| Author | Message | ||
     Geoff Marks Member Username: Muskoka Post Number: 3 Registered: 09-2005 |
I've recently aqcuired a bunch of nice briar pipes in a lot. Inluded in this lot was a corn cob made by the Missouri Meerschaum Company. The thing about this pipe is it has a bamboo shank with a short stem (vulcanite). The other thing about it is it has a branded (burned in) logo on the bottom instead of the typical sticky label. Is this an older corn cob? Is worth keeping or should I sell it? Is there anyway to date corn cobs? Sorry if these have been answered before. I did a search and read many threads but I couldn't find any that gave me the info I was looking for. Thanks, Geoff | ||
| Geoff Marks Member Username: Muskoka Post Number: 4 Registered: 09-2005 |
Here's a couple of pics of it.. #1  | ||
| Geoff Marks Member Username: Muskoka Post Number: 4 Registered: 09-2005 |
#2...sorry, it's a little fuzzy  | ||
| Wayne S Benge Member Username: Wsbenge Post Number: 222 Registered: 05-2005 |
MM has told me in the past to send them a picture. I don't know that it is worth a lot because it is older. Some of the older cobs smoke pretty good. Whether or not you want to keep it probably depends on how much you like to smoke cobs. I have been nearly "cob only" for about 6 months. Some are better than others. One I have is the best smoking pipe I have ever used. The shank fits lower that usual, and it has a wood bottom. Do you like smoking cobs? | ||
| Geoff Marks Member Username: Muskoka Post Number: 4 Registered: 09-2005 |
Thanks for the reply Wayne. I, like many I'm sure, started smoking pipes with a cob. Mine was a very inexpensive one which I have been smoking up until a couple of days go when it cracked on me. Poor smoking habits as it was my only pipe until I just got the bunch that contained the older cob in question. I can't say as I really liked my first cob. To tell the truth, I smoked one of my new (estate) briars for the first time and found it to be a much nicer smoke. This older cob caught my interest with it's bamboo shank and different lablel. I'm not necessarily looking to sell it. I was more curious about it, than anything. I did email MM directly a few minutes ago. We'll see what, if anything, comes of my email. Thanks agian, Geoff | ||
| Wayne S Benge Member Username: Wsbenge Post Number: 223 Registered: 05-2005 |
I like its looks. I personally like larger bowls. I need to experiment. I just bought some bamboo, and will experiment with some local cobs when I get the chance. Fun. I surf ebay quite a bit, and pick up a cob or two from there once in a while. I like getting cobs that are no longer available just to see how they perform. They don't bring the price of a good briar, even the older ones ... but they are fun to smoke.  | ||
| Geoff Marks Member Username: Muskoka Post Number: 5 Registered: 09-2005 |
Wayne...and anyone else that might find interest in this. I received an email back form a Marilyn at MM today. She had done some research on my cob. Here's what she had to say.... "Mr. Marks: Thank you for the pictures. They did help narrow down the style and age. I went through the old catalogs and found that your pipe is the Monogram with a wanghee shank. This was one of several styles of Monogram pipes offered in the 1960's & 1970's. I found the last pictures of it in the 1977 catalog. At that time it retailed for about $3.49 each. I hope this will narrow things down for you. Marilyn Missouri Meerscahum Co." Interesting anyway. Now I have to decide if I keep it or sell it. I will probably end up keeping for interest sake and smoke it every once and awhile. | ||
| Israel Member Username: Israel Post Number: 137 Registered: 10-2004 |
I recently ordered a batch of cobs from MM and I'm impatiently awaiting their arrival. In the meantime, I've been getting by with a cob I bought several years ago. I looked over the archives and I found that some were made with reed stems (for the Popeye remake) and now seeing yours (which looks great, btw) I wish MM would bring back some old-timey craftsmanship and materials. A cob with a bamboo stem would really be a delight. I should think they'd be able to sell a bunch at 10-15 bucks a pop. What do you gentlemen think? Perhaps we should see if MM can be pursuaded to make a special run for the pipes.org contingent? :-) | ||
| Wayne S Benge Member Username: Wsbenge Post Number: 241 Registered: 05-2005 |
I know the kind of cob I would like. They really are not being made. I like the bit (durable) on the Freehand, but wish it was a saddle bit. I like the style of the Diplomat, but with it had the depth of the discontinued Ambassador. The shank on the Ambassador was placed too high. Have the cob smokers noticed general swelling in a ring about the level of where the shank is inserted, in most cobs, regardless of style? | ||
| Rich Henry Member Username: Rich_henry Post Number: 46 Registered: 06-2005 |
Wayne, I have 4 Country Gentlemen cobs & a Patriot, these are about 6 months old. I smoke them several times a day. No problems. The same for my 2 cobs I've had for 36 yrs. They're just swell! I know, I should be shot for that! [Smile!] Happy smoking, Rich | ||
| Israel Member Username: Israel Post Number: 139 Registered: 10-2004 |
> Have the cob smokers noticed general swelling in a ring about the level of where the shank is inserted, in most cobs, regardless of style? Hi Wayne, Since I've rekindled my interest in cobs, I've been reading your postings with interest. Now that you mention it, yes, mine does exhibit this characteristic. But I have only one, and it doesn't have a whole lot of bowls through it (maybe 20-30). Perhaps this is a result of moisture collection at the stem/shank interface? I hope that this ongoing interest in cobs by pipe smokers will encourage MM to ramp up for some really nice pipes- such as they produced in bygone days- for the smoking, rather than novelty markets. I really love the ones with shanks of materials like bamboo and reed, and someone posted some great pics of pipes with diamond shanks and nice bits. | ||
| Bill Kavanaugh Member Username: Kavendish Post Number: 67 Registered: 07-2005 |
Wayne, do you mean on the outside where the shank meets the bowl? If so, isn't that where they would put some type of glue to mount the shank? I smoke the Legend. | ||
| Israel Member Username: Israel Post Number: 142 Registered: 10-2004 |
Maybe I read this too quickly- I was thinking he meant the shank where the bit was inserted. Now I'm thinking what you wrote, Bill, is what he meant... |