Carey Magic Inch?

[AJ]

Anyone familiar with Carey Magic Inch pipes? I see them on eBay all the time and some of them appeal to me. They are usually inexpensive which will surely change if I show any interest. :suspect:  I don't recall anyone mentioning them here on the forum so I thought I'd ask. Any experiences you'd like to share?  

AJ

 

[Fr_Tom]

AJ - I have wondered about these too. I have never seen one in person or understand exactly the concept. Is this like the Amphora pipes that let air in the stem? I have never seen one of those either, so I don't know if they are any good or just a sales gimmick on a pipe you might not look at otherwise...

 

[Ocelot55]

I've restored tons of them, and I hated them all. The stem is really strange. The actual smoke tube is perforated with a bunch of holes and then covered with a paper filter and that fits inside that ventilated stem. It is an interesting system, but not only do I think it doesn't work, but the stem material is a soft plastic and the briar tends to be inferior quality.

That said, they are inexpensive and will smoke. Some people swear by them, just not me. YMMV.

 

[Richard Burley]

They work. I used them when first starting smoking years ago. The "filter" isn't a filter at all (the smoke doesn't go through it), but rather just a disposable paper sleeve that sucks up moisture and dissipates it as you smoke. They don't require removal every smoke, and their cost is, or was, negligible. I didn't care esthetically for the way the stem joins the shank, so I quit using them. Put it this way: they are decent smokers and might be useful to beginners, but the apparatus is unnecessary for those of us who have acquired god-like abilities from experience. Quality of briar is mediocre, but they're OK. Actually, I think I might recommend them for the novice, second only to the immortal cob.

 

[BigCasino]

I have one cant figure out how to get the fickled thing apart to look at the filter!

 

[ftrplt]

I'm more than old enough to remember the old B & W ads featuring "Doctor" E. A. Carey and his magic pipe!!! Sold quite a few when I did such in the 60's. Point was the little hole (or holes, depending on model) was supposed to introduce a "puff of cool air" into the shank/stem to help get rid of moisture (hence the paper insert) and "cool" the smoke! The newer Amphoras may do the same; never came across one. Personally, I dump the Carey's in with Medico, "The Pipe," Yello-Bowl, and most any filtered pipe; just some sort of gimmick. But that's just me, if you like'em; smoke'em!!! The Carey's are not going to give you the greatest briar, pretty common as a rule. I've forgotten where they are made. At one time, I think they were produced either in Sparta, NC (Dr. Grabow, etc.) or Barstow, OK (various brands). Again, personally, I'd much rather have a good cob!!!!:cheers: FTRPLT

 

[Andy Lowry]

I have this one, and a box of the paper sleeves. You want it?

 

[AJ]

I have this one, and a box of the paper sleeves. You want it?

That was what I had in mind when I said some of those pipes appeal to me. I like that pipe. But I have over 100 pipes and don't really need it. Your offer is very gracious but I'm sure there are those who need a pipe or they know someone that does. I'd feel guilty accepting the pipe as a gift when I have so many and there may be a brother here on the forum who could really use it if you were to decide to make it available. I'm honored and humbled that you've offered to be. Thank you so much.

AJ

 

[loneredtree]

I have one from the 60's I think. It is made of Grecian Brier. A nice cross grain, I did not care for the way it smoked. So, I put electrical tape over the vents. The air diluted the flavor. It is now fitted with a normal stem and is a good smoker. If you find an old one I say get it and replace the stem. YMMV.

 

[MisterE]

Nothing magic about them at all IMHO. Meh. :| 

 

[Andy Lowry]

I have this one, and a box of the paper sleeves. You want it?
That was what I had in mind when I said some of those pipes appeal to me. I like that pipe. But I have over 100 pipes and don't really need it. Your offer is very gracious but I'm sure there are those who need a pipe or they know someone that does. I'd feel guilty accepting the pipe as a gift when I have so many and there may be a brother here on the forum who could really use it if you were to decide to make it available. I'm honored and humbled that you've offered to be. Thank you so much.

