It is indeed a true Barling pipe. What a great find. The shop was Skillington of Leicester. I did have another Barling from the same store, but it was a good bit later at 1929. A mere youngster compared to that treasure - lol.
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Really in remarkable condition with that crisp rim. I wouldn't worry about the "out of round" at the rim. I suspect that the chamber walls are just fine. Smokers employed knives to clean the cake, and they often took a bit off of the rim. Beautiful grain on that pipe. Barlings from this era often sport beautiful grain, which wasn't always the case later on. The shaping is very nice. Really a terrific pipe. When I get home I'll see if this shape appears in my catalog. If it does, I'll let you know the model number and name. A bit of browning on the stem which should come off with a little elbow grease. Just keep it out of the light when not in use once you have it restored so that it keeps its good looks.
Klause:
I don't know sic'em about Barling pipes other than they're highly collectible and coveted by so many members of this forum.
I love the shape, the grain and those beautiful thick walls. Moreso, I wouldn't be concerned a lick about the bowl being out of round. It's over a hundred years old, well loved and just might be a 9.5 out of 10 - if not higher.
I've never had a pipe as old as yours. Any idea what material they used for the mouthpiece?
What a wonderful catch, pal.
Fnord
I don't know sic'em about Barling pipes other than they're highly collectible and coveted by so many members of this forum.
I love the shape, the grain and those beautiful thick walls. Moreso, I wouldn't be concerned a lick about the bowl being out of round. It's over a hundred years old, well loved and just might be a 9.5 out of 10 - if not higher.
I've never had a pipe as old as yours. Any idea what material they used for the mouthpiece?
What a wonderful catch, pal.
Fnord
Damn, Klause, that is a hell of a score: great price and great condition. Congrats on that winner. I had mine earlier this year with a Pioneer Calabash that was similarly not listed correctly and got it for $40, and it was in fantastic shape.
K
klause
Guest
Reborn, that is very cool that you had one from the same shop - what are the odds, huh?
Sablebrush, thanks - I'd love to know a bit more, so any other info you can rustle up would be super. The out of round is not an issue for me at all - it's all part of the story - some old pipes I have it would be hard to tell what the original shape was ;-). Actually, while reaming it I had a realisation. The owner was right- handed - hold pipe in left hand, knife I right hand - the side that is over reamed sits closest to the right hand!!! It's the way I'd do it if I wasn't careful - it was a strange moment.
So, progress so far (started at 5:30 am this morning with my first coffee):
So, just finished the shank clean - took a bit, but not to bad. Then Cleaned outside of pipe, very gently as I didn't want to damage the stain. It was quite clean, so not much to do here. Silver band cleaned up beautifully.
Reamed it with my trusty Opinel. Internals of bowl are PERFECT. no rim darkening, as owner didn't over load the pipe. Cake started about 1/4 inch below rim. Can now get my thumb into bowl (just under 2 inches). In fact my thumb does not touch the sides of the bowl - it Can swivel freely on tip of my thumb. Walls are just under 1/2 inch thick.
Stem is about to get a LOT more elbow grease, but most of the oxidation is now removed. The draft hole is so wide that a fluffy pipe cleaner does not flatten or catch even remotely - in fact, cleaning it was a bugger, because the cleaner was not cleaning!!!!!! I'm not removing the tooth chatter, as it's not bad, and is part of the pipes story - anyway the stem is so thick, that they do not come even close to compromising it.
There is not a single flaw in the briar.
So far, so good.
Fnord, this pipe is definitely 9.5/10 - easily. Also, the stem is vulcanite (off to polish it up now).
Gent, thanks for all the comments - Cmdrmcbragg, sounds like a great score
Sablebrush, thanks - I'd love to know a bit more, so any other info you can rustle up would be super. The out of round is not an issue for me at all - it's all part of the story - some old pipes I have it would be hard to tell what the original shape was ;-). Actually, while reaming it I had a realisation. The owner was right- handed - hold pipe in left hand, knife I right hand - the side that is over reamed sits closest to the right hand!!! It's the way I'd do it if I wasn't careful - it was a strange moment.
