When Did Acrylic Stems Come Into Use?

[xrundog]

Damn xrundog, now you will have me wondering what you posted all night. Post away I say!

I was being skeptical of the 1937 date and wishing for some catalog pages to prove it. ssjones has fulfilled that desire nicely.
Now that I think about it a little more, I think the Duncan Aerosphere is a 40s pipe with an acrylic stem.

 

[misterlowercase]

Barling made a clear perspex stem also,

rarely seen.
I used to think that perhaps they beat GBD to it,

but the 1937 date seems to put GBD as the innovator.
Although due to the Regd. mark on the Barling stem,

we know that it should be quite early as well...

 

[elbert]

Eh...that's kinda gross. Don't want to know what's going on in there. :|

 

[ssjones]

That is a great find MLC.

 

[bonehed]

Here is a comparison of the stems of a GBD Virgin I received recently and the GBD Xtra shown above. The Virgin, on the left, is thinner than the Xtra by a millimeter or so. Not sure when the Virgin is from precisely, but it's obviously much younger than the Xtra. Sorry it's not a great shot, but hopefully you can see the difference.

 

[misterlowercase]

Excellent photo.
I can tell a distinct difference for sure!
Thanks for taking the time!