Do we know the story and the history behind the names of the pipe shapes? For example, why do we name as Dublin (well, I can guess that a bit) or lumberjack, diplomat etc.?
Story Behind the Names of Pipe Shapes?
- Thread starter RexHiemis
- Start date
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Some, I'm sure, because their bowls resemble other objects or the whole pipe their proportions - Apple, Pot, Chimney, Bulldog, Horn, Squashed Tomato. Cob, presumably from a corn husk. Rhodesian and Zulu presumably to differentiate old colonial sympathies. Churchwarden, to keep sin as far away as possible.
Others, why? I prefer a Prince, no idea of the source of that. Billiard? Not a clue.
Others, why? I prefer a Prince, no idea of the source of that. Billiard? Not a clue.
Hello, Rex! Why not join the community here and post your introduction?
A lot of pipe shape names are self-explanatory
But often different makers will use different names for the one shape.
The etymology for names can be quite obscure eg the earlier French name for a Bulldog was "Haiti" and a billiard was "neogene"
I'm happy if people refer to a fully bent pipe as a "Hungarian" rather than an "oom paul"
The oddity behind Oom Paul is curious bc I was raised saying it due to the older generations smoking a pipe. Does anyway know how the Hungarian term came to be?
It was mentioned here years ago that the shape was being made in Debrecen, Hungary long before the use of briar.
I'll snap some pics from some old Loewe catalogs to illustrate the naming of shapes 100 years ago.
After work..
After work..
From Pipedia...
"Most agree that the Prince is named after King Edward VII, former Prince of Wales. The Prince pipe shape is also called Prince of Wales. Indeed, it is believed that it was invented by Prince Albert (Edouard VII) of England”
Thank you! Eddie7 eh? Isn't it claimed that when he died, his regular daily consumption was 12 cigars and 20 cigarettes? I could see him squeezing in a bowl of Balkan for elevenses.
How do they name cars? Drugs? Housing developments? Children? Most times, it’s on a whim. Big companies do a lot of expensive market research, but still come up with some pretty lame monikers.
@woodsroad: Never a truer word spoken. How do you explain the 'Nimrod Lighter'? In the U.K Nimrod is a word to describe a 'Differently Abled' person or someone who might be 'Mentally Challenged'. I have often had visions of some Mad Men marketing department trying to come up with a name for a pipe lighter and someone from Alabama saying 'Let call it the 'Retard'. It really slips off the tongue'. 
"New For '72, it's the Ford Pinto Exploder!"
The Lovat was named after Lord Lovat, the 8th Duke of Cheshierfieldshireton. It was previously called the White Chappell but after Jack The Ripper, sales declined. It's said that Lord Lovat prefered the shape due to its shorter length, he could more easily manage one while buggering house maids.
Especially in the UK where certain words we use here in a derogatory manner they use as everyday expressions. I actually like the moniker Nimrod for that pipe lighter. Makes me think of the inventor finishing his design and thinking to himself if any would buy such a design@woodsroad: Never a truer word spoken. How do you explain the 'Nimrod Lighter'? In the U.K Nimrod is a word to describe a 'Differently Abled' person or someone who might be 'Mentally Challenged'. I have often had visions of some Mad Men marketing department trying to come up with a name for a pipe lighter and someone from Alabama saying 'Let call it the 'Retard'. It really slips off the tongue'.
Somewhere I heard that the Poker shape was created and named for being able to smoke at the card table and set the pipe down without it tipping over. 
The Bulldog is the only "standard" shape pipe that can not be made without the use of a lathe to shape the bowl. Getting it right by hand is almost impossible.
p.s. If any of you want to know anything else just ask me. I have all the answers... and if I don't know, I can make up some b.s. that sounds like I do.
p.s. If any of you want to know anything else just ask me. I have all the answers... and if I don't know, I can make up some b.s. that sounds like I do.