COMOY "BLACK DOMINO" BLOCK MEERSCHAUM BILLIARD w/SLEEVE

This COLLECTIBLE MEERSCHAUM PIPE is a COMOYS BLOCK MEERSCHAUM made on the ISLE OF MAN in the BRITISH ISLES during the early 1970s!!! It is a POT/BILLIARD Shape with a textured, pre-colored JET BLACK "DRESS" Finish!!! It is an unusual offering from Comoys of London which we all recognize as one of England's foremost Briar Pipe companies! The pipe remains in a BLACK SUEDE SLEEVE together with a copy of the ORIGINAL DESCRIPTIVE BROCHURE (including shape chart)!!! Comoys foray into the field of Meerschaum pipes was of limited duration lasting only a few years making this is a RARE and COLLECTIBLE Comoy's Meerschaum at a comparatively inexpensive price!

Comoy is perhaps the oldest London Pipemaker starting production in France in 1825 by Francois Comoy, and moving to London in 1879 by third generation pipemaker, Henri Comoy. The Company offered a variety of lines from the touted "Specimen Straight Grain" through the "Sandblast." Comoys also offered any number of well-known secondary lines like the Academy Award, Guildhall, Everyman, Astor, Sunrise and numerous others. In addition, Comoys offered a number of lines manufactured to their specifications by other well-known companies including Cherrywood's by Ropp, Italian pipes by Lorenzo and Block Meerschaum's by Manxman.

Manxman Pipes Ltd. was operated at The Quay, Old Laxey, on the Isle of Man which is an independent Island within the British Isles located the Irish Sea. The craftsmen working there were primarily "Manx islanders." Their pipes were called "MAN PIPES" which carried the distinctive male symbol as their logo. Their production included both Briar and Meerschaum pipes. The Meerschaum was "calcined" or heated to an extremely high temperature to remove volatile matter and produce an oxide like metal intended to make them "much stronger than the traditional white Meerschaums." They advertised that "given reasonable treatment they will stand up well to everyday usage."

MAN Pipes came with a unique "Mouthpiece Fitting" similar to the Jobey "Link." The bowls and mouthpieces were "turned" to some "standard sizes" and a removable "plug" (pictured separately) inserted into both the Shank and the Mouthpiece. A ridge in the middle assured equal spacing and alignment. It was a practical feature which enabled them to manufacture relatively inexpensive Block Meerschaum Pipes.

Comoys introduced "THE MAN PIPES" in 1973 in a variety of finishes (Black Dominino, Harlequin, Sand Glow, Ruddy Glow and Primaeval Yellow). The finishes were "designed to combine an attractive every day appearance, and offer a fine Meerschaum at reasonable prices." They were discontinued in 1978 so given a relatively short 6-year time of production in the 185 year history of Comoys, ALL MAN MEERSCHAUMS are RARE PIPES!!!

This Billiard has a "BLACK DOMINO" scalloped, brushed finish which is POLISHED BLACK in color. The inside bottom of the bowl shines like new as it has never been smoked all the way to the bottom and NO tobacco residue has accumulated there! Remember that it is at least 31 years old and still remains in PRISTINE CONDITION!!!

This Block Meerschaum measures 5 3/4" LONG with a Bowl just OVER 1 3/4" TALL and 1 1/2" WIDE!!! The limited nomenclature is crisp and clear on the mouthpiece: "GREAT BRITAIN" (with the recognizable Male Symbol Logo used on all MAN Pipes). The BLACK SUEDE SLEEVE does not have the recognizable Male Symbol Logo which is either worn off or perhaps the sleeve is a replacement. However, a copy of the ORIGINAL 8-PAGE BROCHURE (including a 2-page SHAPE CHART and instructions relating to the "Mouthpiece Fitting") remains in the Sleeve!!! In PRISTINE CONDITION, this Comoy offering remains reasonably priced (as it was at the time of original production) even though it is an EXTREMELY RARE and COLLECTIBLE MEERSCHAUM Pipe!!!

This Comoy Meerschaum required no refurbishing and is ready to smoke. Please direct any further questions to the Seller. The Buyer will pay a nominal $8.50 shipping and handling charge for destinations within the USA and $16.00 for destinations outside the USA (which includes registration). The Buyer may add any additional insurance desired by the Buyer.