New (to me) Vintage Meerschaum prince or billiard.

[drayve85]

just picked this ‘ole gal the other day at a antique shop in east Tawas Michigan. I wasn’t sure at first if it was truly a block meerschaum pipe because of the lack of coloring, but I believe that it wasn’t smoked very often, and there was at least just under 1/8 inch of cake in the bowl. So I’m assuming that would keep it from coloring along with my assumption tht it wasn’t smoked very often.

When I got it home, I started cleaning it up. I scraped the cake out of the bowl, and ran a few pipe cleaners through it. I wiped the mouthpiece down with some alcohol, and packed a light bowl of Match Elizabethan. It didn’t taste horrible at first, but after about a third of the bowl, I noticed a not-so-good flavor.lol so, I dumped the little bit that was left, and started running pipe cleaners with a drop of alcohol on them through the shank, and damn! was it dirty! I then used a shank brush with a little bit of alcohol and tried to get as much gunk out as possible, but it was getting late. I’m going to try to smoke a small bowl through it later today, to see if the cleaning made a difference (fingers crossed!)

This pipe came out of a collection of a presumably recently deceased person. Some of the other pipes that were there were old kaywoodies, and Dr. Grabows. There was a cool aluminum Streamliner with radiator fins that was from the 1930’s, so I’m wondering if this meer is from around that time, or not. I’m sure it’s pretty old. I believe the stem is real amber, the shop tag that was on it said so also. And, it doesn’t feel like any other stem I’ve ever felt. The case has a couple of “spots” that look like there were stickers. I think one of them had the words “hand made” on it, and the other one was probably the makers sticker. I’m hoping it was an Andreas Bauer sticker, but I don’t know. Does anyone here have any ideas on who could’ve made this pipe? Any help is appreciated!!

 

[The Amish Tyrant]

Nice find. The case is in decent shape too. I've read coloring fades over time, but a smoke or two will bring the pipe back to life.

If you ever make it south, head to Paul's Pipe Shop in Flint (if you haven't already). It's an institution with some decent house blends.

 

[drayve85]

Nice find. The case is in decent shape too. I've read coloring fades over time, but a smoke or two will bring the pipe back to life.

If you ever make it south, head to Paul's Pipe Shop in Flint (if you haven't already). It's an institution with some decent house blends.

Thank you! I love Pauls Pipe Shop! I bought a lil saddle but billiard from there when I was first starting out in pipe smoking, around 2013. That was the first decent pipe I got. I’ve tried a few of the house blends, and they were great, but a lot of them are aromatics, and I don’t smoke hardly any aromatics. I’ve been meaning to stop in there sometime soon. I go by flint a couple times a month. It’s a great pipe shop though. And, if I remember correctly I believe Paul, or it may have been his son was the one that helped me pick out that billiard. Great guy!

 

[Chasing Embers]

With the lack of a canted bowl and no bend in the stem I'd call that a billiard. Definitely a lovely thing.

 

[The Amish Tyrant]

My first.decent pipe was a Cayuga from Paul's too.

Agreed, they focus on aromatics. Paul's son Dan is running the shop and a member here (although possibly not active).

I try to promote Paul's since it one of the last shops of its kind in a less than stable town. Hopefully they last another decade or longer.

 

[drayve85]

I completely agree. We all need to support the ‘mom & pop’ B&M’s that we have left! I’m gonna try to support Pauls as much as I can. Even if it’s just a pack or two of pipe cleaners.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I completely agree. We all need to support the ‘mom & pop’ B&M’s that we have left! I’m gonna try to support Pauls as much as I can. Even if it’s just a pack or two of pipe cleaners.

As much as I'd like to, it's no longer financially feasible. This was the cost for a tin back in 2012.

 

[drayve85]

As much as I'd like to, it's no longer financially feasible. This was the cost for a tin back in 2012.

View attachment 167004

I understand that, too! That’s insane to charge that much, and completely unnecessary. I know it’s not the B&M’s fault all the time for the prices to be that high, it’s the federal and state governments. I only wish there was something that could be done to get things back to how they should be, and I, or somebody, knew what to do to get us there. But, that’s an entirely different discussion.lol

 

[drayve85]

With the lack of a canted bowl and no bend in the stem I'd call that a billiard. Definitely a lovely thing.

That’s good enough for me! It’s a billiard then.lol I’m not good with differentiating the shapes. Thank you!

 

[Chasing Embers]

That’s good enough for me! It’s a billiard then.lol I’m not good with differentiating the shapes. Thank you!

It's all about the little differences. We're the bowl slightly shorter, it would be a pot. If it were a bit more round, it would be an apple.

 

[PipeGarGuy]

I have an unsmoked meer, unknown history, that I can’t decide what shape it is. In the picture the meer is between two Savinellis, a 614 Oom Paul and a 606 Bent Billiard. It seems to be a little of both. More bent than the 606 but not quite the 614. I’m leaning towards it being an Oom Paul because of the shape of the Stummel. But the stem is more Bent Billiard. What do all of you think?

 

[LeafErikson]

I have an unsmoked meer, unknown history, that I can’t decide what shape it is. In the picture the meer is between two Savinellis, a 614 Oom Paul and a 606 Bent Billiard. It seems to be a little of both. More bent than the 606 but not quite the 614. I’m leaning towards it being an Oom Paul because of the shape of the Stummel. But the stem is more Bent Billiard. What do all of you think?

View attachment 184092

Not quite an Oom Paul to my eye. More like a 3/4 bent billiard. Almost looks like a sitter but not quite. It’s a nice pipe!

 

[anotherbob]

Nice find. The case is in decent shape too. I've read coloring fades over time, but a smoke or two will bring the pipe back to life.

If you ever make it south, head to Paul's Pipe Shop in Flint (if you haven't already). It's an institution with some decent house blends.

I've seen some old meers museum pieces that are black as black can be. I am pretty sure no one smoked them in some time. The more superficial color seems to fade if not smoked for a while but the more saturated color stays. I don't smoke my meer much.

 

[didimauw]

That billiard is my favorite shape! And I don't smoke estates, but that one looked real nice! Almost one I would think about....

 

[drayve85]

That billiard is my favorite shape! And I don't smoke estates, but that one looked real nice! Almost one I would think about....

I don’t blame ya for not smoking estates, this one needed some TLC. Thorough scrubbing and fixing an egged out draft hole. P.I.T.A.!

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

I have an unsmoked meer, unknown history, that I can’t decide what shape it is. In the picture the meer is between two Savinellis, a 614 Oom Paul and a 606 Bent Billiard. It seems to be a little of both. More bent than the 606 but not quite the 614. I’m leaning towards it being an Oom Paul because of the shape of the Stummel. But the stem is more Bent Billiard. What do all of you think?

View attachment 184092

Meers often defy shape ideals. They more often than not do not fit into the english pipe shape forms. In order to be an Oom Paul/Hungarian the top of the shank would need to level with or nearly level with the rim. I'd says it most closely resembles a full bent billiard. Whatever you call it, its a nice looking meer thats not going to color itself.