Seeking General Info About Gourd Calabash w/Silver Rim

[shanez]

So I've been looking into these pipes and I'd like to add a few to my collection. Ones like these:





A cased one would be really nice.

I'm okay with my knowledge/judgement on the condition of the stems and gourds but I know very little about the silver.

I see a lot of pipes available with dents/dings in the metal and am assuming that's just what I can expect for a pipe that's around a century old or is this not the case?

Are there definite things to avoid?

Any ideas on fair price ranges? (What's typical?)

 

[paulfg]

The rim on that one actually looks pretty good compared with most I have seen listed on the bay.
For some reason they always seem to have dings and dents,accumulated over the last 1 hundred years

That one looks like it is held on by pins/nails and could be removed and a good silversmith maybe able to improve the look,if that is what you want or you can just put it down to age and enjoy.

 

[PipeIT]

Hi shanez, check this out to look up Hallmarks, to help you identify.

Collection of Estate Pipe Makers and Mounters :: Tobacciana History

I just ran across this today, an amazing collection of Estate pipe makers. This is a must read through for pipe lovers, especially the lover of old Estates! https://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=37041 Enjoy! ❤️ P.S. I’m not sure if anyone has ever posted this site before... hmm...

pipesmagazine.com

 

[TheIronMonkey]

Quite often, the rims will be dented from knocking tobacco out. You can find them with pretty minimal denting if you're patient. Here's my William Harrison (Birmingham silversmith) Gourd Calabash with a silver rim cap and ferrule, with a horn stem from 1909.



Unfortunately, you won't know this until you have the pipe in hand, but, be mindful that a military mount like mine might not draw well because of the fit plugging in and the seam on the ferrule not providing a good seal.

 

[Ahi Ka]

I’ve paid between $10 and $300 for my silver capped calabashes. If I got anymore I’d probably want to get one with a military mount rather than the bone tenon, just so I can have access to the gourds interior through the shank.

i see a lot of WHC and Karoo ones listed which look nice but don’t command as big a price tag as those which are more collectible brands.

 

[shanez]

Well, this just arrived:









I'd still like to add a couple more to my collection. It's just a matter of condition vs price.

 

[runscott]

That spigot is beautiful. You have a lot of options with these 1900-1920 gourd calabashes. The main thing is getting a good look at the interior of the bowl, and only acquiring one that won't require extensive work. I also wouldn't buy one with a dinged ferrule or badly-dinged silver rim - there isn't any need to deal with that kind of work unless it's a maker that you collect. You can get a good one for $100-150 if you keep your eyes open.

There are three main designs: meer-lined with no rim, meer-lined with a silver rim, and a silver rim and a meerschaum insert. As far as stem designs, you've got army mounts, spigots, and tenons. Most are vulcanite, but you can also find amber. The bit can be slot or orific.

Finally, consider the gourd itself - they are natural, so any shape is possible. They can be long and sleek, are have very acute angles at the shank...and everything in-between. And the actual bowl can be thin or wide. Tons of variance.

My personal preference is the meer-lined with a silver rim and a vulcanite stem with tenon, and orific bit.

 

[sablebrush52]

My one lone calabash, and this is a terrible picture of it I took about 12 years ago, is, naturally, a Barling calabash:

Good luck finding one. I've seen one other in the 14 years since I bought this one.

I've smoked it a few times. The problem with the sterling cap is that you can't simply dismantle it for cleaning. I spent about a week carefully swabbing out the interior to get all of the crap out of it, going in through the "shank".

It's a very good smoker.

 

[ashdigger]

Calabashes can be fickle bitches. They can be both exceedingly easy to ascertain their condition and also exceedingly frustrating.

You have to make a decision on what you want. Light clean up, no clean up or full scale restoration.

These are in order of light clean up to full restoration.

1910 BBB with Amber Stem

1904 Comoy - it’s getting a full on restoration

1910 J.B. Just needed a stem. So I had two made.


1904 Peterson Patent - There’s a whole thread on this one

1910 H. H. Restemmed and new Meer Cup

 

[ashdigger]

BTW, working on old calabashes, I think was from 1911, can be tricky. When I started to clean this up so I could figure out the level of restoration, it literally exploded in my hands.

 

[Ahi Ka]

I know I shouldn’t be laughing, but after scrolling through all the beautiful ones above it appealed to my sense of humour to also see the bloopers reel.

hey where do you get your meer cups for replacement?

 

[Searock Fan]

I've got one calabash I've had for over 40 years. It's mid size with a block meerschaum bowl and a black licite stem I made.

I can only tell you a few things about it. It's always a good smoker. If I come up with some tobacco I feel is too harsh I'll smoke it in the calabash because it tends to smooth out any blend. My only complaint is that whatever I smoke in it, it tends to burn up too quickly. Otherwise it's great.

 

[shanez]

After seeing @ashdigger 's 1910 BBB above I think I need to hunt down an amber stem calabash.

 

[NC TX ID pipeman]

After seeing @ashdigger 's 1910 BBB above I think I need to hunt down an amber stem calabash.

There is a nice one on ebay right now...A.Bauer and one old one with amber stem...Karoo from 1912...both Buy now...

 

[Ahi Ka]

Send @beefeater33 a message

 

[ashdigger]

I know I shouldn’t be laughing, but after scrolling through all the beautiful ones above it appealed to my sense of humour to also see the bloopers reel.

hey where do you get your meer cups for replacement?

I don’t know where the cups come from Ryan Alden does the heavy lifting.

