Talking about stems...

[nickg]

Before Lucite and vulcanite, what did they use for stems?

 

[schmitzbitz]

I've seen (or own) examples of stems made of amber, bone, wood, ivory, reed, bamboo, clay, celluloid and other proto-plasics.

In addition to vulcanite and lucite (and the different proprietary versions of the materials); pipe-makers have been known to use bakelite (usually found on old pipes), ABS and Sintra type plastics.

 

[taerin]

Bakelite was used before with briar pipes. I have also heard of amber being used on older pipes.