A tiny pipe gift

[roogles]

Over the Christmas holiday my grandmother and I were talking one day and somehow got onto the subjects of pipes, pipe smoking, and pipe collecting. She told me that her great grandfather, and her great-great grandfather both smoked pipes and that she was pretty sure she had their pipes "in a box, somewhere around here". (She's 84). She asked if I would like to have them, and when I told her "Of course!" she said that she would start looking for them after the holidays when things settled down.

In the mean time, she told me that she had run across a pipe that she thought I might like to have and went to fetch it (it was on one of her knick-knack shelves - tell me I'm not the only person who's parents or grandparents have these?).

The surprising thing about this pipe (to me) is that it was actually carved functionally. That is... the tobacco chamber has an air hole that connects through the shank to the stem, the stem fits well, and it draws air (functional? right?). The pipe is carved to look like an indian head with a feathered headdress.

Oh, and it's about two inches long.

 

[plumbernater]

That is cool. And only 2 inches long, thats tiny. Make sure you post the other pipes when you get them. They are old and I am fascinated with old pipes. You have some really nice treasure coming

 

[Kyle Weiss]

That's super cool. I wish I had the joy of having grandparents.

If you can get passed-down heirloom pipes, it doesn't get any better than that. 8)

 

[RDPipes]

Neat pipe sir! It seems to have some markings on the shank, can you tell what it say's? Kinda reminds me of a Marxman pipe.

 

[PipeLeisure]

imagine trying to smoke your flakes in that little guy...

 

[roogles]

Neat pipe sir! It seems to have some markings on the shank, can you tell what it say's? Kinda reminds me of a Marxman pipe.

Great eye Cart!

I had to use a magnifying glass to read it, but the shank says "THRIFCO BRIAR".

A google search seems to reveal that they make miniatures for advertisement? maybe?

I've found photos online of a few other THRIFCO pipe keychains, but none that look like the carved indian head.

The plot thickens...

 

[RDPipes]

Not really such good eyes, I cheated and use a magnifier.

I have a WDC Baby Wellington that's about the same size and someone actually smoked the dad burn thing and by the looks of it, on a regular basis. I have one other made by Frank that's even half the size.

 

[RDPipes]

Just found this on eBay, thought it might interest you being it was made by the same manufacturer.
Thrifco pipe