Condor, great post, and this is a great thread in general. I can't imagine using a feather to clean out my pipes, but I suppose if that's all that was available I would.
Questions About Pipe Smoking In The Past
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When I was young (I'm 61), smoking seem to be a bit more than just tolerated. Or perhaps I was so young I simply didn't pay attention. There were flip top ashtrays in the Doctor's waiting room. People smoked in most department stores (amazing there weren't more fires). Perhaps smoking was glorified but the Marlboro Man sure was well known. While today we get to watch Viagra and Insurance Company Commercials, seems like cigarettes and beer dominated the commercials back in the day. I remember when cigarettes were $0.30 a pack, $2.00 for a carton.
While you didn't see someone smoking a pipe every single day, it was rather common to see someone smoking a pipe. Enough so that it didn't warrant a second look. The people I remember smoking a pipe got their tobacco from a pouch or a large can. I don't recall seeing anyone slicing a plug. My first pipe smoking experience was around 15 years of age with a cob and some Borkhum Riff Whiskey tobacco.
Thanks to the historians here for their posts previously in the thread. Very interesting reading for me.
While you didn't see someone smoking a pipe every single day, it was rather common to see someone smoking a pipe. Enough so that it didn't warrant a second look. The people I remember smoking a pipe got their tobacco from a pouch or a large can. I don't recall seeing anyone slicing a plug. My first pipe smoking experience was around 15 years of age with a cob and some Borkhum Riff Whiskey tobacco.
Thanks to the historians here for their posts previously in the thread. Very interesting reading for me.
@Chasing Embers
I think you grandpa was pulling your leg.
We also played stretch and a game in which you had to bring the knife down six times around and between your thumb and fingers -- whoever did it fastest won. Don't recall that game having a name.
I think you grandpa was pulling your leg.
We also played stretch and a game in which you had to bring the knife down six times around and between your thumb and fingers -- whoever did it fastest won. Don't recall that game having a name.
Oh wow, I had forgotten about those McDonald's ash trays! Thanks for the throwback!
For myself, I'm just old enough to remember when smoking was allowed pretty much anywhere, and frankly, I really don't miss it. I mean, I enjoy a good pipe and all. But I never enjoyed the smell of stale cigarette smoke that lingered over many public areas. And I certainly don't miss the cigarette butts that made up the majority of public liter back then.
I guess when it comes down to it, I can enjoy my own tobacco smoke, but not most other people's, especially when it's mostly cheap cigarettes.
For myself, I'm just old enough to remember when smoking was allowed pretty much anywhere, and frankly, I really don't miss it. I mean, I enjoy a good pipe and all. But I never enjoyed the smell of stale cigarette smoke that lingered over many public areas. And I certainly don't miss the cigarette butts that made up the majority of public liter back then.
I guess when it comes down to it, I can enjoy my own tobacco smoke, but not most other people's, especially when it's mostly cheap cigarettes.
I was pondering the part of the opening question regarding tobacco and some of the comments thereafter. In 1918 commercial pipe tobacco would have been represented by the likes of Capstan, Condor, St Bruno available as 'flake' which was in essence sliced plug, ready rubbed and plug. Some of the more common types were Ogden's Battle Axe, Digger and any number of Players tinned pipe tobacco offerings along with the dreaded War Horse. If you were to go back another twenty years in time to say 1898 you would have been confronted with whatever your local tobacconist was punting along with plug tobacco and numerous twists. This was sold in six inch lengths wrapped in waxed paper with a paper band bearing the makers name or that of the local tobacconist. You could still buy twist in this format until the mid 1980s as it was still sold in that format by Inderwicks in Carnaby Street, London and was kept in a large glass jar behind the counter to stop the twist drying out.
"My Lady Nicotine" was originally published in 1890, and was reissued with a new subtitle ("A Study in Smoke") in 1926, during the author's lifetime, so it should be very informative for this period, and is a delight regardless of the purpose for which it is read. The author, in case some don't know, is J. M. Barrie, better known as the author of Peter Pan.
My Lady Nicotine was widely printed and reprinted in multiple editions throughout the English speaking world and is itself an interesting collectible. There was a Midwestern pipe collector whose name escapes me now who had over two dozen different editions, all pristine, back in the 1990's.
My Lady Nicotine was widely printed and reprinted in multiple editions throughout the English speaking world and is itself an interesting collectible. There was a Midwestern pipe collector whose name escapes me now who had over two dozen different editions, all pristine, back in the 1990's.
A game with many variations that involves throwing a pocket knife so that its blade sticks in the ground. Played many a time on school grounds years ago.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumblety-peg
https://books.google.com/books?id=6BNJAQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=editions:XEUdE0V_tUgC&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjrsumzwvrcAhWljFQKHSJSCc4Q6AEIPTAE#v=onepage&q&f=true
give this a look from 1918
give this a look from 1918
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