Ruminations on the Differences in Individual Pipes

[Briar Lee]

Yesterday I got in the mail a $20 eight paneled Marxman I’m as happy with as a kid under the Christmas tree after Santa came down the chimney.



I cleaned it up and smoked Kendal #7 and was just in heaven savoring the strong, robust, hearty, zesty, rich and spicy Virginia flavor, which was good to the last scrap in the bottom.

So today I’ve let my square paneled Marxman rest and grabbed several more pipes from my stash and I filled up my Vottis Greek briar medium billiard with Kendal #7 and the experience is different. This one using the same tobacco is smooth, mild, light and delicious, and could be an all day smoke. It’s excellent, but night and day different.

I’ve ruminated over the explanation for this.

The answer could be inside the six inches between my ears. I could have been so tickled at my good luck to gain a cool looking Marxman pipe that I’m imagining it smoked better.

Or it might be differences in the geometry of the drilling and boring of the two pipes. The Vottis is larger, with a longer stem.

Or it could be very old Algerian briar is just better than Greek briar.

I like the thought that in some mystical way old Algerian briar, smokes stouter than other briar.

What do you think?

 

[Chasing Embers]

Other than aesthetics, draw resistance,and smoke duration, I find no difference between smoking one pipe or another

 

[Briar Lee]

Other than aesthetics, draw resistance,and smoke duration, I find no difference between smoking one pipe or another

Cobs and meers don’t seem to have individuality, to me:

And most briars taste so close it’s hard to tell the differences, if there are any.

But unless it’s in my head, my Algerian briar pipes are all dynamite good smokers but zesty and spicy and bold, and this Greek briar and most Lees tend to smoke as cool and sweet and smooth as a cigarette.

 

[telescopes]

Hmmm. That Marxman is one imported by MasterCraft if I'm not mistaken. Which begs the question, is it really Algerian Briar since it was made after Marx sold the company?

 

[canucklehead]

Hmmm. That Marxman is one imported by MasterCraft if I'm not mistaken. Which begs the question, is it really Algerian Briar since it was made after Marx sold the company?

Algerian placebo?

 

[coming to_falling too]

I have an Algerian briar Mastercraft Natural bulldog and it doesn't matter what tobacco I smoke from it, it delivers a great smoke every single time.

 

[Briar Lee]

Hmmm. That Marxman is one imported by MasterCraft if I'm not mistaken. Which begs the question, is it really Algerian Briar since it was made after Marx sold the company?

No, that’s a pre 54.



It does have very nice birdseye, for a Marxman.

 

[didimauw]

Hmmm. That Marxman is one imported by MasterCraft if I'm not mistaken. Which begs the question, is it really Algerian Briar since it was made after Marx sold the company?

So after Marx sold it those aren't Algerian? Then what briar did MasterCraft claim? Or is all of this speculation?

 

[Grangerous]

Nice pipe! Day to day there are great days, good days and can’t taste days. — too many variables.

Mind you, I’m smoking primarily the same blend and in the same pipes.

 

[telescopes]

So after Marx sold it those aren't Algerian? Then what briar did MasterCraft claim? Or is all of this speculation?

MasterCraft pipes made with Algerian briar state it on the pipe. Others simply say imported briar. Those pipes were made elsewhere. it does appear that the pipe above is indeed a Pre 54. In that case, its certain relegation to the tool shed bowl of pipes is a purgatory that is sad indeed. This would have been the perfect Marx for you Since you prefer the standard shapes and finishes. Maybe our good friend will give it a pardon and send it packing to you through the post.

 

[didimauw]

MasterCraft pipes made with Algerian briar state it on the pipe. Others simply say imported briar. Those pipes were made elsewhere. it does appear that the pipe above is indeed a Pre 54. In that case, its certain relegation to the tool shed bowl of pipes is a purgatory that is sad indeed. This would have been the perfect Marx for you Since you prefer the standard shapes and finishes. Maybe our good friend will give it a pardon and send it packing to you through the post.

I'm still trying to get my head around estate pipes. I've smoked one then sold it. I have two Grabows, one of which I may start smoking next year as a beater. But otherwise, it's not even a "gross" factor, but I like knowing that I was " the first".

 

[shermnatman]

I can't really say I experience any differences between Briars other than those which Brother @Chasing Embers has already stated; however, I do experience a very noticable difference if I smoke with a Clay or Brylon - but especially with a Clay which is why I use those as tasting/tested pipes - Sherm Natman

 

[Briar Lee]

So after Marx sold it those aren't Algerian? Then what briar did MasterCraft claim? Or is all of this speculation?

Marx did not stamp Algerian briar on his pipes, yet every one I own looks and tastes like it was made from butter soft, kinda ugly Algerian briar.

Marx sold out in 1954. The French in Algeria were fighting a rebellion by fanatical Muslim rebels the French would lose in 1962.

After 1954, harvesting briar in Algeria would be sort of like picking wildflowers in Ukraine today.

Who knows what Mastercraft used?

 

[mso489]

It could be the difference in the pipes but not the briar, just to mention another possibility. It could be some other variable in the smoker himself not involving psychology, like a full or empty stomach or lack of or difference in beverage. Sometimes just iced water will cause a different flavor with blends, usually a marked improvement. Or temperature and humidity. Lots of variables here, and certainly the frame of mind always plays a role.

 

[Briar Lee]

It could be the difference in the pipes but not the briar, just to mention another possibility. It could be some other variable in the smoker himself not involving psychology, like a full or empty stomach or lack of or difference in beverage. Sometimes just iced water will cause a different flavor with blends, usually a marked improvement. Or temperature and humidity. Lots of variables here, and certainly the frame of mind always plays a role.

In certifying drugs, there is always a certain placebo effect.

The power of the placebo effect - Harvard Health

Under the right circumstances, a placebo effect—in which the brain convinces the body a fake treatment is the real thing—can be as effective as traditional treatments....

www.health.harvard.edu

It could be, I’m savoring a seventy some year old pipe made in New York City of the finest Algerian briar harvested on the windswept ridges of an exotic land by little wiry Muslims to bring to the Colonial French briar mills, and I’m more careful, than smoking something that is stamped Greek briar made by somebody named Vottis.

But I don’t think so.


Kendal #7 has the same basic flavor in both pipes.

In the Marxman it’s richer, bolder, and zestier.

In the Vottis it’s smoother, milder, and sweeter.

Why, is the question.