Hello,
First I would like to thanks to Kevin to accept us as a sponsor for pipesmagazine.com .We really appreciate that.
Dear Lawrence thank you for your nice welcome message.
We have been in business since 1963 and on the web since 1999. But we are new to pipe forums (In the past we had a few posts).I will try to help you everything about meerschaum and meerschaum pipes.
Secondly when it comes to "under 40$ pipe category" on our website: Yes we present these pipes under "affordable category" .We will have enough time to discuss meerschaum but in a short way we classified the meerschaum in 6 levels.1 is worst and 6 is best.Please note that " press meerschaum" is not used in pipe making at all."Press meerschaum " is used only meerschaum linings which is used in briar pipes and also it is used for making meerschaum bowl for gourd and mahogany calabash pipes.Thats all.
Today's main problem is that some manufacturers uses low quality meerschaum (level 1-level 3) .So these kind of meerschaums are heavy and do not last long.or even some manufacturers uses another stone which is similar to meerschaum but that stone material specification does not same as meerschaum (Density, etc)
In our affordable series we use level 4 meerschaum block.And on that series the workmanship is not good as our golden series and platinum series.As you can see we have many meerschaum pipes that their prices starts from 99$ and goes to 400 $.
If you buy a meerschaum pipe under 90$ ,so possibly it means that a low quality meerschaum block or another material is used and sold as a meerschaum.
As i said there are many things to talk but we will have time for that.
Again we hope this will be a long relationship.
PS.1.Sorry for my English
2. In the past our brand "MeerQueen" is used on some forums and some posts are written under this brand.We are not responsible because of those posts.
B.C
GM of Meerschaum Store Team