 

[mav]

Well, this just arrived:

View attachment 155794

View attachment 155795

View attachment 155796

View attachment 155797

I'd still like to add a couple more to my collection. It's just a matter of condition vs price.

Wow that's still really beautiful even with the dinged up rim, maybe you could find a metalist or a jeweler that would be willing to somehow restore the rim?

 

[mav]

Calabashes can be fickle bitches. They can be both exceedingly easy to ascertain their condition and also exceedingly frustrating.

You have to make a decision on what you want. Light clean up, no clean up or full scale restoration.

These are in order of light clean up to full restoration.

1910 BBB with Amber Stem
View attachment 155827
1904 Comoy - it’s getting a full on restoration
View attachment 155828
1910 J.B. Just needed a stem. So I had two made.
View attachment 155831
View attachment 155832
1904 Peterson Patent - There’s a whole thread on this one
View attachment 155835
1910 H. H. Restemmed and new Meer Cup
View attachment 155836

Those are really stunning.

 

[monty55]

Quite often, the rims will be dented from knocking tobacco out. You can find them with pretty minimal denting if you're patient. Here's my William Harrison (Birmingham silversmith) Gourd Calabash with a silver rim cap and ferrule, with a horn stem from 1909.

View attachment 154256

Unfortunately, you won't know this until you have the pipe in hand, but, be mindful that a military mount like mine might not draw well because of the fit plugging in and the seam on the ferrule not providing a good seal.

I'm bumping this thread because I'm presently interested in the same as the OP.
@TheIronMonkey what do you think the value of your pipe in this photo is? I'm considering one just like it, but in far worse condition. It's a BBB from 1908 with silver rim and horn stem. They want 350. and I'm thinking that's about too much, but I'm really ignorant when it comes to gourd calabashes. I've always wanted one though. Considering what I read in this thread and some of the photos, I think I'll pass on the 350 pipe and stay patient. But I've also noticed the price of pipes has increased significantly over the last 5-10 years.
But I still want to get educated on them.

There are three main designs: meer-lined with no rim, meer-lined with a silver rim, and a silver rim and a meerschaum insert. As far as stem designs, you've got army mounts, spigots, and tenons. Most are vulcanite, but you can also find amber. The bit can be slot or orific.

@runscott, could you educate me on the difference between a meer-lined with a silver rim, and a silver rim and a meer insert? Other than the silver, how can I tell by a photo whether it's meer-lined, or has a meer insert?

BTW, working on old calabashes, I think was from 1911, can be tricky. When I started to clean this up so I could figure out the level of restoration, it literally exploded in my hands.
View attachment 155850

@ashdigger, this is exactly what I'm afraid of! Is this meer lined, or a meer insert, or is this all meerschaum?
How can I possibly tell what condition the meer is in from a photo, and it's surrounded by a gourd?
BTW, the pipes I've seen of yours are awesome brother! Absolutely stunning!! I'm green with envy!

This is the pipe in question which I looked at. Any input from anyone is very much appreciated.
RARE ANTIQUE BBB LOUIS BLUMFELD HORN STEM SILVER GOURD CALABASH ESTATE PIPE 1908 | eBay - https://www.ebay.com/itm/124945630671

I'm very interested in refurbishing or restoring one, but I don't want to bite off more than I can chew. These gourd calabashes from 1900 era are hit or miss I guess. But I'm not about to spend 350 on a pipe that will come apart like the one ashdigger had. I guess you really never know till you get into it. Perhaps this is why I've hesitated on pulling the trigger on one over the years.

@shanez, I love your purchase! How does it smoke? Can you lend any advice now that you've had it awhile?

 

[ashdigger]

I'm bumping this thread because I'm presently interested in the same as the OP.
@TheIronMonkey what do you think the value of your pipe in this photo is? I'm considering one just like it, but in far worse condition. It's a BBB from 1908 with silver rim and horn stem. They want 350. and I'm thinking that's about too much, but I'm really ignorant when it comes to gourd calabashes. I've always wanted one though. Considering what I read in this thread and some of the photos, I think I'll pass on the 350 pipe and stay patient. But I've also noticed the price of pipes has increased significantly over the last 5-10 years.
But I still want to get educated on them.


@runscott, could you educate me on the difference between a meer-lined with a silver rim, and a silver rim and a meer insert? Other than the silver, how can I tell by a photo whether it's meer-lined, or has a meer insert?


@ashdigger, this is exactly what I'm afraid of! Is this meer lined, or a meer insert, or is this all meerschaum?
How can I possibly tell what condition the meer is in from a photo, and it's surrounded by a gourd?
BTW, the pipes I've seen of yours are awesome brother! Absolutely stunning!! I'm green with envy!

This is the pipe in question which I looked at. Any input from anyone is very much appreciated.
RARE ANTIQUE BBB LOUIS BLUMFELD HORN STEM SILVER GOURD CALABASH ESTATE PIPE 1908 | eBay - https://www.ebay.com/itm/124945630671

I'm very interested in refurbishing or restoring one, but I don't want to bite off more than I can chew. These gourd calabashes from 1900 era are hit or miss I guess. But I'm not about to spend 350 on a pipe that will come apart like the one ashdigger had. I guess you really never know till you get into it. Perhaps this is why I've hesitated on pulling the trigger on one over the years.

@shanez, I love your purchase! How does it smoke? Can you lend any advice now that you've had it awhile?

I’ve purchased pipes from that seller. They are fantastic to deal with.

That is a gourd calabash with a meerschaum cup.

Thanks for the kind words about my pipes. I love them too.