@KA9FFJ; I meant to say "God be with you", not God with with you. Sorry for the error. Please do, keep your extended family(TPL) apprised as much as possible.
The lighthouse in an estate pipe I bought at a pipe shop in Baton Rouge, LA. The original owner died and his family sold it back to the pipe shop where it sat on display for a number of years. It then got lost in the shuffle and forgotten about. I was in the shop talking to the owner and mentioned I had a sailing ship meerschaum and she said they had a lighthouse meerschaum somewhere in the shop. After she found it, I bought it for $225.
The Lighthouse pipe was carved by one of two Akdoula brothers originally from Turkey. The brothers would travel around the U.S. and do meerschaum carving exhibition at pipe shops. It was claimed that this particular pipe was carved in the shop during one of the exhibitions. I tried to track down the carvers but was never able to find them. I was contacted by one of their cousins who said he was responsible for making the cases for the pipes. He told me one brother died and the other stopped carving and settled in California. He didn't know which one carved the lighthouse but remembered them doing exhibitions in Baton Rouge and Lafayette.
Well now my brother in law (the one with dementia), is now in the hospital waiting surgery first thing in the morning. They found an aneurism in his aorta the size of a tangerine (8 cm)! I'm taking another short break before an all-day at the hospital. Just loaded up some Lane Butter Rum in a Zouave meer...
Spend 5 hours in the waiting room for my brother in law's surgery. All ok for now. I got home around 5 and took a short nap. I never understood how one can get worn out from basically sitting, but I seem to fall in that category. Anyway, after my 45 minute nap and supper, I decided to have a bowl of Sutliff Sunset Rum in a noname estate-found meer...
Don't mean this the way it's going to sound, but a cousin offered to sit with my sister and brother in law so I got a reprieve today. Was able to get some early spring yard work done, and turned over my small garden. Now enjoying my Frankenblend in a small CAO latticed billiard...
Ok. Here's something I read somewhere YEARS ago pertaining to meers. You can increase the coloring of your meer by simply smoking 2 bowls in a row. Here's what I remember: Do your normal smoke. Quickly do a GENTLE wipe of the bowl. Run a pipe cleaner through the stem. Reverse and use the clean end through the shank. Do all of this quickly, and reload your pipe while still warm. Relight and smoke your second bowl. Supposedly this will quicken the coloring of your meer by 1/3 time! I have now done it twice with my CAO Cavalier and I do see an ever so slight noticeable increase in color versus doing just one bowl, say in the morning, and another bowl later in the day. Because of this, I will be experimenting with this technique by doing 2 bowls, back to back, every day to the end of the month, and we'll see what happens. Right now doing some Lane Butter Rum in my Cavalier, with my Frankenblend sitting next to me along with a pipe cleaner for a quick reload when finished...
Disclaimer: I'm not saying this works. I am saying I do seem to see a better result SO FAR. That is why my plan is to continue 2 bowls a day (back to back) with this Cavalier through the end of the month... After all, it is March Meerschaum Madness...😁 Oh, and I changed my mind. My 2nd bowl will now be Peterson Sunset Breeze...
@KA9FFJ It seems like a hot bowl, with warm tobacco juice to seep into the expanded meer pores should do the trick.
I wonder what would happen if one was to make a very strong “tobacco tea” with a favorite blend, then pour it into the bowl and heat it with a hair dryer/hot air gun (on low) or in an oven…not my oven though🤔. I might have to find a cheap block meer for this experiment. Maybe I can get one with a cracked/broken shank? Then buy a Coleman Stove oven box, or make a passable substitute, for “cooking” meers.
I have the parts gathered up to make a “meerschaum coloring machine”. I know I do not smoke enough to ever properly color a meer. It would be an auto-puffer for coloring meers, or breaking in briars. I saw a vintage one on EBay when I first started this hobby about ten years ago. I did not bid on it, and have not seen one since, and I have been looking….and kicking myself ever since. I have not started building my version of the device, it’s not really a high priority.
@RockyMountainBriar It all sounds very interesting. I would love to see what you create and eventually try on your meer(s)... By the way, I think your spot on concerning that 1st paragraph you posted...
