The Midas touch.

The Midas touch- a gold mounted spigot.

My latest Peterson acquisition is in the shape of a beautiful 14 K gold mounted 221 fishtail spigot. This magnificent example of a true high grade Pete,is at the more expensive end of the Peterson price spectrum. When purchased new these pipes can cost anything between $700 and $1000.

The Peterson tradition has long been associated with the fine gold and silver detail of their pipes. This particular Gold Spigot is characterised by a gold covering on the tapered end of the mouthpiece which compliments the hallmarked gold tenon and mount.

The Spigot style evolved from the practice of soldiers in earlier centuries who repaired broken pipes by sliding a used cartridge case over the shank and reinserting the mouthpiece. In this unique spigot finished pipe, Peterson craftsmanship perfect the union of finest quality briar and precious metals. The gold is spun to shape and then fitted to the pipe. The craftsmanship, created with only a lathe and chisel as basic tools, is the finest in the industry and usually come fitted with fishtail mouthpieces.

This beauty certainly brings a nice touch of bling to the collection!. 

 

 

Centennial Limited Edition 1875 - 1975.

In 1975 Peterson issued the Centennial Limited Edition 1875 - 1975 pipes. 

 The Peterson Centennial pipes, were released in celebration of 100 years of the company's pipe making. Two pipes were issued, 100 of each shape,a sterling silver banded straight and a bent shape 69, both were offered for sale individually.

These pipes are relatively rare, owing to the small numbers of each that were issued. I was fortunate in acquiring a nice condition shape 69.It has been very lightly smoked and has a beautiful quality walnut stained bowl.The markings are relatively clear,the silver collar 1875 mark can just be seen.Obviously the previous owner polished it regularly with some pride and enthusiasm!

Here are some photo shots of this fine example.

Aesthetically pleasing?

Aesthetically pleasing is a much debated concept,particularly when it comes to pipes.What is pleasing to one person may not be so to others.

The Peterson brand of pipes allows the pipe enthusiast massive choices in shape,style and finish.

A shape I have difficulty with is the one based on the flat bottomed sitter, the 306 system pipe.
Over the years I have included examples of some of the variants in my collection.
Here in the entry level smooth standard system.


Also in the Deluxe 11fb version.

I can never quite put my finger on the reason why I do not like them more,the 11fb in particular I find disproportionate with a saddle stem.In fact I find it probably one of the ugliest Petes ever made.I know, I can hear all of the cries of indignation!!
However in my defence I do like this latest addition to my collection,a 306 sandblast silver cap with fishtail tapered stem.To my mind it has much better proportions and in the hinged silver cap version is much more aesthetically pleasing. I hope you agree?

Cased Early Patent 1892 Meerschaum Pipe.

Cased Early Kapp & Peterson Patent 1892 Meerschaum Pipe.

This very early Meerschaum in the standard distinctive Peterson bent shape, was created  around 1891/2 the time when the Kapp brothers and Charles Peterson first patented and began marketing the unique classic system that remains as popular today.

 

 Note that this outstanding specimen is distinctly stamped with the patent number on both the bowl shank and the silver ferrule and that the silver identifies both PETERSON and the parent company Kapp Brothers (stamped KAPP BRO).

 

Oddly, the bowl has a small, perfectly round hole drilled deliberately through the bottom of the tobacco chamber. Occasionally seen, these are sometimes done by pipe owners, to create a "carburettor" effect, and of course several pipe makers used to make "carburettor" pipes.

 

 The case is in excellent condition inside and out (though not labelled).

This special pipe is now one of two, handsome,richly coloured and historically important of the earlier Kapp & Peterson pipes which I am now privileged to have in my collection.

 

Small can be beautiful and functional!

Small can be beautiful and functional!

Regular blog followers will have noted that one of the main reasons that I enjoy Petersons pipes, is the sheer variety of shapes of pipes which they have produced over the years.

In the early Patent years(1890-1920) it was fashionable to produce very small practical pipes, for everyday use. These pipes were, in my opinion targeted at the main working populace.They were made so that  they could slip easily into the fashionable vest pockets of most pipe smokers of that time.
I already had a couple of these interesting little pipes and have just added another to my collection. An early P-lip, Patent 1910 (2) grade bent Army mount.

 It measures just over 4 inches long,with a bowl height of 1 and 3/8th inches.
Unlike modern vest pocket pipes these early patents were very traditional in shape.



My three small vest pipes can be seen in direct comparison to an average size 999 shape Peterson pipe, giving a good illustration of their size and scale.

Satisfying the collector's lust for possession!

Satisfying the collector's lust for possession!

Early last year Gary Malmberg,the President of the Sacramento pipe club gave a talk to the members of the Golden Gate Pipe club. He brought along several significant old Pete's from his extensive collection. One of these was a really interesting one, a large 1912 Meerschaum figural Mastiff Dog carving. From the photos, I reckoned that the pipe was, in all probability one of the finest Peterson Meerschaum carvings that I had ever seen. As a collector of Peterson's my lust was unleashed!

Over the last few months I have purchased several older Pete's from Gary's wonderful collection.

I made it known to him that I was very interested in the Meerschaum Mastiff Dog figural pipe which he had shown earlier in the year and asked if he would consider a mutually beneficial exchange to allow me to acquire this outstanding pipe. Well I am very pleased to say that I am now the proud custodian of this quite exceptional and historically significant pipe.

Just arrived, I am proud to introduce the latest addition to The Sandpiper Peterson Museum collection!

Thank you Gary.

Something Unique.

One of the joys I get from collecting Peterson pipes is the sheer variety of shapes and models that they have issued over the years.
Regardless of having a huge collection of them ,I am always finding pipes that I have never seen before.
Such pipes in the main tend to be from the older series of pre-republic or Patents.However now and again up pops a complete surprise from the modern era.

I was recently contacted by fellow Pete enthusiast Adam Rusan from Sydney,Australia. Adam asked for my opinion on a pipe which he had recently acquired/purchased from a well known Sydney Peterson distributor,Sol Levy.
It was a beautiful natural coloured XL339 Silver Spigot,with a most unusual Cumberland stem.The stem being in the style of the older 'system' pipes.

Adam had very little information to go on the pipe and had failed to source any reference to such a shape and model. I explained to him that the shape is no longer being issued by Peterson and that I suspected that the pipe was a NOS pipe,ie. new old stock.Probably held within the shop for several years.I drew attention to the unique stem shape and finish and speculated that this particular pipe was probably a one-off special piece for retail exhibition.I have several such pipes in my own collection,although non as distinctive as this one.
I thought that the Blog followers would like to see it and asked Adam for permission to post a copy of one of his photo's.Thank you Adam.I am envious!