Gifted a pipe

[Stick]

My father-in-law's mum has just been moved to a warden controlled flat that ensures she has some support on hand should she need it. She's 94, bless her, and has recently taken a tumble that saw her breaking the neck of femur. Nasty one that, but she's on the mend. Last week my father-in-law had to empty her house ready for it to be rented. It was an emotional effort as he had to let go of many of the things that he grew up with. He kept as much as he could and gave some things away. My 11 year old son now has a couple of ration books from 1953 and some enamelled munitions badges worn by those who were on the home front making munitions for the war effort.

And so it was that I became the benefactor of a pipe. It's an Oom Paul with a saddle stem, stamped 'Melton Extra Foreign' and was previously owned by my father-in-law's father who was a keen piper. It's in pretty good condition; looking at the interior of the bowl, it looks like its only had a dozen or so outings and there's no teeth marks on the stem. It does look like its been rattled around a drawer for a number of years though! Still, I've sanitised it, cleaned it up a bit and it's good to go! It's a new shape in my stable too.

Any clues on the brand gratefully received

 

[Brewdude]

Ee, that's champion lad. I'm right chuffed for thee! Post a pic of it when you get the chance. There's a good chap.

:cheers:


Cheers,

RR

 

[Ozark Wizard]

Sad means to a good end. Congratulations on your new piece!

 

[Richard Burley]

Oom-Pauls seem a bit weird to me. I have exactly one, and I can't decide if I like it or hate it. The pipe is obviously a bent, but a bent that is seemingly bent too much. No way can a pipe cleaner pass through its innards without disassembling the pipe. The bowl is directly under the smoker's nose, which I understand some people like. I am not one of them. Lighting it is awkward, since the flame is also directly under the nose. But the pipe hangs beautifully. No effort whatsoever required; you don't even have to close your mouth on it unless you're taking a jump while on horseback or engaging in some similar exertion. I can see why Kruger liked the pipe. The ease of hanging negates the negatives, and one could say it's the perfect pipe for the well-hung gentleman.

Pics, btw, or it doesn't exist and never happened. And gadzooks!--they were still rationing things in Britain in '53? How long did that last?

 

[Stick]

I share your thoughts RB. I always thought OPs looked a bit weird, still do, but figured I shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth. I was curious about the drilling and was surprised how simple it was.

Yes, rationing finished in Jul 1954 here in Blighty. Just shows how costly war is.

 

[Brewdude]

I share your thoughts RB. I always thought OPs looked a bit weird, still do, but figured I shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth. I was curious about the drilling and was surprised how simple it was.

Yes, rationing finished in Jul 1954 here in Blighty. Just shows how costly war is.

That certainly helps explain how I've observed your fellow countrymen's attitude to many things. Anything beyond a cup of milky tea and a plain digestive biscuit is often looked on as a needless extravagance (and yes I quote Bill Bryson here)!

Coming up during and after the war clearly must have instilled a sense of guarded conservatism when it came to spending, as sought after goods and food were not as readily available as today.

And even the generation after those directly affected by these conditions seem to also carry this attitude with them. I've noticed it in my mates in the UK who are relatively the same age as myself, but who were born during the period when rationing was still in effect.

Please make sure you understand this is not meant as criticism or jab at your fellow Brits Stick. In fact anything but. Just an observation.

And feel free to tell me that I'm talking whole loads of bollocks! I'm an Anglophile of the first order, having visited your green and fair land some dozen times or more. I've found your people to be welcoming and friendly without equal.

Just a casual observation fwiw!

Howzat for a hijack?!

But back to the topic - luv to see a pic of the Uncle Paul, preferably with it hanging in yer gob!

:cherry:




Cheers,

RR

 

[Stick]

I share your thoughts RB. I always thought OPs looked a bit weird, still do, but figured I shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth. I was curious about the drilling and was surprised how simple it was.

Yes, rationing finished in Jul 1954 here in Blighty. Just shows how costly war is.

That certainly helps explain how I've observed your fellow countrymen's attitude to many things. Anything beyond a cup of milky tea and a plain digestive biscuit is often looked on as a needless extravagance (and yes I quote Bill Bryson here)!

Coming up during and after the war clearly must have instilled a sense of guarded conservatism when it came to spending, as sought after goods and food were not as readily available as today.

And even the generation after those directly affected by these conditions seem to also carry this attitude with them. I've noticed it in my mates in the UK who are relatively the same age as myself, but who were born during the period when rationing was still in effect.

Please make sure you understand this is not meant as criticism or jab at your fellow Brits Stick. In fact anything but. Just an observation.

And feel free to tell me that I'm talking whole loads of bollocks! I'm an Anglophile of the first order, having visited your green and fair land some dozen times or more. I've found your people to be welcoming and friendly without equal.

Just a casual observation fwiw!

Howzat for a hijack?!

But back to the topic - luv to see a pic of the Uncle Paul, preferably with it hanging in yer gob!

:cherry:




Cheers,

RR

I think that's pretty astute, Rande.

'Make do and mend' was a slogan that was banded around both during the war and in the post war recovery years.  My parents were youngsters during this epoch and it has rubbed off on me.  I hate waste.  

My wife on the other hand is very wasteful.  She'll run the shower for 5 minutes before getting in to it; the hot water only takes 15 seconds to arrive and we're on a water meter.  I'll come home in the evening and all the lights will be on upstairs and everyone will be downstairs.  I would rather fix a pair of shoes but I often find them the bin when they've still got plenty of life left in them.  The heating gets turned up and folks are still sat in shorts and tee - shirts.  Yup, I hate waste, and I find it especially hard to stand by and watch during these austere times that we're currently experiencing;  my wife and I now both work for the NHS, an organisation that has for the 9th year running set pay rises at less than the rate of inflation so essentially we're taking pay cuts each year.

As fewer of the older generation are left to fly the standard however, I sense a change in the wind, evidenced by mindsets such as my wife's.  I heard on the news today that items of clothing are now at the lowest lifespan ever, not because they wear out, but because folks are wearing them far less before recycling them, or worst still, just discarding them.  Classic throw away society, much of which comes down to design; most products are linear in that they have a production date, useful lifespan, and then are discarded, usually ending up in landfill.  A circular product is designed to be recycled once it wears out.

For these reasons I very much admire Yvonne Chouinard's philosophy.  He found Patagonia, a premium brand outdoor clothing and equipment specialist.  Bizarre as it may sound, he actively discourages people from buying his products, encouraging potential customers to 'make do and mend' before buying something new.  He says that buying one of his products should be a carefully considered, thought out process rather than impulsive, and seen as an investment.  Too much to tell here about this amazing chap, but I would fully encourage folks to investigate further.  His book, 'Let me people go surfing' is a game changer.

Not sure if it's possible to hijack your own thread  :suspect: , so here's a pic of a pipe:

 

[monbla256]

Nice pipe ya got there dude! :twisted: I'm not a lover of bent pipes but have had a nice Edward's OP for a few years till I gave it away. Was the only Edward's I had that gurgled all thru the bow from start to finish.
As far as your attitude of "mae do" try having a mother and grandparents from Scotland !! :twisted: Though she was brought here in '39 she grew up with parents who grew up in Scotland !! And my father was French Cannadien and almost as "frugal", cheap by today's defanitian, so I to understand your thoughts on this ! I realize as I've gotten older I find I'm getting more lie them !! :twisted: :twisted:

 

[Brewdude]

Thanks for the pic David. Looks quite like my one and only OP, an Edwards that was gifted to me many years ago and which has seen minimal use. Need to correct that!

Ta very much for the candid response on the rest.


Cheers,

RR