@KA9FFJ; The tanning on my meer is strictly luck on my part. I have had others and not much happened. I may try the technique you outlined. @RockyMountainBriar has an intriguing process as well.
Comments
So sorry brother. We are here for ya. Prayers on the way.
I hope your sister recovers and is released from the hospital soon!
You and your family will be in my prayers. Your sister couldn't ask for a better brother. God with with you.
I meant to say "God be with you", not God with with you. Sorry for the error. Please do, keep your extended family(TPL) apprised as much as possible.
Indeed.
That pipe would be a good candidate for a hose mouthpiece, turn it into a table pipe.
I have actually smoked it as a table pipe.
It would be a beautiful table display. That is outstanding!
Holy crap!
The Lighthouse pipe was carved by one of two Akdoula brothers originally from Turkey. The brothers would travel around the U.S. and do meerschaum carving exhibition at pipe shops. It was claimed that this particular pipe was carved in the shop during one of the exhibitions. I tried to track down the carvers but was never able to find them. I was contacted by one of their cousins who said he was responsible for making the cases for the pipes. He told me one brother died and the other stopped carving and settled in California. He didn't know which one carved the lighthouse but remembered them doing exhibitions in Baton Rouge and Lafayette.
I'm taking another short break before an all-day at the hospital.
Just loaded up some Lane Butter Rum in a Zouave meer...
Ugh, so sorry man. I'm not a fan of hospitals. Praying for your family.
I got home around 5 and took a short nap. I never understood how one can get worn out from basically sitting, but I seem to fall in that category.
Anyway, after my 45 minute nap and supper, I decided to have a bowl of Sutliff Sunset Rum in a noname estate-found meer...
Glad it went well!
Here's hoping you and your family can get to a happy and healthy place soon! 🍻
Was able to get some early spring yard work done, and turned over my small garden.
Now enjoying my Frankenblend in a small CAO latticed billiard...
Like the military mount and diamond shank...
A man needs some R&R. Nice looking Meer.
Now loading up some Stokkebye 24 Nougat in a CAO Cavalier...
Looks as if you have a pretty good tan going on with that meer...👍🏻
You can increase the coloring of your meer by simply smoking 2 bowls in a row.
Here's what I remember:
Do your normal smoke.
Quickly do a GENTLE wipe of the bowl.
Run a pipe cleaner through the stem. Reverse and use the clean end through the shank.
Do all of this quickly, and reload your pipe while still warm.
Relight and smoke your second bowl.
Supposedly this will quicken the coloring of your meer by 1/3 time!
I have now done it twice with my CAO Cavalier and I do see an ever so slight noticeable increase in color versus doing just one bowl, say in the morning, and another bowl later in the day.
Because of this, I will be experimenting with this technique by doing 2 bowls, back to back, every day to the end of the month, and we'll see what happens.
Right now doing some Lane Butter Rum in my Cavalier, with my Frankenblend sitting next to me along with a pipe cleaner for a quick reload when finished...
I'm not saying this works. I am saying I do seem to see a better result SO FAR.
That is why my plan is to continue 2 bowls a day (back to back) with this Cavalier through the end of the month... After all, it is March Meerschaum Madness...😁
Oh, and I changed my mind. My 2nd bowl will now be Peterson Sunset Breeze...
It seems like a hot bowl, with warm tobacco juice to seep into the expanded meer pores should do the trick.
I have the parts gathered up to make a “meerschaum coloring machine”. I know I do not smoke enough to ever properly color a meer. It would be an auto-puffer for coloring meers, or breaking in briars. I saw a vintage one on EBay when I first started this hobby about ten years ago. I did not bid on it, and have not seen one since, and I have been looking….and kicking myself ever since. I have not started building my version of the device, it’s not really a high priority.
It all sounds very interesting. I would love to see what you create and eventually try on your meer(s)...
By the way, I think your spot on concerning that 1st paragraph you posted...
The tanning on my meer is strictly luck on my part. I have had others and not much happened. I may try the technique you outlined. @RockyMountainBriar has an intriguing process as well.