School me on Sterling Silver Restoration

[Briar Lee]

There are an about a bazillion potions and creams and concoctions to restore tarnished sterling silver.

This $10 Algerian briar pipe will be delivered tomorrow, and while it might be plated, it’s likely just tarnished.



If it’s plated I’ll use 4/0 steel wool to try and take it to base metal.

But what’s the best polish to restore sterling silver?

I probably have about half the stuff ever made to restore silver, but which is best?

 

[captpat]

I’d try a jewelers cloth first. IIRC @georged posted a few months ago about the not using liquid or paste polishes on silver ornamental adornments.

 

[huntertrw]

The thread to which captpat refers was titled "Speaking of Silver Bands..." and may be found here.

 

[Chasing Embers]

When it starts to go black like that, ash won't remove it. I use a tiny dot of plain white toothpaste to remove it the follow up with a jeweler's cloth to polish.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

Potions, creams, solvets, and dips will all result in permanent discoloration of the shank around the band. I've been using a jewelry polishing cloth for years. It never fails, even on heavily tarnished bands. A polishing cloth will also polish a pipe very well, stem and all.

 

[huntertrw]

I have a Shin-O Polishing Cloth, and its red rouge works well on silver as well as other metals. Here is a link to one seller's Website.

 

[Searock Fan]

Try this. A little fine pipe ash between your thumb and forefinger. Rub in on the silver band and wipe with a rag. Easy-peasy!

 

[Briar Lee]

Try this. A little fine pipe ash between your thumb and forefinger. Rub in on the silver band and wipe with a rag. Easy-peasy!

That’s my first plan!

Thanks!

 

[Briar Lee]

I was pleased and surprised to unwrap what appears to be a new old stock unmarked second of a high grade pipe, with a few fills.

I washed it with soap and water, then dipped some ashes on the silver band, and buffed with a rag.

Damn. That’s a lot of pipe for ten bucks!

Thank you, every one.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Great! I see my advice is finally starting to take hold. My work here is almost complete. Enjoy your pipe.

 

[Briar Lee]

What a pipe to begin the new year!

For those who doubt, if you get a genuine piece of the oldest and tightest grained Algerian briar and smoke it, it will make a believer out of Madeline Murray O’Hair.

It doesn’t get hot to hold.

I’ve rubbed beeswax on the outside and buffed it, and somehow that traps color leeching out from the briar.

After a man gets a lot of his favorite pipes to scratch the itch for saying he has them, then after that any money spent on something other than Pre 54 Algerian briar is just wasted.

Look at this thing, after one smoke.

 

[OzPiper]

What a pipe to begin the new year!

View attachment 276341View attachment 276342
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@Briar Lee,

That’s a fine looking pipe.
Much more my cup of tea than your worm-eaten Marxman mashies
/ niblicks

Smoke the heck out of that
And looking forward to seeing more of your scores in 2024

 

[Briar Lee]

@Briar Lee,

That’s a fine looking pipe.
Much more my cup of tea than your worm-eaten Marxman mashies
/ niblicks

Smoke the heck out of that
And looking forward to seeing more of your scores in 2024

Never say never, but I think this is the best smoking pipe I own, and one of the prettiest.

It’s American made, because there’s no national origin stamp.

It was intended to be a high dollar pipe, but three tiny fills prevented it from being branded.

Something about it whispers Sterncrest. The polishing and fittings are superb.

Maybe I can find out more by the hallmarks.



What a pipe!

 

[bullet08]

That was some heavy tarnish on some area. Glad to hear ash worked. Otherwise, I would have suggested taping the wood part, and going with mild silver polish. Sometimes, stubborn tarnish doesn't like to come off with simple polish from jeweler's cloth. Wooden parts don't like polish, so keeping them covered is a good idea. Unless you can remove the sterling band.

 

[Briar Lee]

That was some heavy tarnish on some area. Glad to hear ash worked. Otherwise, I would have suggested taping the wood part, and going with mild silver polish. Sometimes, stubborn tarnish doesn't like to come off with simple polish from jeweler's cloth. Wooden parts don't like polish, so keeping them covered is a good idea. Unless you can remove the sterling band.

Why isn’t this a 1943 Birmingham sterling silver stamp?





The anchor is sideways.

But that looks very British hallmarks to me.

 

[OzPiper]

Maybe I can find out more by the hallmarks.

View attachment 276439

Those look like English silver hallmarks
The anchor is the mark for Birmingham
And “T” possibly 1943

Great score for $10

 

[Briar Lee]

Those look like English silver hallmarks
The anchor is the mark for Birmingham
And “T” possibly 1943

Great score for $10

In 1943 there was a little unpleasantness going on in Britain.

The workmanship on this pipe is over the top, out of this world.

I removed a little knurled stinger from it, all polished up to the nines.

I have never seen tighter grain, including my Marxmans.

There is a badly double struck Algerian over a very American looking font IMPORTED BRIAR



I wish this thing could talk, you know?

 

[OzPiper]

In 1943 there was a little unpleasantness going on in Britain.

The workmanship on this pipe is over the top, out of this world.

I removed a little knurled stinger from it, all polished up to the nines.

I have never seen tighter grain, including my Marxmans.

I wish this thing could talk, you know?

You done well with this
I would be very happy if this was mine
Wishing you many happy bowls

 

[Briar Lee]

I’m getting so many pipes I can tell a pipe is a Sterncrest that has no name on it.

LHS - Pipedia

pipedia.org

The silver band was made in Birmingham England in 1943 while Messerschmitts and Spitfires dueled above the Tower of Big Ben.

The Sterncrest LHS Silvercrest was a post war pipe that looks like a ten dollar grade or higher, and mine didn’t make the grade.



Look at these marks.



Mine could have been like this, except for those little fills.



Please don’t tell me ancient Algerian briar doesn’t smoke better. It’s noticeably better.

But they played hell getting a perfect $10 and higher grade pipe out of it.