guy]

I recently purchased a lot of pipes one of which was a wooden carved lions head. The pipe is Russian and I am trying to determine the value and just some history on the maker. The side says java Moscow 2D ( that’s what it translate to) I cannot fully translate the tag so far I have wood lion and root but that’s all I could translate. I have uploaded some photos to my account album any help would be great!
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- Kevin

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[admin]

Thanks for being a member and participating.
Thread title fixed.
Please see rule 9 here along with the rest of the forum rules

 

[admin]

Here's some help to display photos -

 

[chispa]

Looks like a bear to me. I've seen style pipes go for $10.

 

[stevepmc]

Just traded for an estate pipe. It's marked "Willmer", Straight Grain" and "AAA" in 3 lines on one side, and "Made in England" on the other. Has anyone heard of the Willmer brand? If so, what can you tell me about it? Or, where else might I look for such information?
Thanks.

Dr. Steve Glaseman

Pine Mountain Club, CA

 

[papipeguy]

Steve, welcome to the forum. Here's some info on your Willmer.
http://pipedia.org/wiki/Willmer

 

[stevepmc]

Excellent! Thanks very much for the link; just what I'd hoped for.
Steve Glaseman

 

[vlodko]

Hello,
I just saw you question, therefore this advice might be too late, pardon.
The pipe nomenclature says "Java (like the Island) Moscow 2D (that's the shape number)".
Also we can read on the label
"Style: The Lion

Wood.

The root of briar

3 rubles 30 kopeks"
"Java Moscow" was the famous and leading tobacco and pipe factory in the former USSR.
This pipe has been produced definitely after 1961 (after the monetary reform).
An official exchange rate was $1 = 0.65 ruble. But that's doesn't mean you could so easily buy the pipe for $2.15. The most of more or less quality products were a deficit and you either should have relations with people in the shop or to be an important person to have access to limited stores.
I did restore one of such Javas. The quality of briar was more or less acceptable but the pipe was heavily painted. Nevertheless it should be a good enough smoker.
Hope this helps.

 

[mso489]

Consumer products from the Soviet Union were notably deficient. There may be some that impressed people enough

for export, but other than Vodka, I can think of none. And the AK47 design, replicated throughout the world. I still see

almost nothing from the current Russia that has wide appeal. On top of that, people in the USSR spent a third of their

life waiting in line to purchase inferior food, household goods, and clothing. With friends like the Supreme Soviet, who

needed enemies?

 

[vlodko]

I hope AK isn't a consumer product yet

 

[tuold]

I read this thread with interest then realized I had something like it buried deep down in my collection. Here's my "Moscow"pipe.

It's unsmoked, but I never did anything with it because the tobacco chamber is too small for my liking. This weekend I'll probably give it a cleaning and waxing and drop it back in the box.

 

[newbroom]

tuold, the button on your Russian pipe looks rather substantial. The look would go good while driving a Yugo.

 

[vlodko]

Yes, this is Java Moscow too.
In such a case I'd like to add another one to this topic. It's here already restored but not completely polished yet