riff raff
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- May 24, 2011
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This pipe came up for trade on another pipe forum. I offered a trade for a Charatan After Hours billiard that while a lovely pipe, it was straight and I just didn't smoke it much.
The owner purchased the pipe and box unsmoked. The fishtail stem sold me pretty quickly and my trade was accepted. That gentleman said his search revealed it was made in the 1950's. I've always admired the 999 shape, but had not yet encountered an older model that was in my budget.
I know very little about Peterson pipes, so I inquired with a few knowledgeable brand members on the Smokers Forum. A thread there on the pipe stumped all of those folks, which astounded me. The puzzling aspect of the pipe was the "Sterling Silver" band that bore no dating hallmarks. No one knew why.
My Vancouver pipe restorer buddy, Steven Laug reached out to Dr. Mark Irwin for more info on my behalf. Dr. Irwin is writing the new Peterson book that is detailed in the recent issue of Pipe Smoker Unleashed and had all the answers. Info on the book is here in the August issue:
http://www.pipesmokerunleashed.com/index.php?pageid=psu_magazine
From my first request to Chuck W, a Peterson expert who is also collaborating on the book with Dr. Irwin:
http://www.pipesmokerunleashed.com/index.php?pageid=psu_magazine
I sent Mark some pictures of the pipe, box and pamphlet. As mentioned, the puzzling thing about the pipe is the band is marked Sterling Silver, but has no dating hallmarks. Mark said the pipe is a Rogers import pipe which were distributed only in the US. The date hallmarks, required in Ireland, weren’t required here. According to Mark, the pamphlet was introduced in 1955 and the box design was used until 1961, when it was changed. So, Mark says the pipe is definitely from the ’55 – ’61 era. He suspects due to the stinger design in the late 50’s, but he has nothing concrete to back up that hunch. ’55 to ’61 is close enough for me. I shared this with Chuck W and he agrees with Mark. Mark added this was a “Sterling” line of US Petersons, and he doesn't encounter many, certainly not in that nearly unsmoked condition. Having the box and Peterson pamphlet to help date the pipe were certainly rare and important factors.
Mark asked me to take some better pictures of the pipe, which I tried, but could not. I just don’t have the correct lighting and skills. Mark asked if I would be willing to send him the pipe/box and let them take professional quality pictures. He would like to include it in the book as the example of the 999 shape and listed "From the collection of Al Jones". Of course I was thrilled and agreed. I will ship him the pipe in two weeks, when he sets up a photo session. I’m a little nervous about shipping it back and forth, but it would be a shame not to include it in this book. I won’t smoke it anymore until it has been properly photographed. I did smoke two bowls of Chelsea Morning in it, with the stinger removed. It smoked well, but should improve with some more cake built. I’ve also read that Rocky Donegals take some time to break-in properly.
It was fascinating to learn this information about the pipe, which will be a cherished pipe on my rack.
The pipe was delivered to me on my 51st birthday and I was born in '61, so this might be as close as I get to a birth year pipe.
The owner purchased the pipe and box unsmoked. The fishtail stem sold me pretty quickly and my trade was accepted. That gentleman said his search revealed it was made in the 1950's. I've always admired the 999 shape, but had not yet encountered an older model that was in my budget.
I know very little about Peterson pipes, so I inquired with a few knowledgeable brand members on the Smokers Forum. A thread there on the pipe stumped all of those folks, which astounded me. The puzzling aspect of the pipe was the "Sterling Silver" band that bore no dating hallmarks. No one knew why.
My Vancouver pipe restorer buddy, Steven Laug reached out to Dr. Mark Irwin for more info on my behalf. Dr. Irwin is writing the new Peterson book that is detailed in the recent issue of Pipe Smoker Unleashed and had all the answers. Info on the book is here in the August issue:
http://www.pipesmokerunleashed.com/index.php?pageid=psu_magazine
From my first request to Chuck W, a Peterson expert who is also collaborating on the book with Dr. Irwin:
Steve then put me in touch with Mark Irwin, who with Chuck and a few others (Steve, the Second Hand Smoker guy, the head of the IPPC) are collaborating on a Peterson coffee table book. There is an article about the book on the new edition of “The Pipe Smoker Unleashed” . You can read and/or download it from their website:
http://www.pipesmokerunleashed.com/index.php?pageid=psu_magazine
I sent Mark some pictures of the pipe, box and pamphlet. As mentioned, the puzzling thing about the pipe is the band is marked Sterling Silver, but has no dating hallmarks. Mark said the pipe is a Rogers import pipe which were distributed only in the US. The date hallmarks, required in Ireland, weren’t required here. According to Mark, the pamphlet was introduced in 1955 and the box design was used until 1961, when it was changed. So, Mark says the pipe is definitely from the ’55 – ’61 era. He suspects due to the stinger design in the late 50’s, but he has nothing concrete to back up that hunch. ’55 to ’61 is close enough for me. I shared this with Chuck W and he agrees with Mark. Mark added this was a “Sterling” line of US Petersons, and he doesn't encounter many, certainly not in that nearly unsmoked condition. Having the box and Peterson pamphlet to help date the pipe were certainly rare and important factors.
Mark asked me to take some better pictures of the pipe, which I tried, but could not. I just don’t have the correct lighting and skills. Mark asked if I would be willing to send him the pipe/box and let them take professional quality pictures. He would like to include it in the book as the example of the 999 shape and listed "From the collection of Al Jones". Of course I was thrilled and agreed. I will ship him the pipe in two weeks, when he sets up a photo session. I’m a little nervous about shipping it back and forth, but it would be a shame not to include it in this book. I won’t smoke it anymore until it has been properly photographed. I did smoke two bowls of Chelsea Morning in it, with the stinger removed. It smoked well, but should improve with some more cake built. I’ve also read that Rocky Donegals take some time to break-in properly.
It was fascinating to learn this information about the pipe, which will be a cherished pipe on my rack.
The pipe was delivered to me on my 51st birthday and I was born in '61, so this might be as close as I get to a birth year pipe.
I do have two "birthday" Petes, both pre-Republic's that my father bought in London in '46 
