What is this thing?

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What exactly is this? (lemmy.world)

submitted 3 days ago by ickplant to c/whatisthisthing

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[–] [email protected] 50 points 3 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

A tobacco pipe. Thing with lid on goes in one end of the y-shaped bit, the long bit in the other. The lid opens, and the lid's there so you can smoke when it's raining.

Edit: For anyone interested in how I got this so quickly; my dad has an old similar one from his grandmother, she was a switch board operator at the start of the last century, and he got to keep it's when she passed since he's also a pipe smoker. I don't think he's ever smoked it though, so I've had one in my home for my entire childhood :)

[–] ickplant 14 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Thanks! Does this kind of pipe have a name?

[–] [email protected] 35 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

It's a Tyrolean pipe - I just saw Willem Dafoe's character using one in Nosferatu funnily enough.

See here: The Cast of Nosferatu Discusses the Props That Shaped Their Characters | Prop Shop

Also one quite similar to yours in design (I think): https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/1525820329/e-foot-pipe-antique-pipe-smoking-pipe?ref=sr_gallery-1-1&frs=1&sts=1&content_source=0bf227c4bf5cbe3d5859e776a0ac736a20682b5d%253A1525820329

[–] ickplant 5 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Thank you so much! How was Nosferatu? I’m wanting to watch it soon.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 days ago

No problem. It was good, they are all quality actors and the direction from Eggers was on point. I was kind of wondering though whether we really need another classic-style vampire movie, because there's nothing particularly interesting or new about the retelling of the story in terms of content, despite its excellent production quality. But sometimes that's maybe enough? :)

[–] [email protected] 7 points 3 days ago

the lid's there so you can smoke when it's raining

This is hilarious

[–] [email protected] 14 points 3 days ago

I used to work at a tobacco shop and I've seen a lot of pipes and this is definitely a pipe but I couldn't guess where it's from. There are a lot of pipes and pipemakers out there. There are experts out that there that could probably work it out but I'm certainly not one of them.

I would check very carefully for a makers mark, most pipes have a make and model imprinted somewhere or the name of the carver. Often near the bottom of the bowl or along the stem near the bowl.

The stem looks like it was made by hand later. It's clearly a different piece of wood and finished differently. Leaving the bark on like that is unique and not very common. I would assume the original stem broke and the owner made their own. This may be why you haven't found a maker's mark as it might have been on the original stem. It's a neat piece and looks to be in great condition. Nice find!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago

Has me baffled.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Pretty sure that’s a meerschaum pipe.

[–] bizzle 1 points 1 day ago

Meerschaum is a clay, the pipes are usually white. This one is made of wood, although I don't know enough to say anything more