AJ

In my opinion, the reason we're on this site is to help each other out. Sometimes it's just words of support or advice, and sometimes physical goods go from one place to another. It's a very rare occasion that I use a straight pipe of any sort, so this one has just been gathering dust for more years than I care to think about. I remember smoking it on a flight from Columbus, Ohio to Chicago in 1973 or 4, so it's got some cachet-- a pipe that was actually smoked on an airplane!! Can you imagine?

You are welcome to try the "system" and then throw it away, sell it, give it away, make a devious electronic eavesdropping device out of it, or use it as kindling, if you'd like to give it a shot. It's not a matter of whether you need it or not; with a good ten or twenty pipes we may never "need" another, yes?

How about this-- I'll send it to you, you can give it a fair appraisal as to its qualities or lack of same, and then you can send it back, or do with it what you wish. It's a pipe meant for someone who asked your question. You can have a concrete answer!

 

[AJ]

OK Andy I'll give it a try and thanks. I'm shooting you a PM wit my addy. 

AJ

 

[motie2]

I am an outlier when it comes to pipes. I have fourteen E.A. Carey Magic Inch pipes. The only non-Carey pipes I own are two cobs and a Duncan Hill Aerosphere I bought from Carey. back in the day. My first Carey was a billiard, in 1964: "Try my pipe for 30 days, only $15.00" I had other pipes but I continued to buy Carey's, including an apple and a volcano. Then, around 1984, I gave up smoking, gave away or sold most of my pipes, keeping only three Carey's and the Duncan Hill. When I took up the pipe again in 2016, there was an internet, and I swiftly found eBay, where I began to buy used/estate Carey's. I've never paid More than thirty dollars for an eBay Carey. Of course, that was a couple of years ago. Whereas the eBay selections have increased, so have the prices..... I also received two used/estate Carey's as gifts from two generous friends who knew of my obsession. (BTW, One of the cobs came only recently from a friend here at BoB.) So, anyway, as I mentioned, I have fourteen Carey's, but in reality I only smoke three of them. But I am passionate about Carey's. If I didn't have them, I wouldn't smoke at all.

 

[motie2]

 

[Grt]

Anyone familiar with Carey Magic Inch pipes? I see them on eBay all the time and some of them appeal to me. They are usually inexpensive which will surely change if I show any interest. :suspect: I don't recall anyone mentioning them here on the forum so I thought I'd ask. Any experiences you'd like to share?

AJ

I have 4 of these. Bought them cause of my trouble with tongue bite. In a word, they work as advertised. I am not.as great a connoisseur as perhaps some of you may be. Still. I like them. Havent.noticed any real drawbacks to.them.

 

[Grt]

I have 4 of these. Bought them cause of my trouble with tongue bite. In a word, they work as advertised. I am not.as great a connoisseur as perhaps some of you may be. Still. I like them. Havent.noticed any real drawbacks to.them.

PS. I have 12 Dunhill white dots and while I get more flavor with them, they also burn my tongue. I'm thinking that if I learn to properly pack my tobacco and just smoke slower I might avoid some of the tongue bite and heat in my mouth. Packing tight seems to require harder puffs, leading to faster smoking, hotter tobacco burning and tongue bite and heat in my mouth. Sound familiar to.anyone?

 

[Swede]

I don't have very much pipe experience comparatively, but I've found that using the "breathe" method of smoking slows me down and keeps from bite, and increases the flavors I experience. In the right situation, it's nice and meditative.

 

[Grt]

I don't have very much pipe experience comparatively, but I've found that using the "breathe" method of smoking slows me down and keeps from bite, and increases the flavors I experience. In the right situation, it's nice and meditative.

Sir, would you mind taking the time to describe/explain to me the "breath" method to.which you refer? I don't know what that is or means.

 

[Swede]

I found out about it through Muttonchop piper on YouTube. Here is one of his videos.

 

[Corncobcon]

I have one in my display case. It is an Oom Paul. It looks nice just sitting there, and that's where
it is going to stay.