Page 1 - tmp

FREE

JUNE 2018 • Volume 31 No. 10 www.antiqueshoppefl.com TAKE ONE

Pipe Tampers Are “Manly” Collectibles

By Larry LeMasters
LeMasters’ Antique News Service

Pipe tampers, known as pipe stoppers in England, A pipe tamper is a blunt instrument, shaped like a
are used to pack or “tamper” tobacco in a pipe. Some nail top or wooden dowel end, with a flat head used
pipe tampers come as part of a pipe tool, which is for tamping down tobacco when a pipe bowl is being
designed to aid in the packing, smoking, emptying, packed. Normally, tobacco is compressed in a pipe’s
and cleaning of tobacco pipes. Typical pipe tools bowl, using a tamper, three times in the successful filling
consist of a pick, a reamer, and a tamper. of a pipe. A pipe tamper also crushes the tobacco ash
tightly together, which aids in relighting the pipe.
An ingenious, pipe smoker in England, who was tired
of having his pipe improperly tamped,
invented pipe tampers, according to historical myths, around
1660 CE. The production of pipe tampers took off during the
English Industrial Revolution that began in the early 1800s when
new mechanization allowed manufacturers to mass produce pipe
tampers.
Tampers are made from almost every material known to man,
including pewter, brass, animal teeth, porcelain, ivory, mother-of-pearl,
and silver. And pipe tampers come in a cornucopia of motifs,
Oviedo Antique Mall Summer Extravaganza June 1-2-3-4 including women’s legs, donkeys, shoes, animals, and
During the 4 day extravaganza, all 110 dealer booths will be offering fabulous phallic symbols, giving collectors hundreds of different
sale pricing - up to 50% off storewide. There will also be a complimentary hot & designs and material choices to choose from.
cold buffet available all 4 days. During the Friday thru Monday sale each customer You might wonder why smokers pay so much for
purchasing $30 or more receives a free gift. a pipe tamper and why collectors pay even more for
The 12,500 square foot mall is loaded with an ever-changing array of all your antique ones that simply sit in a collection. The answer is
favorite antique, vintage, and contemporary decor. Offered are coins & paper simple—pipe smokers consider a pipe a “manly” pastime
money, gold, silver & costume jewelry, where the ritual of smoking is as important as the act of
furniture, primitives, linens, Lladro, Baccarat, smoking. And the ritual involves taking care of your pipes
China & Crystal, Lenox, military collectibles, OVIEDO ANTIQUE MALL with a quality pipe tool and a solid, sometimes beautiful,
Fiestaware, art work, advertising collectibles, 95 Geneva Drive
antiquarian books, Kitchenalia, LP albums, Oviedo, FL 32765 tamper.
Longaberger baskets, Disney collectibles, 407-366-3668 Reproduction pipe tampers, especially in pewter, have
antique toys and so much more! flooded the secondary markets in recent years. Let the buyer
Stroll through Oviedo Antique Mall while Open 7 Days a Week beware!
listening to 1950’s hit music. On site watch & Mon-Sat 10am-7pm Shown Above: Black buffalo horn with dinosaur shark tooth pipe tamper.
clock repair by 40 year veteran watchmaker, as & Sunday 12-6pm
well as complete on site antique and modern www.OviedoAntiqueMall.com Made by ZAPTAP, this new tamper is valued at $1,100.
camera repair service. We stock Greenwich Right: Antique, sterling silver pipe tamper with natural bird of prey talon,
Bay Shea Butter Soaps & Lotions. circa 1740. This stunning tamper is valued at $650. More Tampers on Page 3

Florida’s Largest Monthly Antique Event!

300 South Florida Fairgrounds JUNE
9067 Southern Blvd.
VENDORS West Palm Beach, FL 33411 1-3

www.wpbaf.com info@wpbaf.com
EARLY BUYERS: “1st Pick” Friday 9AM-12PM • Admission $25 - Good All 3 Days • GEN. ADMISSION: FRI 12-5PM, SAT 9AM-5PM, SUN 10AM-4:30PM • Admission $8