St Claude?

[sparrowhawk]

What are St Claude pipes like? They are very attractive and very cheap.

 

[pipebeast]

I've had a few, I find them to be relatively light and pleasant to smoke. They hold up well.

 

[mso489]

I don't know the brand, but if they really come from St. Claude in France, that would be promising. The whole French pipe community is devoted to its craftsmanship and is quite competitive but also very tightly knit with family interconnections between the different pipe makers. Most of the classic "British" shapes were originated in St. Claude and elsewhere in France, and of course, the French developed briar as a principle tobacco pipe material. I have always thought French pipes in general are well above their price points in quality, on all scores. So it doesn't surprise me that a St. Claude pipe would be a pretty good product.

 

[sparrowhawk]

Thanks for all the info, gents. I just ordered a St Claude large sandblasted, dark billiard. For only $40! How wrong can I go?

 

[Chasing Embers]

I got one of their horn stemmed pieces a few years ago. Good pipe just tighter draw than I'm used to.

 

[sparrowhawk]

Here's the St. Claude I picked up. Rather long, but that doesn't bother me, given what you fellows said. I think this is the first French pipe I will own.

 

[Chasing Embers]

They are very well made, and if the draw is restricted like mine, pack a little looser, and it will be right as rain.

 

[armonts]

Mistrust anyway, "St.Claude" has never been a brand as such!
There are no independent manufacturers currently, they all have a brand, the few unmarked have at least marked "Saint-Claude" with in addition to an acronym "bruyère", not just St.Claude ... And are sold only by a single French shop and in small quantities.
It can be like Chinese or Pakistani knives marked "Laguiole". :|

 

[bnichols23]

Nice looking billiard, nonetheless. And unlike Duane's, if he has to, hawk could drill the draft out a little bit.

 

[Chasing Embers]

There are no independent manufacturers currently, they all have a brand, the few unmarked have at least marked "Saint-Claude" with in addition to an acronym "bruyère", not just St.Claude ... And are sold only by a single French shop and in small quantities.

The ones I have had have been distributed by Ropp, and bruyere is the French word for heather, the word that English speakers corrupted into "briar".

Nice looking billiard, nonetheless. And unlike Duane's, if he has to, hawk could drill the draft out a little bit.

Mine has an interesting system. Metal tenon with a cork lined mortise.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Cork lining also on this CVG (Genod). Tenon appears to be bone (?)

 

[mso489]

sparrow', for $40 it's worth a try. Is it stamped "Made in France," or "France"? That's no guarantee, but it would suggest its origins.

 

[sparrowhawk]

I spoke with Chris at SP, where I purchased the pipe. If I have this right, the St. Claudes are from Chacom, and very old, part of a stash found in a Chacom attic. Chris mentioned Ropp too; part of the Chacom family? But the pipe is definitely French.I should ask Chris to write all these details down.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Cork lining also on this CVG (Genod). Tenon appears to be bone (?)

That's an interesting piece John! Any idea about the age of it?

 

[armonts]

Ropp was a well-known old brand in its own right, but the factory began to have difficulties in the 70s and closed down in 1988. (bought by Amiel that did not last.)

Since then it has become a local museum.

 

[armonts]

Guided tour :
http://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/bourgogne-franche-comte/doubs/l-entreprise-ropp-toujours-dans-son-jus-980056.html

 

[mso489]

sparrow, a good vintage French pipe for forty bucks. Sounds like a deal to me. Congrats.

 

[pipesticks]

Sparrow, that's a nice looking Billiard there. I have my eye on a smooth Canadian. One question tho....does your pipe have the corked mortise setup or a standard vulcanite in briar mortise? I've had Ropps with the cork before and they always crumble with age. I'll grab that Canadian if it's a standard setup.

 

[pipesticks]

No response here, so I called SPC yesterday and had them pull one off the shelf (a smooth canadian). No cork, standard briar/vulcanite setup. And she said the pipe looked to have a shellac finish.

 

[jpmcwjr]

That's an interesting piece John! Any idea about the age of it?

80 years comes to mind, based on a previous posting of it and someone's opinion. Just saw your post this a.m. and have to dash out. So I doubt I can find the thread before I go.