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“NO NAME” Pipes
Who knows where they were made, or for whom? We can only judge the value by the quality of the briar.

“Travel Pipe” – or “Cigar shape Pipe”
254-RfCPR R350.00    on preview days*     
We found these at various prices when searching the Internet. The pipe is actually quite an interesting concept – fills from the front with a metal screw-on cap (cover), and a metal “filter” between the bowl and the mouthpiece. I should think it would be very good in the wind (and motor car) – good size bowl with thick wood. Possibly called a travel pipe because the shape makes it easy to transport and the “cover” makes the pipe relatively clean in the pocket.

“Zulu” 254-RfZulu R195.00    on preview days*     
This pipe must have originated in a quality factory – the shape is definitely classic and there is plenty of hard wood. The couple of obvious fillings should not interfere with the smoking quality.

254-RfBentLuc  R495.00      
Large Bent with grey Lucite mouthpiece – 6mm option. The bowl shows an abundance of close birds eye, with some cross grain across the bowl and up the shank – and not a filling in sight.
A really large bowl – height 55mm, and inside diameter 23mm.
This is a real mystery – why would such a good-looking piece of wood have no stampings?
You’d have thought any manufacturer would have been proud of it – light for its size too.
Comparatively recent manufacture – Lucite mouthpieces have been on the market for a relatively short time (in the life of the pipe industry). No markings on the mouthpiece to help us.
Very good condition – hardly smoked

South African Calabash   257-RfCGCala  R350.00  
Lightly smoked. Very good condition. Read more about the Calabash.

Kiko “Tanganyikan Meerschaum pipe – leather-covered meerschaum-lined briar bowl
254-RfKikoLeath R350.00      
“Kiko” is the Swahili name for “pipe”. The meerschaum from Tanzanian is not quite as porous and light as that from Turkey but as a lining it works very well. The pipe is in very good condition except for the stain on the leather, and is surprisingly light. Original mouthpiece (see elephant logo) Unscrews anti-clockwise. Be gentle!

TURKISH MEERSCHAUM PIPES
Much has been written about Meerschaum and its contribution to the artistic aspect of Pipe Smoking. But it is for its practical properties that most Meerschaum Smokers appreciate it. Lightness, power of absorption, length of life, and the purity of tobacco flavours achieved by this rare mineral are a real joy to the user.  The Turkish meerschaum is far lighter and more porous than that from “Tanganyika”.
Here’s a chance to experience meerschaum for yourself – at a fraction of the normal price.

SMS – a US company which contracts with some of the top quality Turkish Meerschaum manufacturers

254-RfSMSMSAppl  R795.00      
Turkish Meerschaum Classic apple shape in fitted case. A little spot on the bowl?? An artistic etching will create interest and cover it.
The light weight (31g) confirms the quality. Push-pull Teflon peg. Lightly coloured, though hardly smoked. Excellent condition. (Current price SMS meerschaum over R1500.00)

Two other Classic smooth shapes:
Although it’s very difficult to restore an old meerschaum to its original glowing glory, both these block meerschaum pipes should smoke as well as, if not better than, when they were new. Both fitted with push-pull Teflon pegs.  Current prices well over R1000.00

254-RfMSDub R495.00      
Dublin shape (almost), good condition, hardly smoked yet the colouring is starting nicely.

254-RfMSBill R495.00      
Good large billiard shape (rounded). Hardly smoked but with a few surface dings.

Carved Meerschaums:

254-RfSevSmTurk R195.00      
Small head – Turk.  Old style screw mouthpiece.
Unscrews anti-clockwise. Be gentle!
Hardly smoked, very good condition.

254-RfMSGrapes  R450.00      
Clear etching, started colouring very nicely. Mouthpiece with modern push/pull Teflon peg. Hardly smoked, very good condition.

Turkish Meerschaum 254-RfMSLatPr R395.00 
Lattice finish half-bent Prince shape. Colour developing very well. Good condition except for a small chip in the shank.  (Current price lattice meerschaum around R965)      

Laughing Bacchus   254-RfMSBacc  R750.00           
Good carving. Well cared-for – can’t see any chips and the nose and chin have been lovingly smoothed (just visualise how you would hold it). Colouring good – and exceptionally light.
(Current price well over R1500.00)

Cavalier 254-RfMSCav R750.00      
Hardly smoked – you can appreciate the excellence of the carving. A few marks as one would expect on the smooth surfaces, otherwise excellent condition. Deep cream colour looks really good. (Current price well over R1500.00)

The Boar Hunt

254-RfMSHunt R2500.00       
Exquisitely and intricately carved – a real masterpiece. We count (as far as possible) 7 characters, 7 dogs, the boar, houses  and scenery in the background – amazing. Excellent condition except for the chipped leg of one of the horses. Nothing anywhere near as big, is detailed on the Internet. Hinged metal bowl cover and matching metal band around the shank. Cherrywood stem with cork fitting. The tenon of the mouthpiece had broken
and has been replaced with a much stronger metal thread.

