To restore or not restore

[Goblin_Walrus]

About one year ago I was given a meerschaum pipe that was owned and smoked by my wife’s great-aunt’s long-departed first husband, whom everybody loved. The great aunt in question owned and ran a tobacconist’s shop in their small town, so naturally her husband smoked a pipe. Can’t quite make out the exact blend he was smoking in it, but it was definitely a Virginia and cavendished something-or-other aromatic of some kind. I am trying to decide whether I want to restore it and smoke it or let it be as a part of the small collection of tobacciana from his wife’s shop (right now I have this pipe and two boxes of matches, hoping to acquire more in the future from this specific shop, I’m going to hunt around their town and other family). I’d like some more experienced perspective on this. You all who have inherited family pipes, what did you decide to to, and why? Did you restore old great grandad’s pipe and smoke it, or did you leave it the way he left it?
this is the pipe in question.
Thanks!

 

[xrundog]

That pipe isn’t an antique. Clean the bowl, stem and airways and smoke it.

 

[Waning Embers]

It may need the fittings replaced but I'd say smoke it.

 

[LeafErikson]

I would just replace the fittings, clean it out, and light it up. The stem is acrylic so I wouldn't use alcohol on it. Just use a dull knife or a Czech tool scooper to gently scrape out any cake.

 

[captainsousie]

Clean it, smoke it. It's up to you though.

 

[huntertrw]

To restore or not restore​

William says, " That is the question..."

 

[buroak]

I’ve used alcohol on acrylic without ill effects, but you could play it safe with dish detergent and water as your cleanser for the airway in the stem.

It may need the fittings replaced but I'd say smoke it.

+1 on replacing the fittings.

 

[Goblin_Walrus]

Well, I really appreciate the advice you all have given me here; it seems the consensus is that the pipe ought to be cleaned and smoked. I will give it another couple day’s thought, but I believe I will end up smoking this pipe. As @xrundog said, it’s not an antique, and I reckon breathing new life into the thing is as good a tribute to the man that once owned it as any. Thanks again to everyone that gave me their 2 cents, I’ll post an update when I get the thing clean.

 

[Sig]

Yup, smoke it.

 

[verporchting]

Smoke it.