Bereck or Veresk pipe?

[blanepeters]

In the process of moving, my wife stumbled upon a box marked "Gifts and Trinkets 1990-94" in my fathers handwriting. Dad used to travel a lot with government groups on diplomatic/educational junkets. Invariably, he would return with miscellanea that had been gifted to him from varying groups or dignitaries. In the box was a couple of pipes. I would like to see if you gents might help identify one of them.

It is still in the original box with the original band at the stem. The card with it reads (in both Russian and English):

"The pipe you've bought is made of cherry tree root and registered in our card index No. 30334." (The # is hand written)

The back of the card claims:

"The Veresk Company is the largest Soviet producer and exporter of pipes and smoking accessories." It also lists an address in Kiev, USSR.

Here is a pic of the card: http://www.flickr.com/photos/60781776@N00/4657526565/

The rest of the card is on there too, if you want more images.

I have googled the Veresk and the Bepeck pipe company to no avail. I can't find the address listed in Kiev anywhere, and the phone number draws a blank. I know this is a soviet era pipe, because he remembers getting it on a trip to Tomsk in 91. I am not looking for pricing info, because I am not really interested in selling it, I would just like to know a little more about it. it is curious to me that the 'largest Soviet producer' is nowhere to be found on the interweb.

Any help would be welcome.

 

[YakSlon]

That's right, during the Soviet times there was only one factory, which made of briar pipes. Visited Ukraine in Kiev. It was called "Cooperative" Heather (Вереск (Veresk). "Now the factory is known as" Golden Gate ". I just yesterday returned from Kiev, where he was held May 29-30 Open Cup of Ukraine on the slow smoking pipe. Firm" Golden Gate "was one of the sponsors of the Cup . The permanent head of the company is Victor Rogovets.

Here is what was written about the factory Gevorg Vartanyan, owner of Internet shop "I Gevorg", (http://gevorg.net) trading, in particular, and pipes GG:

"Golden Gate" ("pollutants", "Golden Gate") - perhaps the only one to date, series producer of these briarovyh tubes in the former USSR.
From the outset pipe business (late 80's), "Golden Gate" (then Co-op "Heather") produced a pipees of cherry, pear, peach, apricot and other fruit woods, which grows in abundance in Ukraine. Of course, these pipes was difficult to compare in quality with pipes made from briar abroad. Nevertheless, well-established production saturate the market with inexpensive pipes ("piece of wood" - so they are called smokers pipes) with more than acceptable quality. The breakthrough came in the early 90's, when they were established supply seasoned briar world-class quality of Tuscana (Italy). From there, from Italy, were established supply cast ebonite mouthpieces. Which contain 75% of Malaysian rubber. After that, the production of tubes was refocused on the production briar pipes. But the production of pipes of fruit tree varieties is still ongoing.
After many years of working with briar pipes, "Golden Gate" I learned to do more or less high-quality products. Today, the Golden Gate "(Golden Gate", GG ") produce a wide range of types and modifications as the tubes without filter and the filter.

I would be glad if you come in handy this information.

 

[Wet Dottle]

Thanks for the info, YakSlon.

 

[blanepeters]

I would be glad if you come in handy this information.

Handy?? This goes well beyond handy. I ask for info and an hour later you give me a definitive history of this pipe. This is incredible. Thanks so much for the history lesson! You are a credit to your profession.