Prolong the life of your favourite briar with a little more care and attention.

Professional Refurbishment.

Take a look at those old discarded pipes (discoloured, sour, damaged) - some of them may easily justify the cost of a professional repair or refurbishment. The bowl will be reamed, cleaned and sweetened with "mead", and the whole pipe polished to restore its dignified appearance - only the dents will remain as a reminder of past pleasures.
As well as replacement mouthpieces, a hole in the bowl or a cracked shank can be repaired.
You won't be able to buy a new branded pipe for the R100 to R150 the professional job may cost you. Bring in your pipe for assessment.

D I Y Refurbishment

Here is a step-by-step procedure:

There are 4 distinct cleaning processes:
1. Removing the build-up of tars and juices which collect inside the shank and mouthpiece, and in the base of the bowl.Work over a tray or dish lined with paper. Remove the mouthpiece from the pipe. Insert the nozzle of the CGA Pressurised Pipe Cleaner spray into the peg of the stem and press down for 2-3 seconds to release the spray. Repeat for the shank. Use a bristle cleaner to really scrub the inside of the shank and mouthpiece. Or you could dip the bristle in a solvent (eg Savinelli Pipe Clean, or some form of alcohol). You could pour or spray just a little solvent into the base of the inside of the bowl and work the bristle cleaner through from the slightly tilted shank.           
Try not to splash the solvent on the outside of the bowl or mouthpiece. Be careful not to start a hole in the base of the bowl through excessive twisting - and for very bent pipes go easy round the bend in the mouthpiece.
You have finished when the pipe cleaner comes through clean.
2. Keeping the carbon layer under control. When necessary, ream the carbon layer inside the bowl to an even thickness of about 1.5mm (R1 coin) - the T-shaped reamer from Savinelli, the Dunhill Carbon Cutter, or the precise, high-tech Senior reamer will do the job comfortably. Wipe the inside of the bowl with a little of the solvent.
3. Polishing the vulcanite mouthpiece to remove the bitter taste. Remove the oxidation from the mouthpiece with a mild abrasive (eg Dunhill Pipe Mouthpiece Polish, Savinelli Stem Polish or Jeweller's Rouge). This might require vigorous and lengthy rubbing (a whole TV programme). If very dull and green, a buffing wheel is a big help - remove the mouthpiece to prevent accidental breakage. With the buffing wheel, take care not to buff too hard on one spot - the vulcanite may burn. If the logo is stamped on the mouthpiece it will possibly disappear.
(A recent comment from a customer was that a buffing wheel is necessary when using "jeweller's rouge" but that he found a good hand rub sufficient when using Savinelli Stem Polish regularly.)
Watchpoint - water based cleaners or abrasives (eg Handy Andy, Vim) or alcohols (eg Meths, benzine) may add to the discolouration of the outside of the mouthpiece - extra polishing will be necessary.
4. Beauty treatment for the outside of the briar bowl. Polish the outside of the bowl with a wax polish (eg Dunhill Bowl Polish; Savinelli Bowl Polish) and a clean cloth. Again a buffing wheel can help - remember to remove the mouthpiece before starting.
(Corncobs shouldn't need a polish, but a beechwood will appreciate it once the varnish has worn off.)
5. Long term protection for the whole pipe.
The Dunhill Silicone Pipe Care Cloth: 100% waxed cotton - Rub lightly over the surface of bowl and mouthpiece after cleaning and polishing. Protects the pipe with an invisible film of silicone wax.

Complete Cleaning Kits are available from Denicotea and Dunhill

Finally, leave the pipe to stand bowl down for at least 24 hours before smoking.

NB Read about cleaning your Meerschaum - a very different process.

Prevention is better than Cure!
1. Don't oversmoke a pipe (especially your favourite) - it will become saturated and turn "sour".
Do rotate your pipes to allow each to dry out properly.
2. Do polish the mouthpiece regularly, don't let the oxidation get the upper hand.
3. Do allow the carbon layer to build in your new pipe - right to the bottom of the bowl - and then keep it reamed to about 1.5mm thickness to prevent cracking.
4. If yours is a filter pipe - do use the filter or use the adapter. Don't smoke without one of them, even once, it can lead to an ill-fitting mouthpiece through a swollen shank. This is almost impossible to rectify.
5. To prevent breakage, do hold close to the join when removing the mouthpiece from the bowl, and don't remove the mouthpiece until the pipe is cool.
6. Don't use a sharp pointed instrument to clean out the bowl - you may drill a hole in the bottom.
7. Do hold your pipe by the bowl (not the stem) when "tapping out" the ash; and don't knock it against a hard surface - you may break the shank or mouthpiece or crack the bowl. Fit a "cork knocker" to a handy ashtray.
The general principle to bear in mind is that the cleaner and drier you keep your pipe, the more enjoyable it will be to smoke - and the longer it will continue to give pleasure.

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