Mastercraft Sparkroof Smooth Billiard w/ Wind Cap Estate Briar Pipe, French Estates

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.

Like Alfred Dunhill’s Windshield, or various silver-capped briars, the “Sparkproof” wind cap was one of the many 20th century inventions intended to help smokers enjoy their pipes in less than favorable weather. Distinguished by a sliding, integral windshield fashioned from briar, the design’s precise origins appear to have been lost to time, though it was associated with Roy Talent, Nutt Products (side note: a fantastic name for oddball inventions), and Orlik, where it was also known as the “Hurricane.” Presumably, Mastercraft enlisted one of the many companies associated with the Hurricane to make their Sparkproof line, to which this pipe belongs.

The condition is good. Some darkening and small scratches on the rim.

Details:

Length: 6″ / 152.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.79 / 20.06mm

Bowl Depth: 1.50″ / 38.1mm

Weight: 1.5oz / 44g