Vintage Marxman Pipe

[frank13]

I've just come into possession of a vintage Marxman pipe. I won't have pictures of it for a few days, because my cell phone is on the fritz, but it's "matched grain," the ferule is 12K gold, and it is a billiard, as far as I can tell. The very interesting (to me) part of it, is after pulling the stem to clean the pipe, the stem has a metal (stainless?) piece sticking out of it. It's conical in shape and terminates in a small spherical shape. Rather than having room for a filter or even being able to run a pipe cleaner through it, it just has a little slot cut in the conical "body" of it.
It's difficult to describe, and I'll get a pic of it as soon as I can, but it's rather odd. On the other hand, (after cleaning it), I christened it with a bowl of my favorite Latakia/Oriental/Virginian, and it smokes wonderfully. The bowl/briar is very robust; fully 3/8" wall thickness.
Does anyone know anything about Marxman? All I found about it, was that it was purchased by some other company. I don't know old this pipe might be, but it's in marvelous shape.

 

[danielplainview]

Sounds like a beauty. I have four Marxman pipes. They are American. Marxman made pipes from 1934-1953 before they were bought by Mastercraft.

Checkout Pipephile.eu and Pipedia. These websites have a lot of great pipe info.

Pics please!

 

[portalhq]

I have one Marxman, a bent bulldog. My guess is it is post WW II . I don't think it was an expensive pipe but it is a fine smoker.

 

[frank13]

Excellent! Thank you very much. It wasn't terribly expensive, but I need more pipes in my rotation. It really is a handsome briar and pipe.

(Holy crap!! Sorry about the size of the pics!)

 

[frank13]

I'm still puzzled by the metal piece. I don't know what its function is.
Maybe it's to throttle back the draw?

Moisture/saliva guard?

Permanent filter? (I've never heard of such a thing, but there are a lot of things I've never heard of...)
Anyone else care to hazard a guess? Or maybe someone else knows what it is. :?:
I will say that this pipe was a fantastic purchase. Whomever the previous owner was, must not have been much of a pipe aficionado, because to my eye, it looks like it's only had maybe a couple dozen bowls put through it, at most.

 

[danielplainview]

That is a stinger. Its function is to keep moisture out of the stem. I've had several pipes with stingers. I remove them about 90% of time. If you find it constricts the airflow, you should be able to wiggle it out of the stem. Don't force it out. I've had a stubborn stinger and snapped the tennon trying to remove it.

Great looking pipe. Price isn't everything. I have some El Cheapos that smoke the same or better than my more expensive highend brands.

 

[frank13]

Thanks, Daniel! I loaded the bowl up and smoked the whole thing, and it didn't seem to hinder anything. Thank you again.

 

[fnord]

Frank:
That's a stinger alright and I always remove them. I've been buying pipes for years, the stingers always get pulled and the pipe boxes are thrown away.
I'm a collector's nightmare.
Pipes, like wine, are meant to be enjoyed, consumed, celebrated. (As she aged, Eleanor Roosevelt always preferred birthday and Christmas presents that could be consumed and shared on the spot: Champagne, cheese, etc. What a wonderful idea....)
On the other hand, I also collect old Boy Scouts of America memorabilia. If the packing and shipping envelopes aren't there I sniff derisively and move on.
Please forgive the contradictions.
Fnord
P.S. On the other hand, I always use a Brigham maple insert when smoking one of my Brighams. Superb goes to sublime in a heartbeat.

F.

 

[tuold]

Sure looks like you can take the stinger out of that one for cleaning purposes. If you get enough pipes with stingers in your collection I recommend you buy a dental pick. It works great for getting detritus out of the stinger as well as the button end of the stem.
Most of the old estate pipes I have in my collection have stingers. I'm always disappointed when I get one that's been neutered.

 

[frank13]

Fantastic. Thanks for the info! I'm leaving it in, but I might see if it will come out, if only for the sake of thorough cleaning. I appreciate the info.
Update: It took a little to get it out, but I managed. Ugh... It was FILTHY! No wonder this thing tasted like old man ass, when I first got it. The whole pipe has been thoroughly cleaned and it will be set aside for a couple of days to ah... air out, rest, or whatever needs to happen to it, but I probably won't pick it up again for a week, if I can help it.
Thanks again!

 

[macabra11]

No wonder this thing tasted like old man ass

Ummmm... 8O And you know this how? Wait. I don't want to know.

 

[frank13]

8O :lol:

 

[sallow]

What a classic pipe. Very nice.

 

[frank13]

Thank you! I'm very pleased with it. It's an excellent smoker.