Lead Tobacco Pipe ?

[diggin jimmy hoffa]

Found this in a park that was established in the 1830's.

At first I thought it might be a candle snuffer, but after cleaning the dirt from the bowl I noticed the hole in the bottom going to the stem.

Any ideas on age?

It is lead and found in Northern Indiana in the United States

 

[creskol]

That looks like one to me!! .. I have seen lead ones before. I have also seen lead bubble pipes.
Nice Find!

 

[diggin jimmy hoffa]

That looks like one to me!! .. I have seen lead ones before. I have also seen lead bubble pipes.
Nice Find!

Any idea on age?

Guess I should have asked that in the original posting.

 

[ivan salis]

lead candle snuffer top --hole was for a wood dowel type long rod * for tall high church type candles

 

[diggin jimmy hoffa]

lead candle snuffer top --hole was for a wood dowel type long rod * for tall high church type candles

Now that I think of it, there was a old church just across from the park and down the road from where I found this.

Not doubting anyones input, just that the hole in the bottom of the bowl had me thinking other wise.

Would the hole go through into the bowl though?

Thanks
DJH

 

[GaRebel1861]

Looks like a smoking pipe to me but I have no idea how old it is. I've only seen clay ones down here.

 

[Old Bookaroo]

I'm guessing it is not a tobacco pipe because I think it would rapidly become too hot hold.

Good luck to all,

~The Old Bookaroo

 

[ivan salis]

yes it would go all the way thru - the wooden rod would just end in it -- likely it was fasten on by some sort of glue -or else "pressure fitted" with the wood just in bit big and the lesd part force fitted on --with a church near by it "fits"--- catholic churches ( like the one I attend) and many others as well often have quite tall "holy" candles that one has to have a long handled candle snuffers to reach the top of to put them out with after service is over. --as well as long handled "lighters" to light them with.

as a former 30 year pipe smoker ( i quit in 2007)--- I would say this -- lead would make a lousy tobbaco pipe --it would rapidly heat up and become too hot to handle * -- and it would taint the flavor of the tobbaco --one of the reason's that tobbaco pipes --"tobacco bowls" were made of wood or clay in the old days --is most metal taints the taste and flavor * of burning tobacco most unpleasently.

 

[diggin jimmy hoffa]

yes it would go all the way thru - the wooden rod would just end in it -- likely it was fasten on by some sort of glue -or else "pressure fitted" with the wood just in bit big and the lesd part force fitted on --with a church near by it "fits"--- catholic churches ( like the one I attend) and many others as well often have quite tall "holy" candles that one has to have a long handled candle snuffers to reach the top of to put them out with after service is over. --as well as long handled "lighters" to light them with.

as a former 30 year pipe smoker ( i quit in 2007)--- I would say this -- lead would make a lousy tobbaco pipe --it would rapidly heat up and become too hot to handle * -- and it would taint the flavor of the tobbaco --one of the reason's that tobbaco pipes --"tobacco bowls" were made of wood or clay in the old days --is most metal taints the taste and flavor * of burning tobacco most unpleasently.

Thanks ivan for the insight.

Check mark going up next to this one.

Regards
DJH

 

[GaRebel1861]

Good point about becoming too hot.

 

[creskol]

These leave little doubt ..

Also see: http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,357676.0.html (link to a copper pipe of similar construction)

 

[GaRebel1861]

Your right about leaving little doubt Creskol. Now that I've seen one and know that they exist, I've now got to go out and find one for my collection.

 

[TomPA]

Agree Creskol. Pretty definitive. I found a crude made one from a late 1700's site. I guess their hands were like leather and the pipe kept them warm in the winter!

 

[BuckleBoy]

Agree Creskol. Pretty definitive. I found a crude made one from a late 1700's site. I guess their hands were like leather and the pipe kept them warm in the winter!

Such a strange material. Lead and Pewter have low melting points. Interesting! Great ID!

 

[ivan salis]

humm so guess their were pewter pipes * pewter is a alloy that has lead in it * -- go figger--- still think that the one he found is a candle snuffer , however --the teat on the bottom of what would be the "bowl" of it looks like those on old candle snuffers

 

[creskol]

I wonder if they smoked candle snuffers?

 

[High Plains Digger]

I know of a india rubber pipe that was found in a Civil War trench grave. Now, that would have been some bad smoking!

I guess a little lead in with all the bad stuff of tobacco just kills you a little faster. I am very surprised that they made copper, lead, or pewter pipes. Amazing the stuff you learn!