One Pipe, Three Stems

[georged]

What do you do when you really like a pipe and want to smoke it "optimally" in the three basic settings common to most pipe collectors?

Meaning historical/nostalgic, active, and relaxed/stationary (reading or TV)

You equip the stummel with the right stem for the job, of course.

In this case,

--- original and historically correct P-lip w/pinhole stinger

--- short, wide, and thin "modern" slotted design that's comfortable when clenched

and

--- a churchwarden(ish) extended-length P-lip that's optimized for relaxed comfort and flavor concentration

The first one came with the stummel.

The second was made afterward, specifically for the stummel.

The third was adapted to the stummel. (It's a top-quality molded stem that was produced by one of Peterson's rivals in the early 20th century, and only had to be tweaked slightly to fit.) The flavor concentration thing is kinda weird but actually works well: The draft hole is conical from button to base, and expands quite a bit over the length of the stem. The opening at the bottom is nearly a quarter inch. Smoke get Hoover'd up and squashed into a dense stream that's detectably stronger in flavor than normal.

So, whether I'm moving about/driving, reading a book, or in a "live in the past" time machine mood, the one pipe can do it all.

Rather fun, that.

I've included close ups of the stummel's hallmarks for you history guys (I have no idea when it was made, though the stinger is aluminum and has pinholes), and the long stem's stampings which are cool & funky.

Also an oblique shot of the short-n-comfy modern stem since what makes it clench-friendly isn't visible in profile.

 

[georged]

 

[bullet08]

I thought Peterson System pipe stems were also conical internal. Wide at the bottom and narrow near the button. At least mine are like that, but not as wide as that churchwarden, or is it demi-churchwarden, stem in the picture.

 

[ashdigger]

Nice. I have a few pipes with multiple stems. It’s a great idea.

I won’t show them here.

 

[georged]

I thought Peterson System pipe stems were also conical internal. Wide at the bottom and narrow near the button. At least mine are like that, but not as wide as that churchwarden, or is it demi-churchwarden, stem in the picture.

The design is common to both brands.

Since the expansion is constant, the longer the stem the larger the hole at the base. It's pretty dramatic in this case, is all.

 

[mortonbriar]

Solid rubber? All of mine have a hole in them!

 

[georged]

Solid rubber? All of mine have a hole in them!

That's dad joke worthy...

 

[mortonbriar]

Yeah...that's the only kind I got.

I like the 2nd stem how it still has a gap between stem and stummel, but the gap seems like a better size/ratio.

 

[georged]

Yeah...that's the only kind I got.

I like the 2nd stem how it still has a gap between stem and stummel, but the gap seems like a better size/ratio.

Glad to know it isn't just me. lol

The gap itself isn't what makes my brain screech, it's the SIZE of the gap.

Whenever I make the varmints, smaller is definitely how I do it.

 

[mortonbriar]

Stem 2 is an acceptable hint of sock between pant bottom and shoe,
Stem 1 is a wanton display of ankle!

 

[didimauw]

Damnit George. Don't you read the forum? Peterson's are garbage pipes!

Stop telling us otherwise!

Stem two, made by you? Nice stamping.

 

[georged]

Stem two, made by you? Nice stamping.

Yup, that one's mine.

It got talked about in a thread of its own five years ago not long after it was made:

Peterson Deluxe Bent Billiard (shape 9S) :: Pipe Talk

OK, this one involves a modification---a non-stock stem---but the pipe is one of my all-time favorites. This 9S and I have a lot of shared history, and have each other's back to the end. :puffy: If I didn't include it in my little survey project it would be like insulting a friend. (If...

pipesmagazine.com

(The photos are pretty rough, but it was the best I could do at the time. Sorry)

The long stem got tuned to fit a couple years ago, and coming across the original one by chance a few months back---I wasn't sure I even still had it---re-ignited the historical appreciation part of it all. Since then, I store the stummel on its own with the three stems beside it, and choose which one to install depending on what I'm doing, activity-wise.

There's a Swiss Army Knife feel to it all that's appealing for some reason.

10-4 on the stamp. I sent an actual Pete stem with a crispy impression to the stamp maker guy so there would be no problems with "translation" via drawings or photos.

He dun good.

 

[mso489]

The multiple stems are especially good if you are one of these people who restricts themselves to eight or ten pipes, at the most. If, like me, you tend to accumulate a great variety of shapes and brands, multiple stems hardly seem needed. I'd just grab a different pipe. I wouldn't bother changing stems.

 

[dunnyboy]

Nice stems on that stummel! Great description and photos. Really fun to read and look at.

 

[AroEnglish]

What do you do when you really like a pipe and want to smoke it "optimally" in the three basic settings common to most pipe collectors?

Meaning historical/nostalgic, active, and relaxed/stationary (reading or TV)

You equip the stummel with the right stem for the job, of course.

In this case,

--- original and historically correct P-lip w/pinhole stinger

--- short, wide, and thin "modern" slotted design that's comfortable when clenched

and

--- a churchwarden(ish) extended-length P-lip that's optimized for relaxed comfort and flavor concentration

The first one came with the stummel.

The second was made afterward, specifically for the stummel.

The third was adapted to the stummel. (It's a top-quality molded stem that was produced by one of Peterson's rivals in the early 20th century, and only had to be tweaked slightly to fit.) The flavor concentration thing is kinda weird but actually works well: The draft hole is conical from button to base, and expands quite a bit over the length of the stem. The opening at the bottom is nearly a quarter inch. Smoke get Hoover'd up and squashed into a dense stream that's detectably stronger in flavor than normal.

So, whether I'm moving about/driving, reading a book, or in a "live in the past" time machine mood, the one pipe can do it all.

Rather fun, that.

I've included close ups of the stummel's hallmarks for you history guys (I have no idea when it was made, though the stinger is aluminum and has pinholes), and the long stem's stampings which are cool & funky.

Also an oblique shot of the short-n-comfy modern stem since what makes it clench-friendly isn't visible in profile.


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Wow the proportion of the second stem is perfect. I’ve wanted a shorter stem for the 9s/XL90 stummel and now I know who I’m calling to make it.