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Post by straekat on Jun 8, 2019 4:02:29 GMT -7
All of these items are neat, and thanks to everyone who has posted examples of them. I never thought about items such as these since I'm not a smoker.
A flat headed nail would work, however, hand-made nails during the period were usually domed/rose-headed, and using one of those would depress the center of the tobacco in the bowl. Would a pipe smoker want his pipe tamped flat, domed, or depressed in the middle?
These could easily be carried in a pocket by someone working on the land, and outside around their home. Short trips away from home for a day or two, probably the same. On anything longer, they contribute to the weight/bulk/load ration and if they are really necessary. If I have something that can be used to do more than two things well, I always use that item instead of a single-purpose item.
A ramrod is always carried as part of a flintlock, and even if it's on the long side, it's used to tamp down a load of powder/wad/lead and lacking something else to tamp a pipe, it would work although it would be unwieldy.
I know the first known uses of short starters is debated and may not have been used during the 18th century. That said, I can't help but notice pipe tampers and short starters could be be used for tamping and short-starting. I'm not saying they were used for both purposes, although the idea may have occurred to some.
I will look for these and check if the tamping surfaces are smoothly rounded. If they aren't a pitted, or rounded face with grinding marks might be the result of possible use as a pestle, that could be used for grinding things such as spices for cooking, breaking up clumps of black powder (if they were affected by dampness), or other purposes. I use a wooden mortar and pestle in the kitchen almost daily and the one I have is far too large to be used to tamp any pipe in existence even if the shape seems the same as these with shaped handle for the hand, and long body with a slightly rounded end.
I doubt there's documentation to the effect someone setting around the campfire tamped his pipe, then used the same tamper to grind his coffee beans and maize kernels he took from an ear on a stalk in a field he passed through, into flour....so I'll stop now.
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Post by brokennock on Jun 8, 2019 8:25:12 GMT -7
Straekat, you bring up some good points. Modern tampers are flat faced, thus why I like my cartridge case tamper. With the tampers shown, it is hard to say if the business end is flat or rounded, and if rounded, being wood was it always rounded. Pictures I've seen of non organic material tampers of the time had flat working surfaces, but looked more like something someone would use at home or in a tavern.
I thought of what you said about the nails, the shape of the head and such. Also, even a nice flat headed nail would be great when having a smoke at home or in one's shop, somewhere that the nail is already handy and just waiting to be picked up and used. Not so great for slipping in one's pocket for use further down the road or trail.
I'm thinking a small wood tamper tucked right into the container bag or box, one carried one's tobacco in would not be too much of a hindrance to carry.
More to think on.
I agree with you about multi task items versus single task items, but wonder if they thought this way then too.
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Post by brokennock on Jun 8, 2019 9:01:45 GMT -7
Honestly this discussion has made me start to think about other aspects of pipe smoking in the period, and my own smoking habits. I recall from past discussions on pipe smoking in the period (on another forum or two) that it was generally thought that smoking was not something done while doing anything active at the time, unlike now. Maybe certain craftsmen, cordwainer maybe for example, could have smoked while working? But someone working in the woods or traveling through the frontier probably only smoked while, stopped for a meal, in camp at night, or while being burned at the stake when captured (different kind of smoking maybe).
Thinking about tamping a pipe made entirely of clay has brought me to revisit this in my head. (I've been sick since I got back from the "Original Northeastern...." and unable to try the 2 new pipes I bought there) the clay stem creates a few problems potentially for smoking on the move. Holding it in one's teeth while active being the 1st that comes to mind (at least in comparison to a modern flat plastic stem/bit) but that will be quick to sort out. The reed stem should be better in this regard, but, the length of the straight stem and weight of the clay bowl may cause issues here, we shall see.
Also the strength of the clay stem in relation to the heat of the bowl when tamping. A modern bowl gets warm to hot, but the briar not too hot to hold while tamping, or shouldn't be. Meerschum shouldn't be touched while hot, but, the modern stem is strong enough that the bowl doesn't need much support while tamping. I'm figuring the clay is going to get quite hot, and wonder if the stem is strong enough to support the bowl while it's being tamped, cool enough to hold the stem while tamping? (Maybe I should have bought a few all clay pipes while they were right in front of me)
Back to where and when, then versus now. I tend to smoke when fishing and hunting to keep mosquitoes somewhat at bay during warmer months, but I also tend to switch to cigars in the warmer months (unfortunately not very hc/pc for mid to late 1700s). I also smoke while deer, turkey, and squirrel hunting, both on stand and while moving through the woods, mosquitoe control again, but also as a constant visual wind direction indicator. I'm going to need to rethink these practices as they relating to, lighting my pipe, tamping it, and keeping it lit.
Thank you for everyone's input.
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Post by straekat on Jun 9, 2019 5:44:38 GMT -7
Nock, Something other than a nail, and a very common item to the period might tickle your fancy. These might be a neat item to use for pipe tamping.... Attached are two photos of wax seals. These were commonly used to seal letters, documents and came in a variety of sizes, types, and styles. Some portable and easily carried, and expensive desk models that were usually left at home. Seals could be elaborate coats of arms, initials, logos, images and combinations of all or most of those. Typically, these are also small, usually around one inch in height, and the flat bottoms about the size of a ten cent piece.
 The version seen on the right is a classic Georgian era portable seal that could be carried daily. The flat bottoms at the time were usually decorated and used to wax-sealing, or stamped ink markings. The left hand one is a much cruder version that serves the same purpose, and when there are initials or names, these may have been used by owners who could not write and used them to make their marks which could be linked directly to them instead on a "X" on a document or letter. I have nothing to support the idea small seals like these were used as pipe tampers. The size, flat bottom, and they were known to be common items carried by many men, in an age when smoking pipes was commonplace, raises the possibility these seals could have had dual purpose usage. I know what you'll be thinking....where do I get one? There are originals on ebay and some antique dealers have them. Originals can be surprisingly inexpensive ($15, and then go all the way up grab-your-ankles prices..). There are decent reproductions (the one on the right is) selling for circa $15, and you won't be upset if it gets lost. I know Gedney Godwin (aka Sutler of Mount Misery) in eastern PA has them on line for about that price. The one on the left...it came out of my house, and appears to been the property of the original owner. My avatar was made from an inked stamping from the seal. The stamp is on the crude side, and not all that uncommon for American made ones from the late 18th century and very early 19th. Here's something to get the creative juices going.... Those little watch fob pockets worn on breeches have a purpose... See that little thingie on the end?
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Post by brokennock on Jun 9, 2019 20:54:44 GMT -7
Streakat, brilliant idea on both accounts. Not sure the additional use could be documented, but it is a very usable idea. And you're right, $15 isn't bad, and looking at the one you've used for your avatar, might not get lost with a loop of heavy thread through the end like a button.
Hmmmm, maybe use a pewter button?
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Post by hawkeyes on Jun 26, 2019 15:22:32 GMT -7
Streakat, brilliant idea on both accounts. Not sure the additional use could be documented, but it is a very usable idea. And you're right, $15 isn't bad, and looking at the one you've used for your avatar, might not get lost with a loop of heavy thread through the end like a button. Hmmmm, maybe use a pewter button? Best tamper I've honestly found thus far is my finger... That is before lighting and additionally a similar sized stick per bowl size if needed after the light. |
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