Thoughts On A Meer

[paulfg]

Whats your thoughts on this pipe I have just bought/
The colouring surprises me as I would have expected the shank to be darker.It was advertised as Block meerschaum and I think is reasonably old
,didnt pay too much for it

 

[jhowell]

Definitely block. An example of what is now being marketed as "translucent meerschaum". It appears the top of the bowl was fumed. Nice snag.

 

[DangerStranger]

The case seems older that the pipe and looks to be made for a slightly larger pipe (hard to be certain from a photo). Otherwise the pipe looks nice though I suspect it wasn't made in Austria. Maybe an African block meerschaum looking at the flambé top and overall dye.

Does it feel heavy? Does the pipe knock around f you close it in the case and shake it?

 

[paulfg]

The case seems older that the pipe and looks to be made for a slightly larger pipe (hard to be certain from a photo). Otherwise the pipe looks nice though I suspect it wasn't made in Austria. Maybe an African block meerschaum looking at the flambé top and overall dye.

Does it feel heavy? Does the pipe knock around f you close it in the case and shake it?

I dont yet have the pipe but do wonder if it is a Strambach Meerschaum as I have found a couple of photos of similar pipes and this write up

Robert Strambach meerschaum pipes – rebornpipes

Posts about Robert Strambach meerschaum pipes written by rebornpipes

rebornpipes.com

note the use of the metal tenon

 

[paulfg]

Definitely block. An example of what is now being marketed as "translucent meerschaum". It appears the top of the bowl was fumed. Nice snag.

I agree the top is fumed or calcinated as described in the strambach listings on fleabay

 

[Country Bladesmith]

Definitely block. An example of what is now being marketed as "translucent meerschaum". It appears the top of the bowl was fumed. Nice snag.

Yeah, I guess my hobby block that I carved is what they’re calling “translucent.” It’s coloring the same way, with those little flecks of white. ?‍

 

[DangerStranger]

I dont yet have the pipe but do wonder if it is a Strambach Meerschaum as I have found a couple of photos of similar pipes and this write up

Robert Strambach meerschaum pipes – rebornpipes

Posts about Robert Strambach meerschaum pipes written by rebornpipes

rebornpipes.com

note the use of the metal tenon

I've only had one Strambach and the metal tenon on it was a little different than yours. I'm not sure that is relevant, just an observation. It's a nice looking pipe, and I don't think you overpaid for it especially as the seller accepted your offer (looked it up on sold auctions). Definitely follow up once you receive it.

 

[DangerStranger]

Yeah, I guess my hobby block that I carved is what they’re calling “translucent.” It’s coloring the same way, with those little flecks of white. ?‍
View attachment 85027

That's a better carve than a lot of the "professionally" carved pipes on the market.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Nice pipe, but it doesn't look smoked enough to begin to color!

 

[Country Bladesmith]

That's a better carve than a lot of the "professionally" carved pipes on the market.

Thanks! It’s an interesting material to work with.

 

[paulfg]

Nice pipe, but it doesn't look smoked enough to begin to color!

on reflection I agree,I was looking at the top of the bowl and the speckling and hadnt considered it was fumed.
Which it definitely looks like it is.
To be fair it was late at night here

 

[jonasclark]

Yes, this pipe is pre-colored. "Vienna Meerschaum" was long slang for pressed/chip meerschaums, and I think that's what this is. Made by Strambach, Bauer or similar in the 1950s,very pretty and should smoke well.

 

[anotherbob]

Yeah, I guess my hobby block that I carved is what they’re calling “translucent.” It’s coloring the same way, with those little flecks of white. ?‍
View attachment 85027

my first meer is doing that too. I wondered if it was translucent. Best part is it was a very cheap pipe that is great.

 

[brian64]

Definitely block. An example of what is now being marketed as "translucent meerschaum". It appears the top of the bowl was fumed. Nice snag.

Yes, this pipe is pre-colored. "Vienna Meerschaum" was long slang for pressed/chip meerschaums, and I think that's what this is. Made by Strambach, Bauer or similar in the 1950s,very pretty and should smoke well.

Seems to be a question of whether this is block or pressed. If pressed, then it's not "translucent".

 

[paulfg]

Seems to be a question of whether this is block or pressed. If pressed, then it's not "translucent".

from what I have read the only maker using metal tenons was Strambach and they use cultured meerschaum which is similar to real meerschaum but lab grown instead of mined.
I am guessing this pipe is a strambach but may be wrong

 

[Country Bladesmith]

from what I have read the only maker using metal tenons was Strambach and they use cultured meerschaum which is similar to real meerschaum but lab grown instead of mined.
I am guessing this pipe is a strambach but may be wrong

I don’t think they color that way, but I’m not real sure.

 

[paulfg]

I don’t think they color that way, but I’m not real sure.

I am pretty sure its pre coloured,its the speckling that confuses me

 

[Country Bladesmith]

I am pretty sure its pre coloured,its the speckling that confuses me

Yeah, the speckling is what I meant. My post wasn’t the most articulate.

 

[jonasclark]

I recall seeing these pipes in Sears and JCPenney Christmas catalogs from the 1950s on "Wishbook Web." They usually had a page of smoking stuff. These were noted as being pressed, but I just remembered these were sold as being "oil cured." I don't know what that process is like, but I've seen photos of others and they also had this translucent look. Usually I see an apple shape.

 

[DangerStranger]

The case seems older that the pipe and looks to be made for a slightly larger pipe (hard to be certain from a photo). Otherwise the pipe looks nice though I suspect it wasn't made in Austria. Maybe an African block meerschaum looking at the flambé top and overall dye.

Does it feel heavy? Does the pipe knock around f you close it in the case and shake it?

from what I have read the only maker using metal tenons was Strambach and they use cultured meerschaum which is similar to real meerschaum but lab grown instead of mined.
I am guessing this pipe is a strambach but may be wrong

I located the Strambach that I mentioned earlier and now think that you are correct. Your pipe is also a Strambach. Mine looks to be the same meerschaum and has the exact same style tenon as yours. Here are pictures for your comparison. Apologies if I threw you off earlier, I'm not sure why I thought that the tenons were different. Must be that my memory has gotten fuzzy.