So, progress so far (started at 5:30 am this morning with my first coffee):
So, just finished the shank clean - took a bit, but not to bad. Then Cleaned outside of pipe, very gently as I didn't want to damage the stain. It was quite clean, so not much to do here. Silver band cleaned up beautifully.
Reamed it with my trusty Opinel. Internals of bowl are PERFECT. no rim darkening, as owner didn't over load the pipe. Cake started about 1/4 inch below rim. Can now get my thumb into bowl (just under 2 inches). In fact my thumb does not touch the sides of the bowl - it Can swivel freely on tip of my thumb. Walls are just under 1/2 inch thick.
Stem is about to get a LOT more elbow grease, but most of the oxidation is now removed. The draft hole is so wide that a fluffy pipe cleaner does not flatten or catch even remotely - in fact, cleaning it was a bugger, because the cleaner was not cleaning!!!!!! I'm not removing the tooth chatter, as it's not bad, and is part of the pipes story - anyway the stem is so thick, that they do not come even close to compromising it.
There is not a single flaw in the briar.
So far, so good.
Fnord, this pipe is definitely 9.5/10 - easily. Also, the stem is vulcanite (off to polish it up now).
Gent, thanks for all the comments - Cmdrmcbragg, sounds like a great score
Looking good! The closest illustration I could find in my catalog is called "The Magestic" The illustration shows an army mount, but the bowl shape is the same as yours.
I'm sot surprised that the draft hole is large. Several of my pipes from this period have a wide open draft. So much for this being a new idea. I usually double over my tapered wires for cleaning, or twist two together to get the extra girth needed for cleaning.
So here's another bit of historical context to consider. Your Barling comes with a push-in stem. In 1906, most of the pipes being made still used threaded screws to connect the stem to the shank. Barling was a pioneer in the use of push stems. Even with amber stems, they got rid of the screw connector and substituted a vulcanite tenon.
I'm sot surprised that the draft hole is large. Several of my pipes from this period have a wide open draft. So much for this being a new idea. I usually double over my tapered wires for cleaning, or twist two together to get the extra girth needed for cleaning.
So here's another bit of historical context to consider. Your Barling comes with a push-in stem. In 1906, most of the pipes being made still used threaded screws to connect the stem to the shank. Barling was a pioneer in the use of push stems. Even with amber stems, they got rid of the screw connector and substituted a vulcanite tenon.
That's a wonderful find and a stunning example for a +100 year old pipe. Enjoy and let us see the totql finished product. I bet it will glow.
K
klause
Guest
Photos not the best, as the light has gone. The stem is actually gleaming (all oxidation gone!), much better than I expected (I don't have a buffer wheel), but the bowl needs a couple more coats of wax and polishing (doing it by hand), so it will improve.
Sablebrush, thank you, yet again!!! That is cracking information, and it just makes this even more special. I've learnt a lot the last couple of weeks, and I really appreciate it.
Dave, tomorrow, I may take this for a couple of hours in the greenhouse - it's going to take a lot of Toby to fill this bowl - should be a long smoke, only enhanced by everyone's input to the story
It must be hard for you to sit comfortably with that massive horseshoe buried up your . . . congrats on a wonderful find!
I've seen Barlings of that shape and general vintage go for around $500 on eBay.
A remarkable success! Congratulations Klause on achieving what we all dream of.
The briar in this pipe could be centuries old.
Jay
A remarkable success! Congratulations Klause on achieving what we all dream of.
The briar in this pipe could be centuries old.
Jay
That is a tough call. Probably in the neighborhood of $500-600. If it had its case add another $100-150. I have two like this one and I paid one hell of a lot more for them than did Klause for his, let me tell you.
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