I meant to include that each piece of meerschaum will color differently simply because the cell structure of the meerschaum is different in each piece.
I didn't want to start another thread strictly about stems, so I'm using this one. For those who may object, just let me know and I'll be more than happy to oblige. Anyway, a TPL brother gifted me with 3 "The Pipe" pipes. They were of course used. The bull dog is in pretty good shape. Not too much planned for that one. Next comes the billiard. The stem was almost chewed through and the finish was beginning to fade. Here's a pic:
If you've had any dealings with " The Pipe" stems, you know they are softer than "normal" stems, and consequently near impossible to sand and refinish IMHO. So I decided to restem it. Here's the initial fitting. I still have sanding, shaping and polishing to do...
So I decided to fit a new one for this pipe as well. Naturally I'll put a bend in this one. I'll show them both later after the stems are totally finished...
@KA9FFJ I had one of those green “Venturi’s” at one time. I got it as a bowl only in a lot of derelict pipes I purchased for one of the other pipes in the lot. So, as I see it, it was free🙂 I fit a churchwarden stem to it. I am not sure if I posted this pic in the past, but I was having a little fun at work on St. Patrick’s Day a few years ago (No, smoking is not allowed in the building, so no smoke). I have since sold the pipe on EBay. I surprisingly made decent money on it too👍🏻
I forgot about the O ring fitting around the tenon on THE PIPE. They cut a groove to seat the O ring for a tighter fit. Here's what their tenons looks like:
I can't turn a stem, or pipe for that matter... no lathe. These are raw unfinished stems I purched as part of a lot off Ebay. I made an attachment for my small belt sander that I use to reduce tenon sizes for replacements. I also made a lockdown attachment for one of my Dremels to do grooves when needed. Life would be much simpler with a lathe, but for the amount of hours spent, I can't justify the cost...
Here's one of my recent estate finds. It's a little Digby #2006. I forgot to take a close up pic of the stummel before I started, so here's an earlier group pic (it's the top left), along with close ups of the stem...
Well, here's a pipe you guys can help me figure out. An estate find. Stummel material = ? Tenon too tight for the mortise. The only stamping is "BELGIUM' on the bottom of the shank. What is it?
@motie2@RockyMountainBriar Normally, Hilson pipes have an H stamped on the stem. However, since this is not a briar (or any wood for that matter) they may have made an exception. Heck, I'm not even sure what material they used for the stummel. So far, "Tis a mystery"...🤔
Look up Hilson Fantasia, they are/can be made in Belgium. There are pictures in Pipedia under the Hilson name...Royal Dutch factory. The reborn pipes blog restored one where he said it had a sticker/decal with the name on the shank that was almost wore off, hence maybe the reason no stamping.
I'm beginning to agree with Hilson Fantasia. I have the grandkids today. Will do further investigations later this evening. Note: triple checked the stem for ANY sign of stamping, no matter how minimal... nothing...
Comments
I meant to include that each piece of meerschaum will color differently simply because the cell structure of the meerschaum is different in each piece.
Anyway, a TPL brother gifted me with 3 "The Pipe" pipes. They were of course used.
The bull dog is in pretty good shape. Not too much planned for that one.
Next comes the billiard. The stem was almost chewed through and the finish was beginning to fade. Here's a pic:
Here's the initial fitting. I still have sanding, shaping and polishing to do...
Awesome work as usual!
I had one of those green “Venturi’s” at one time. I got it as a bowl only in a lot of derelict pipes I purchased for one of the other pipes in the lot. So, as I see it, it was free🙂 I fit a churchwarden stem to it. I am not sure if I posted this pic in the past, but I was having a little fun at work on St. Patrick’s Day a few years ago (No, smoking is not allowed in the building, so no smoke). I have since sold the pipe on EBay. I surprisingly made decent money on it too👍🏻
They cut a groove to seat the O ring for a tighter fit.
Here's what their tenons looks like:
Is there anything that you can't do?
These are raw unfinished stems I purched as part of a lot off Ebay.
I made an attachment for my small belt sander that I use to reduce tenon sizes for replacements.
I also made a lockdown attachment for one of my Dremels to do grooves when needed.
Life would be much simpler with a lathe, but for the amount of hours spent, I can't justify the cost...
I still have some work to do on the bulldog...
Stummel material = ?
Tenon too tight for the mortise.
The only stamping is "BELGIUM' on the bottom of the shank.
What is it?
However, since this is not a briar (or any wood for that matter) they may have made an exception.
Heck, I'm not even sure what material they used for the stummel.
So far, "Tis a mystery"...🤔
I don't know what it is, but it sure is a lovely pipe.
Note: triple checked the stem for ANY sign of stamping, no matter how minimal... nothing...