Turck's Pipes (anybody else heard of them?)

[phillyb]

When I turned 18 my grandfather gave me his old pipes, two were labeled as Turck's. One is a small billiard labeled only as "Imported Briar", the other is a big Lovat with the most astonishing grain I've ever seen on a pipe and labeled as "Turck's Select" and "Algerian Briar - Made in France". They're likely from about the mid-1970s and were likely purchased originally around the Elmira-Corning area of NYS. I've done the searching on Pipedia already so I know it's not listed there. Probably a house brand, but does anybody have any experience with this brand or actually have one?

 

[maxpeters]

Sorry, I don't have any experience with this brand. I have never heard of it. But hey, you have two great pipes from you grandfather,so names don't matter so much. I hope you enjoy them for a long while.

 

[papipeguy]

I think you're on to something with the pipe shop brand. It was probably made in St. Claude, France so that would narrow it down to a few dozen makers. Good luck with your search.

 

[justscience]

I just received a box-o-Turck's from an eBay deal, some of them fine pipes, a couple marked London, England. Never heard of them either. One pipe had two "engraving spots" on the shank, I suspect for the importer to stamp the store's name and maybe for a special series name and only one spot was used. Whoever bought these went back for more over the years; the TURCK'S stamp changed fonts. Store pipes, definitely. One London pipe is marked 1970, so you may be right about age. One really nice slightly canted diamond shank bulldog from London has a 269 shape code, consistent with GBD as a parent company, perhaps as a second.
Just for fun, I'm going to use them for Tur(c)kish blends.