No Luck with Hallmark

Log in

SmokingPipes.com Updates

Watch for Updates Twice a Week

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

milk

Lifer
Sep 21, 2022
1,184
3,082
Japan
I’m interested in this pipe but I can’t figure out the hallmark. It looks like an amber stem so I don’t think it’s post 1920s. I wonder if anyone has an idea? I’ve check all the cities and 1. I can’t figure out which city it is and 2. I can’t match that ornate H with a year in the right time-frame to any city.IMG_7810.jpegIMG_7811.jpeg
 
  • Like
Reactions: BingBong

BingBong

Lifer
Apr 26, 2024
2,740
12,411
London UK
Possibly a Glasgow mark.


shows JCS in a rectangle as John Cohen & Son, Glasgow
 
Last edited:

BingBong

Lifer
Apr 26, 2024
2,740
12,411
London UK
Glasgow mark, 1904? They cycled every 20, a Glasgow assay would make more sense. I would go so far as to say definitely not Chester - Perth (if it was still in operation), Edinburgh or Newcastle all much closer if Glasgow unavailable, Chester is almost North Wales, a long way away.
 
Last edited:

jguss

Lifer
Jul 7, 2013
2,909
8,076
By the time your pipe was made Morris (~1839-1906) was dead and his widow Ada (~1852-1936) was carrying on the business.

Morris’s father, Joseph Cohen (~1811-1878) founded the business as a Glasgow tobacco shop.
 

milk

Lifer
Sep 21, 2022
1,184
3,082
Japan
Possibly a Glasgow mark.


shows JCS in a rectangle as John Cohen & Son, Glasgow
Cheshire mark, 1910. Morris Tobias Cohen of Glasgow trading as Joseph Cohen & Son of Glasgow.

View attachment 400867

View attachment 400868
By the time your pipe was made Morris (~1839-1906) was dead and his widow Ada (~1852-1936) was carrying on the business.

Morris’s father, Joseph Cohen (~1811-1878) founded the business as a Glasgow tobacco shop.
Thanks so much all! I haven’t purchased this but I’m thinking about it. This kind of mystery gets me going. Hope I didn’t put anyone out. BTW, does anyone know how a pipe colors like that?
 

condorlover1

Lifer
Dec 22, 2013
8,804
32,094
New York
I do. Do you want the long winded answer in which case you can visit my blog All Things Cutty - https://allthingscutty.blogspot.com/ which explains how this form of coloring took place. The simple answer is it was caused by the bowl restrictor of 'butt plug' as I refer to them which acted in a fashion similar to the modern coloring bowl. The other answer is that pipes were often painted or colored with something called 'Ox Blood' to create the same effect, however you will never know until you clean up the pipe. The stem is nice but looks to be a later replacement and I would certainly ask the seller how the shank threads are since if worn you will have the dreaded string in a bucket effect with the stem not having an air tight seal or worse still not lining up. Good luck with your new friend should you choose to adopt him!
 
  • Love
Reactions: milk

milk

Lifer
Sep 21, 2022
1,184
3,082
Japan
I do. Do you want the long winded answer in which case you can visit my blog All Things Cutty - https://allthingscutty.blogspot.com/ which explains how this form of coloring took place. The simple answer is it was caused by the bowl restrictor of 'butt plug' as I refer to them which acted in a fashion similar to the modern coloring bowl. The other answer is that pipes were often painted or colored with something called 'Ox Blood' to create the same effect, however you will never know until you clean up the pipe. The stem is nice but looks to be a later replacement and I would certainly ask the seller how the shank threads are since if worn you will have the dreaded string in a bucket effect with the stem not having an air tight seal or worse still not lining up. Good luck with your new friend should you choose to adopt him!
Fascinating. Well, the threaded tenon does look rather short to me and the info says it's loose. Hmm...that's a shame. This kind of coloring with the matte-like effect just looks great to me. But, if there's a question about the stem, maybe I should not. A threaded stem seems like amber but it doesn't look quite original to me either. I will definitely head over to your blog! Much appreciated!
 

