Surprising mid-century Loewe

[Ahi Ka]

I recently picked up a hallmarked 1958 L&Co Standard Brazilian.

The first thing that I noticed was the Standard series stamping on the left shank. I had always thought this series was not introduced until in the civic era, roughly a decade later. Of note, I have seen another standard series Loewe for sale here with 1963 hallmarks.

However the real surprise for me was when I removed the stem to find a threaded metal tenon/stinger.

has anyone else seen a Loewe with this connection before?

im in process of trying to see if I can get it out of the shank but it is either glued or seized in place. The vulcanite stem has threads in it. Also, a pipe cleaner passes through the entire shank with ease which makes me assume that if there is any stinger it is like an inner tube rather than a ball etc.

The silver band appears to cap the end of the shank, unless the briar has bizarrely been routed out and the difference in thickness is just an illusion.

help? Lol

 

[bluegrassbrian]

I've owned about a dozen hallmarked Loewe pipes from about 1915-1960. None had anything like that.

 

[Ahi Ka]

I've owned about a dozen hallmarked Loewe pipes from about 1915-1960. None had anything like that.

Me too. I also reached out to @ashdigger and he was like “huh? Wtf!”

 

[ssjones]

I suspect that the stem was glued to those threads, and the entire piece should unscrew, Ala Kaywoodie pipes

 

[Ahi Ka]

I suspect that the stem was glued to those threads, and the entire piece should unscrew, Ala Kaywoodie pipes

Any tips for getting it out of the shank then? I’ve read about some people using heat to release the tenon, but I don’t feel comfortable doing that with a silver band in place.

so far I’ve used alcohol, both working it and soaking it. That didn’t get me any action, but cleaned it up nice. I’ve tried the freezer overnight but that didn’t work either.

also, as far as I can see, the tenon is going straight into a wooden mortise. I can’t see any metal in the shank

 

[greeneyes]

This is a very beautiful pipe! My instinct tells me that this is a doubly-threaded tenon, possibly a very early replacement or repair. It's possible to just make out the cuff of briar around the threaded tenon.

 

[Ahi Ka]

This is a very beautiful pipe! My instinct tells me that this is a doubly-threaded tenon, possibly a very early replacement or repair. It's possible to just make out the cuff of briar around the threaded tenon.

Yes the briar cuff/mortise is visible, which is what confused me as most, if not all the screw metal tenons I have played with have gone into a threaded metal mortise.

the replacement/repair/modification suggestion is pretty valid i guess considering this is not something associated with Loewe.

ive tried to show the threads in the stem - excuse the small amount of Teflon in there.

also a pic showing how the connection is slightly off, not sure if this is just from me trying to remove the tenon or if it came like that.

 

[sablebrush52]

This is a very beautiful pipe! My instinct tells me that this is a doubly-threaded tenon, possibly a very early replacement or repair. It's possible to just make out the cuff of briar around the threaded tenon.

Yep!
I’ve seen several several pipes of different manufacture with this same construction. I just assume it was some repairman’s approach to a tenon repair intended to survive eternity.

 

[Ahi Ka]

Good to know. I kinda feel better knowing it’s a repair…

in regards to the standard series grade stamping. Does anyone else have a late Haymarket/pre-civic example of this?

 

[paulfg]

This is a very beautiful pipe! My instinct tells me that this is a doubly-threaded tenon, possibly a very early replacement or repair. It's possible to just make out the cuff of briar around the threaded tenon.

Indeed if it was an original fitment I would expect it to be carrying the L & co makers mark.
from what I can see it is D F ?

English silver hallmarks: British maker's marks identification DC-DL

an illustrated directory listing 3000 hallmarks of England, Scotland, Ireland, Channel Islands and Colonial silver (Canada, India, Cape), maker marks, town marks, date letter, duty marks. A selection of 18th, 19th, and 20th century British silvermiths illustrated with their marks and...

www.silvercollection.it

see here

​ ​	DF into a rectangle Dora Fresco London c.1900 hallmark See the section of "TOBACCONISTS, PIPE MAKERS, PIPE MOUNTERS"​ ​

 

[Ahi Ka]

Yes DF, the most common mounter I’ve found on 30s-60s loewes. But to be fair, most have come from NZ estate market so I’m not sure if that makes a difference in what I see.

L&Co on the band, and LH shank (above standard), Loewe London W on RH shank as per normal. Brazilian underneath.

 

[ssjones]

Any tips for getting it out of the shank then? I’ve read about some people using heat to release the tenon, but I don’t feel comfortable doing that with a silver band in place.

so far I’ve used alcohol, both working it and soaking it. That didn’t get me any action, but cleaned it up nice. I’ve tried the freezer overnight but that didn’t work either.

also, as far as I can see, the tenon is going straight into a wooden mortise. I can’t see any metal in the shank

try a drop of two of a penetrating fluid, my go-to is PB Blaster

 

[jguss]

Yes DF, the most common mounter I’ve found on 30s-60s loewes. But to be fair, most have come from NZ estate market so I’m not sure if that makes a difference in what I see.

I haven't focused on Loewe hallmarks before but am a bit skeptical of the Dora Fresco attribution. It's certainly true that she had a hallmark registered in London on April 19th, 1893 but the notion that she was producing work for Loewe over a period of some sixty years seems implausible. Especially so since Dora changed her surname when she married Jacques van den Heuvel in 1895 and was busy being dead after February 3, 1925. Do you have examples of London DF hallmarks from the 1930s-60s that you could post? It would be interesting to compare them with the plate image available in Culme. Fresco's other (and possibly primary) occupation, by the way, seems to have been as a dealer in antique furniture along with her mother Sarah and sister Kate. Even that was only in the 1890s. Thanks, Jon

 

[Ahi Ka]

Jon, just to clarify I’m not stating that DF is Dora Fresco, but that the DF mark is really common on this period of Loewe. Here’s a quick snap shot of what I have readily available now, there are more if I could digging

1929



1939



1963

 

[Ahi Ka]

And one more from my eBay watch list

1962

 

[jguss]

Very interesting; all stamped with the London assay office?

 

[Ahi Ka]

Very interesting; all stamped with the London assay office?

yep ??

 

[bayareabriar]

Any tips for getting it out of the shank then? I’ve read about some people using heat to release the tenon, but I don’t feel comfortable doing that with a silver band in place.

so far I’ve used alcohol, both working it and soaking it. That didn’t get me any action, but cleaned it up nice. I’ve tried the freezer overnight but that didn’t work either.

also, as far as I can see, the tenon is going straight into a wooden mortise. I can’t see any metal in the shank

Don’t. Probably end up breaking the metal.

 

[sablebrush52]

Since Dora Fresco was busy being dead, perhaps there is another DF out there. The world is full of D F's.

 

[jguss]

Since Dora Fresco was busy being dead, perhaps there is another DF out there. The world is full of D F's.

I feel compelled to say I read Jesse’s post several hours ago and it still makes me laugh. Thank you for brightening an otherwise lackluster Thursday.