Mastercraft Austrian Straight Billiard Meerschaum Pipe, Unsmoked

Description

Mastercraft was a major American pipe company in the mid-20th century, with Bing Crosby being one of its most famous clients. However, Mastercraft did not manufacture pipes. Instead, they imported pipes from high-quality European makers, such as England’s Orlik, France’s Jeantet, and Italy’s Brebbia, offering these pipes to the American market.

When we think of meerschaum pipes, it’s common to think of Turkey (or Türkiye as they prefer to be called nowadays), and only of Turkey. After all, meerschaum pipes are carved pretty much exclusively in Turkey. But this wasn’t always the case. Austria, for example, was once a powerhouse of meerschaum pipe production. Why is it not today? Because, around 1972, the Turkish government banned the export of raw, block meerschaum. So, what’s the deal with this Austrian-made Mastercraft meer? I’ve read that Mastercraft sourced their Austrian meerschaum pipes from both Robert Strambach and Andreas Bauer. The design of this one – the tenon especially – looks like a Strambach. In which case, it’s not a block meerschaum pipe, but it isn’t a pressed meerschaum pipe either. Instead, it’s cultured meerschaum, which the Strambach family have been using to make their pipes since even before the Turkish export ban. In fact, Strambach was even recognized by the Austrian state for their excellence in pipe manufacturing around the time this one was made. Strambach also claims to use amber for their stems. I’m going to put that down as the stem material, but bear in mind that it might be cultured amber, too.

The pipe is completely unsmoked, and comes with its original case.

 

Details:

Length: 5.5″ / 139.7mm

Bowl Width: 0.77 / 19.55mm

Bowl Depth: 1.41″ / 35.81mm

Weight: 1.3oz / 38g