Thread: Antique store pipe

I can tell you what the one near me is like, I'm not sure I've ever been into another.

It's in an old arcade. That is, a row of shops that are covered, not an old amusement arcade. It's very small, the window is full of pipes and tobacco and hip flasks, lighters and the like. Inside, There's enough room for a counter, space behind the counter for the fella behind it, and just enough room for 2 people to squeeze past each other. With that much tobacco in that small of a space, that's what it smells like! On the customer side of things, it's sells all the regular stuff, newspapers and cold drinks. Then the rest of the place is cigars, tobacco, more pipes, snuff (I didn't notice that until today). Loose tobacco is bought in quantities that suits you, so I asked for a pinch and got a pinch, weighed out on a set of old worn scales and handed over to me.

It's a funny little place, kind of like those bars that are some what intimidating until you've settled down with a drink.

Originally Posted by gregs656

I can tell you what the one near me is like, I'm not sure I've ever been into another.

It's in an old arcade. That is, a row of shops that are covered, not an old amusement arcade. It's very small, the window is full of pipes and tobacco and hip flasks, lighters and the like. Inside, There's enough room for a counter, space behind the counter for the fella behind it, and just enough room for 2 people to squeeze past each other. With that much tobacco in that small of a space, that's what it smells like! On the customer side of things, it's sells all the regular stuff, newspapers and cold drinks. Then the rest of the place is cigars, tobacco, more pipes, snuff (I didn't notice that until today). Loose tobacco is bought in quantities that suits you, so I asked for a pinch and got a pinch, weighed out on a set of old worn scales and handed over to me.

It's a funny little place, kind of like those bars that are some what intimidating until you've settled down with a drink.

Thank you - I can smell the Latakia from here

Well, I'm quite taken by this whole pipe thing.

I decided to have a half bowl on the way to the pub, and the same again on the way home. The pipe is good, it's a shame I won't ever know more about it. However, from a some what romantic and philosophical point of view, the fact I will never know anything about it other than it was a 'reject' from who ever made it is kind of perfect.

I used to smoke small cigars on this walk, not every time, but maybe once a week. The pipe is better. It involves you more, more tactile - the taste is better. The whole experience is better.

I'm going to stick with this pipe, it's perfect for me.

Nice!

Glad you like it..!

Please do NOT run rubbing alcohol through the stem. You don't want an alcohol that isn't meant for consumption in there, regardless of whether you're told it will all evaporate out. Use the Ever Clear you can get at the liquor store, or even 151 Rum will work. Soak several pipe cleaners in the alcohol and run them through the stem until they come out clean. Determine if your stem is a vulcanized rubber stem (I can't tell from the picture) or a plastic or other material because that will determine how you clean the outside. Vulcanite stems oxidize, and you'll see a brownish-green haze over the outside. A mild abrasive then is the first stem, usually toothpaste or baking soda paste. If it is a heavy oxidation, an overnight bleach soak will clean it up followed with a good buffing. If you do this, dab some Vaseline jelly over the logo because the bleach will remove colored logos. Personally, I carefully use a Dremel with tripoli for heavy oxidation on vulcanite stems. A slow speed and care is needed to keep from burning the stem. Acrylic stems can be cleaned with Flitz or Maas polish. The briar can get a mild buffing with a cloth rag and some carnauba wax. To clean the inside, gently ream the built up carbon cake back to the wood bowl, set the pipe upright, fill the bowl with common table salt and moisten that table salt with the Ever Clear and leave it overnight. It should remove residuals from prior smokes. Caution with this as this method has been known to crack a pipe bowl if you leave the mixture in the bowl for several days or get the salt mix up into the shank of the pipe. Hope this helps.

bill