I will take a stab at it... Since the pipe design is some kind of bird talon grasping the pipe bowl, the stem is the birds leg right? When birds are domesticated their legs are commonly adorned with rings that are actually tags that identify them and their owner. The only reason I know that is... One time I shot a pigeon and it was wearing a ring... woops....
As far as the blockage in the stem, I had that same problem with my used meerschaum. Interestingly enough, my stem has almost the exact same curvature. I ended up running, of all things, a guitar string (D) through it! It dislodged whatever was in there somewhat, but I still can't get a pipe cleaner all the way through; however, it did help.
I believe that is a 'Curiosity ring' actually carved in this case when the barrel was shaped. For removal of char on the rim uses fine emery boards. To get the screw out, heat the stem with a hair dryer, grip it with your teeth and twist the bit. That should come out. To clear the stem, Use the long cleaners. burn off the first 4 inches of fuzz and dip in alcohol the wire will protrude far enough to grasp wit pliers and pull through. Try denture cleaner for the patina.
Jim...you have "locked" up the option to send you personal messages....I wanted to invite you to subscribe to my pipe channel Charredbriar, since I changed it over from Nelstrodomous. I can't get any PM's to ya, though, so stop by and become a "friend" and let me in....Thanks
Good greif! I've been looking at some Meerschaum estate auctions over here but after seeing this I'm glad I didn't bid on them. I think I'll stick to estate briar and maybe get myself a new meer. Good work so far though, Jim! I hope you'll get it as clean as you want in the end.
I have never seen a shank brush at a UK tobacconist but think I am gonna ask in my local next time I am there. Definitely a very useful thing to have!
Be careful on trying to get the coloring or staining out of the bowl (viewed from the outside). That brownish color is actually a color that the Meerschaum takes on over time, due to the absorbtion of the juices from the tobacco. It is actually saturated INTO the Meerschaum because Meerschaum is an absorbent mineral. Also, all Meerschaums have a wax as an outer coating, like varnish on a Briar. Using sandpaper will remove this and leave the Meer open to external contamination.
It's amazing (or disturbing) to think that someone actually smoked that pipe without cleaning, to the point that it was so filthy! Poor chap probably still doesn't know what a cool sweet smoke is like. Good luck Jim.
Yes...I had no idea it was in such a state until I started working on it and I have a feeling the person who gave it to me didn't either. I think they just assumed it was a duff pipe, but with a bit more TLC I am pretty confident it'll smoke nicely.
hello Jim,,veru nice meer and it is well colored,,u can use alcohol just try something transparent like vodka so u dont leave traces of the liquid on the meer when it is evaporated and u can use the fine sand grid to remove the excess cake from the inside so the mer surface is exposed to tobacco and absorb freely.. some times cleaning the pipe after smoking it will mk things easier as every thing is heated up and will be sort of melting,,i even hear tht u cn use soap on the outer surface
Cheers Ahmad. I am considering ordering some isopropyl alcohol for this one...been thinking about it for a while and it is very reasonable on ebay...cheaper than bar spirits and no doubt more effective too.
Good Grief!! Refurbishing Estate Meerschaums is an art, not to be taken lightly!! 80% spirits and pipe cleaners will not do it. Sandpaper for char is not the way to go. This is not a briar, there is no char, it is the natural maturing of the meerschaum. If the stem is amber do not immerse in boiing water!! You need special equipment, and boiling alcohol to do an old meerschaum. I am now smoking a 125 year old meerschaum that I just finished restoring. Pls write Cheers, Pipephreaks
try putting the stem in boiling water for a minute or 2 that tends to work to remove clogs and use alcohol on a cloth on the char it will remove a lot of the char
the ring is just a extra bit of art, it was never pushed on, but carved from the part its on! they where once one and the same.
patrickthepipe 4 months ago
I will take a stab at it... Since the pipe design is some kind of bird talon grasping the pipe bowl, the stem is the birds leg right? When birds are domesticated their legs are commonly adorned with rings that are actually tags that identify them and their owner. The only reason I know that is... One time I shot a pigeon and it was wearing a ring... woops....
benneisam 9 months ago
As far as the blockage in the stem, I had that same problem with my used meerschaum. Interestingly enough, my stem has almost the exact same curvature. I ended up running, of all things, a guitar string (D) through it! It dislodged whatever was in there somewhat, but I still can't get a pipe cleaner all the way through; however, it did help.
h00bastank18 9 months ago
use a florist wire on the stem, soak it in hot water for a bit and then use the wire as a pipe cleaner. A little bit of elbow grease will pay off!
tattoome2000 11 months ago
use a small florist wire to get through the stem, soak it and repeat this action. It will work with a little elbow grease!
tattoome2000 11 months ago
I believe that is a 'Curiosity ring' actually carved in this case when the barrel was shaped. For removal of char on the rim uses fine emery boards. To get the screw out, heat the stem with a hair dryer, grip it with your teeth and twist the bit. That should come out. To clear the stem, Use the long cleaners. burn off the first 4 inches of fuzz and dip in alcohol the wire will protrude far enough to grasp wit pliers and pull through. Try denture cleaner for the patina.
beckasherman 1 year ago
See my new series on pipes and meerschaum's on Youtube (jjjuscfan8) it will answer some of your questions and many more videos to come mate! jason
JJJUSCFAN8 1 year ago
Don't let this guy fool you - listen to his voice - it is Mr. Bean!