milk

Lifer
Sep 21, 2022
1,184
3,082
Japan
I do. Do you want the long winded answer in which case you can visit my blog All Things Cutty - https://allthingscutty.blogspot.com/ which explains how this form of coloring took place. The simple answer is it was caused by the bowl restrictor of 'butt plug' as I refer to them which acted in a fashion similar to the modern coloring bowl. The other answer is that pipes were often painted or colored with something called 'Ox Blood' to create the same effect, however you will never know until you clean up the pipe. The stem is nice but looks to be a later replacement and I would certainly ask the seller how the shank threads are since if worn you will have the dreaded string in a bucket effect with the stem not having an air tight seal or worse still not lining up. Good luck with your new friend should you choose to adopt him!
Re: the blog: I see now. This is explained in detail and it's not an intuitive thing these days, though maybe back then people really focused on it. The effect is really cool. Hmm...Makes me really think about this pipe on offer.
 

condorlover1

Lifer
Dec 22, 2013
8,804
32,094
New York
That could be (a) thread wear in the shank in which case the pipe is buggared and either you accept a cemented in place stem (b) attempt some form of shim arrangement (c) look for another specimen
 
  • Like
Reactions: milk

didimauw

Moderator
Staff member
Jul 28, 2013
11,136
39,666
SE WI
I do. Do you want the long winded answer in which case you can visit my blog All Things Cutty - https://allthingscutty.blogspot.com/ which explains how this form of coloring took place. The simple answer is it was caused by the bowl restrictor of 'butt plug' as I refer to them which acted in a fashion similar to the modern coloring bowl. The other answer is that pipes were often painted or colored with something called 'Ox Blood' to create the same effect, however you will never know until you clean up the pipe. The stem is nice but looks to be a later replacement and I would certainly ask the seller how the shank threads are since if worn you will have the dreaded string in a bucket effect with the stem not having an air tight seal or worse still not lining up. Good luck with your new friend should you choose to adopt him!
U got 9 years worth of updates to do on that page my friend.....
 

Sig

Lifer
Jul 18, 2023
2,062
11,685
54
Western NY
I do. Do you want the long winded answer in which case you can visit my blog All Things Cutty - https://allthingscutty.blogspot.com/ which explains how this form of coloring took place. The simple answer is it was caused by the bowl restrictor of 'butt plug' as I refer to them which acted in a fashion similar to the modern coloring bowl. The other answer is that pipes were often painted or colored with something called 'Ox Blood' to create the same effect, however you will never know until you clean up the pipe. The stem is nice but looks to be a later replacement and I would certainly ask the seller how the shank threads are since if worn you will have the dreaded string in a bucket effect with the stem not having an air tight seal or worse still not lining up. Good luck with your new friend should you choose to adopt him!
Ummmm, that's not how butt plugs work.
Do NOT ask me how I know!!
 

BingBong

Lifer
Apr 26, 2024
2,740
12,411
London UK
Ummmm, that's not how butt plugs work.
Do NOT ask me how I know!!
I think I've mentioned here about the young woman at work who was very excited to be buying water butts to maintain her garden with rainwater. I advised her that they should be drained before the frosts came and the taps removed; the holes to be filled with temporary bungs. You will find butt plugs in all sizes listed on the Internet, I advised her, quite inexpensive. She was ever so appreciative.
 

jguss

Lifer
Jul 7, 2013
2,909
8,076
I think this could be a K in Glasgow.

I agree, the date code is 1907 and the assay location Glasgow. The Glasgow assay office closed over 60 years ago, and while many records are gone some survive. The answer to who did the silver work and sold the pipe is still Joseph Cohen & Son of Glasgow. They registered identical makers marks in both Chester and Glasgow. Here are references to the various marks they registered in their home town:

IMG_2382.jpeg

And here’s an early history of the business printed a decade of Joseph died and had been succeeded by his son Morris:

IMG_2381.jpeg