This one is a bent billiard with a rectangular shank, band and saddle stem. I will know more once I have it in hand to clean and restore. The nickel ferrule is made for the filter style stem that holds a Savinelli Balsa Filter. Another of the older briars was made sometime between the late 1890s and early 1900s. The first one I restored was a large Irish Second 05 Calabash that will be going to the fellow I repaired the cracked one for. This will give him another option to smoke should that one give him further issues.
Manxpipes and Laxey’s other brands were available peterson pipes through pipe retailers in general, but also were sold (mainly) to tourists through their own shop in Laxey. The next pipe I have chosen is smooth finished Peterson’s “Sterling Silver” pipe. This one is a 53 Lovat that has a rich coloured finish with amazing grain around the bowl sides and shank. It also came to us from the estate of Anglican minister that was a great friend of mine here in Canada. I was in the airport in Hong Kong when his daughter contacted me to tell me of his death and asked if I wanted to take on his pipes. I told her that I was sad to hear of his death but would gladly take on his pipes to restore and sell.
I have no idea how many pipes we bought on those visits as well as to the antique shop of his daughter. When we heard peterson pipes that it was Gene’s personal collection that was for sale and that he had passed away we decided for Jeff to go to the house and have a look. He went on January 25, 2024 to scope it out as we had seen his personal collection of pipes and there were definitely some among those well smoked old warriors that would be great to pick up. Perhaps there would even be one that could join my own collection in memory of Gene. Our Peterson video will go a long way to highlight the standards that Peterson holds itself to when crafting its pipes. Why not take a look at our selection and get yourself a few masterfully made smoking pipes.
I went with the 302 since it’s a slightly larger bowl for longer smokes. The ordering process was simple and even came with a gift wrap option. It was back in London 1865 where two brothers George and Frederick Kapp started a pipe making business. In 1874 Fedrick moved to Dublin in pursue of his pipe making dream. Supply of meer from East Africa run out (Kenya / Tanzania exhausted, Somalia inaccessible), and thus the last Laxey meers were supplied to trade in May, 2001. Laxey Pipe Ltd. tried to survive continuing with briar pipes – mainly in the Danish style -, but to no success.
There was a hole in the bottom of the bowl that punctured the heel. The stem was plugged as well and I could not blow any air through it. The nickel ferrule was oxidized and dirty with grime on it and an overflow of oils from the sump.
If you’re not familiar, many Peterson Pipes are made with the Peterson system, a proprietary method of construction. Basically, instead of a hole that goes straight through the shank from the mouthpiece to the bowl, there’s a reservoir where the shank and bowl meet to collect moisture. The system is meant to collect condensation away from the draft hole for a drier smoke. You might like this if you’ve ever experienced a gurgle while smoking your pipe, since the system would eliminate that.Check the Peterson Pipes site for a more detailed description.