ROFL!!!
jehovahuponyou 1 year ago
Jim...you have "locked" up the option to send you personal messages....I wanted to invite you to subscribe to my pipe channel Charredbriar, since I changed it over from Nelstrodomous. I can't get any PM's to ya, though, so stop by and become a "friend" and let me in....Thanks
Charredbriar 1 year ago
@Charredbriar Hi, I am not sure how I managed to do that! I will check it out...
PipesterJim 1 year ago
Smoking the pipe may help to loosen up the tar and gunk in the pipe. Try cleaning it while it is still warm.
Cheers,
Tony.
tjlsanow 1 year ago
Jim Go to the Iwan Ries&Co. Web site you can find them their.They are $1.00 each,I purchased three of them last year. Cheers
Acaciavet 1 year ago
This Ring on the stem... My grandfather had something quite similar as that on on his briar pipe, but of sterling silver.
he went sailing quite often, and as long as he was on water he had a chain through that ring.
He wore this to prevent his Pipe from falling into the water, if the sea gets too rough (painstakingly i lost one of my pipe like that)
Wish you could see him like that, he looked like Poseidon himself (at least in my eyes).
Nice pipe by the way, cheers.
Sam
Samwiseallmighty 1 year ago
Thank you! That confirms what I suspected. It was the only use for it I could think of!
PipesterJim 1 year ago
Good luck, I never thought you could try to clean up a meer.
azpipeguy 1 year ago
That's hard work....
Akibatai00 1 year ago
Good greif! I've been looking at some Meerschaum estate auctions over here but after seeing this I'm glad I didn't bid on them. I think I'll stick to estate briar and maybe get myself a new meer. Good work so far though, Jim! I hope you'll get it as clean as you want in the end.
Cheers,
Mike
Flieger671 1 year ago
Great Looking Pipe Jim ! Good luck on the cleaning . God bless you . michael
yarekim5932 1 year ago
Thanks, Michael! She's coming along nicely!
PipesterJim 1 year ago
Pipe shops sell shank Brushes that work great for what you want to do.I use Steel wool
in Leiu of fine sand Paper. Good luck Mate.
Acaciavet 1 year ago
I have never seen a shank brush at a UK tobacconist but think I am gonna ask in my local next time I am there. Definitely a very useful thing to have!
PipesterJim 1 year ago
Be careful on trying to get the coloring or staining out of the bowl (viewed from the outside). That brownish color is actually a color that the Meerschaum takes on over time, due to the absorbtion of the juices from the tobacco. It is actually saturated INTO the Meerschaum because Meerschaum is an absorbent mineral. Also, all Meerschaums have a wax as an outer coating, like varnish on a Briar. Using sandpaper will remove this and leave the Meer open to external contamination.
Charredbriar 1 year ago
Yes, The Count has explained that the sandpaper is a bad idea. I shall be giving that one a miss!
PipesterJim 1 year ago
It's amazing (or disturbing) to think that someone actually smoked that pipe without cleaning, to the point that it was so filthy! Poor chap probably still doesn't know what a cool sweet smoke is like. Good luck Jim.
MahkMahkMark 1 year ago
Yes...I had no idea it was in such a state until I started working on it and I have a feeling the person who gave it to me didn't either. I think they just assumed it was a duff pipe, but with a bit more TLC I am pretty confident it'll smoke nicely.
PipesterJim 1 year ago
It's also amazing how many people actually treat their pipes like that Mark - just order some estates off eBay to find out ;-)
SpainPipe 1 year ago
Hello Jim,
this little mystery loop ist the Art of the carver. Design, you no ;-))
Meerschaum need no char in the bowl,never. The " British Buttner " is a wonderful reamer, dig it.
Cheers from germany,
HaJo
MrPiperest 1 year ago
hello Jim,,veru nice meer and it is well colored,,u can use alcohol just try something transparent like vodka so u dont leave traces of the liquid on the meer when it is evaporated and u can use the fine sand grid to remove the excess cake from the inside so the mer surface is exposed to tobacco and absorb freely.. some times cleaning the pipe after smoking it will mk things easier as every thing is heated up and will be sort of melting,,i even hear tht u cn use soap on the outer surface
cheers
ahmedsadik1983 1 year ago
Cheers Ahmad. I am considering ordering some isopropyl alcohol for this one...been thinking about it for a while and it is very reasonable on ebay...cheaper than bar spirits and no doubt more effective too.
PipesterJim 1 year ago
Good Grief!! Refurbishing Estate Meerschaums is an art, not to be taken lightly!! 80% spirits and pipe cleaners will not do it. Sandpaper for char is not the way to go. This is not a briar, there is no char, it is the natural maturing of the meerschaum. If the stem is amber do not immerse in boiing water!! You need special equipment, and boiling alcohol to do an old meerschaum. I am now smoking a 125 year old meerschaum that I just finished restoring. Pls write Cheers, Pipephreaks
pipephreaks 1 year ago
Message sent! Hope I am not going to damage the thing...all these are things I read about on meerschaum board so I *hope* it will be okay! :-/
PipesterJim 1 year ago
Always love your videos, Jim. Sorry I can't offer anything on the little mystery loop. :-(
greglam 1 year ago
Thank you. I think the loop will be coming off...can't work out why it is there and it doesn't do anything for the appearance imo.
PipesterJim 1 year ago
try putting the stem in boiling water for a minute or 2 that tends to work to remove clogs and use alcohol on a cloth on the char it will remove a lot of the char
TheeBlackAdder 1 year ago
Thank you very much Captain B!
PipesterJim 1 year ago