Noticed that Wilson’s clay pipes are now available online. These are made from original moulds obtained in 1992 from the ancient pipe manufacturer of John Pollock. Anyone who has collected pipe bowls from the Thames at low tide or from ploughed fields will recognise and date them. Tens of millions were made and supplied with a purchase of tobacco, and original pipe bowls may be readily found. They are the most accessible artefacts available to the amateur archaeologist. As a general rule the early ones have very small bowls, as tobacco from Virginia (after the Virgin Queen) was very expensive. The bowl is angled away from the stem with the angle becoming more acute as the centuries progress. There is invariably milling round the top in early specimens. I’ve collected very early pipe bowls from rivers called Fairy Pipes and are even smaller than the one illustrated with the bowl almost part of the stem. Many early examples have a spur, but most of those by Wilsons have a flat surface for placing on a tabletop. What are not included in this selection are the famous Churchwardens with stems up to three feet in length - known as a yard of clay. Victorian examples are often fashioned after famous people of the day or adorned with motifs from clubs and associations. Stamps by the maker are often embossed on the heel. Pipes have been made from a huge variety of material, but very few are entirely satisfactory. Clay, briar and Meerschaum come to mind. Of these a fresh clay provides, in my opinion, the best possible smoking experience, and organisers of Pipe Smoking Championships often provide identical clays for contestants. I no longer smoke any tobacco, but thoroughly recommend the venerable clay to those who do. If you don’t smoke then finding pipe bowls is absorbing. Broken stems about one inch in length are the clues that you are looking in the right place. Ploughed fields that have been in use for centuries and busy rivers at low-tide are best. Other items might come to light. I once scored two fine Edward I hammered silver pennies. There is an excellent series of articles on clays (issue 14) by ‘The Worshipful Company of Tobacco Pipe Makers and Tobacco Blenders’, which is available as a pdf on the web. The same pdf also describes the old mills in Kendal and Sheffield. From the article ones learns that the famous water driven mill on the Porter was recreated in scale by the toy firm and railway model company of Bassett-Lowke. The ancient mill machinery of Samuel Gawith is still used to make snuff as it did in the mid 18th century. Pipes from John Pollock’s original moulds: http://sharrowmills-online.com/smoking-accessories/clay-pipes.html?SID=6fe23c5a1493362a31fca41151d6341d The Worshipful Company of Tobacco Pipe Makers and Tobacco Blenders: http://www.tobaccolivery.org/pdf%20files/Issue%2014%20Spring%202006.pdf
man I had a few churchwarden clays loved them. Though it was hard to keep them from breaking and I have no idea who made them. Smoked wonderfully though. Though don’t touch the bowl as they get hot fast.
Yes, the bowls do get hot and blacken with use. Just looked at page 2 of the pipe selection and seen that 13 inch Churchwardens are available after all. Nearly £60 for a stack of just six is very pricey, but a real treat for the pipe aficionado. They could always be mounted after use for unusual, effective display in your smoker’s den (if her-in-doors allows one that is.)
Alot of good information, Philip! Those pipes caught my eye when I was thinking about ordering from Wilsons. I’ve never had a clay. Do they tend to hold alot of the moisture…get sour on you? i’ve heard they would keep a longer clay pipe in the pubs as a ‘house’ pipe and break off a bit of the stem between users…is there any truth to that?
@Bart - The tobacco in clays smoulders slowly so three grams, once you have acquired the knack, will last noticeably longer. With Churchwardens (my recommendation) the heat is absorbed by the long stem and the only thing that burns is the tobacco. Flavour is 100% unimpaired. There is no bite and no souring. To reduce moisture a tobacco plug should be inserted before packing, but the clay is porous and absorbs it. Also the whole process of preparing and smoking a Churchwarden pipe is slow, satisfying, deeply relaxing and, to my old-fashioned mind, is the epitome of civilised behaviour. I haven’t heard of stem breaking between users myself. Pipes were fire-cleaned en-masse by placing them on a rack and burning them (sounds tortuous). Owing to the cost it would be better to clean the pipes by burning rather than throwing them away. A barbecue stacked not with kebabs but pipes is recommended. They should be burned for about 45 minutes, whereupon they will be thoroughly cleansed. Other than the colour they will then be as good as new. Some people insist that they improve with seasoning, but clays require no break-in.
I have heard of stem breaking as well. I learned of it in St. Augustine. The story was told that people would rent out a pipe, so the bar maid would break off the end in front of the customer to show that it was a clean establishment.
I think I would like to try one of the clays. I have one meerschaum pipe and it really is a cool smoke…much different than a briar. I have heard some folks using gloves to handle a meerschaum pipe because the oil in their hands supposedly colors the pipe prematurely. “Put on your Kid Gloves”, as the Turkish sailors would say on their smoke breaks,( or maybe that was Rush I’m thinking of), either way, maybe I will dabble in pipes again. The thought of a nice, old weathered black clay pipe is appealing to me.
Wearing gloves is only for aesthetic purposes, I never bother with that myself, though some people are religious about it. I have never smoked a clay pipe but this thread has definitely intrigued me. I am suddenly very interested to obtain one! Thanks for sharing your insights PhillipS.
What kind of tobacco do people normally smoke in these pipes?
same as other pipes. It’s very diffrent from a meer pipe by the way. However it’s equal unique as a meer as far as nothing else smokes like it.
I have a 13" clay churchwardens and I love it. It is such a cool smoke, in the sense that the smoke is cool. Not entirely sure how ‘cool’ I look with it dangling out my mouth. We sold a bunch of them on ebay and another site www.snuffboxesetc.com but we are currently out. I need to order more. This is a good reminder. Trouble is whenever I order a dozen at least 3 are broken by the time they get across the pond. I actually have a few photos of the churchwarden being made in teh UK. I visited the workshop last year. It was excellent to see the craft in action. If you are interested I will dig them out and put them in this thread. We have a few clays left, with my second favorite being the nosewarmer. It is short at 3.5 inches…hence the name. Dave
“I visited the workshop last year. It was excellent to see the craft in action. If you are interested I will dig them out and put them in this thread.” @Mr. Snuff - Yes please, and thank you.
Thanks for starting this interesting thread, PhilipS! While a long time pipe smoker, only recently I discovered the joys of clay pipe. A friend gifted me a shortish straight clay that smokes extremely well. The tobaccos do taste more bright or “clear”. He also included a piece of silicone tubing for the bit that makes the stem more teeth friendly – I can easily clench the pipe now.
Tobacco shops here in Dublin sell those Wilsons of Sharrow clay pipes, so turists keep that in mind. Off course Petersons of Dublin is famous for it’s own pipes, too.
A clay pipe is something that I have to get. Been meaning to for a while, I hear they smoke very well.
Hey guys: I have some Churchwardens on the way, both the 9inch and the 13 inch with any luck. still waiting for confirmation. We are working on posting a short vid on the website of a churchwarden being made by the master crafts-lady with running commentary from her husband. It is pretty cool. Dave
Video is up. See HEREEnjoy, Dave
Very cool, Dave. Was that at Wilsons, or are they made off-site and bought by Wilsons?
Here’s video of a Dutch pipe maker making a pipe. (5min.)
@Jari T … Video is not available in SLOVAKIA … 