COLLECTOR'S GUIDE TO KAYWOODIE PIPES: A Partial Chronology of Kaywoodie Grades, Shapes and Prices (1936 - 1969) by Robert W. Stokes, Ph.D.

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3.3 THE 1955 KAYWOODIE LINE OF PIPES

The line-up of pipes in the 1955 catalog (Table 3) was more extensive than in previous years. The catalog presented an expanded line of meerschaum pipes and introduced a 4-pipe set of Matched Grain Pipes, as well as several pipes with "special features". The number of shapes available (see Appendix), however, was not substantially different from the number offered in the 1947 catalog.

The "star" of the 1955 catalog was the Meerschaum Character Pipe. According to the catalog, "A very limited number of these [block] meerschaum character pipes are carved by Kaywoodie sculptors . . . each a true-life reproduction of a famous man." The famous men honored on these pipes included: George Washington; Abraham Lincoln; Thomas Jefferson; Andrew Jackson; Stonewall Jackson; Daniel Boone; Theodore Roosevelt; Sir Walter Raleigh; and Mephisto.

The Twin-Bowl Kaywoodies were available in an all-meerschaum model (two removable inner bowls of meerschaum) and a meerschaum and Flame Grain model (outer bowl of flame grain briar and removable inner bowl of meerschaum). Other meerschaum pipes presented in the 1955 catalog included: the Gourd Calabash; the Coral ("dimpled") Meerschaum; the All Briar (briar bit) and Flame Grain pipes with inlaid meerschaum bowls; and the "Doctor's" pipe. The "Doctor's" Pipe was fitted with a removable bowl of meerschaum that was designed to leave an air space between the inner (meerschaum) bowl and the outer (briar) bowl to circulate and cool the smoke

Other interesting entries in the 1955 catalog included:

• Export Pipes. Pipes without the Kaywoodie screw-in filter system. Available in Super Grain to Connoisseur grade pipes.
• Fit Rite. "Fit Rite" refers to the design of the bit ("absolutely flat on top and bottom from the tip right to the saddle").
• Chesterfield⁸. Identical to the Peterson System Pipe (reservoir in pipe shank to collect moisture, Peterson style lip, military mounting). Available in Super Grain, Relief Grain, Flame Grain, and Connoisseur grades.
• Chinrester. "S-Shaped" bit. "Chinrester pipes perform a special function by resting comfortably on the chin, thereby easing the strain on smokers whose jaws tire quickly or whose teeth are weak."
• Stembiter. "For smokers with strong teeth who bite through their pipe bits." The bit was "notched" in front of the lip of the bit to "conform to the shape of the teeth". The bit incorporated a 3-way smoke passage with two of the passages terminating in the lip-end of the bit and the third in the notch on the top of the bit⁹. (Also see "Durobit", Section 3.4).
• White Briar. "Bowls of prime imported briar, with hard white finish that keeps its lustre and sparkling whiteness."
• Filter-Plus. Interchangeable bowls in metal shanks. Two basic models were available. The 1955 model featured six "screw-on" interchangeable bowls. In the late 1950's (after 1955) or early 60's, the Filter-Plus Deluxe pipe was introduced ("gold-like" finish on shank). In the early to mid-1960's, the Filter Pipes featured a "strap-on" bowl with a threaded base for ceramic filters. The bowl on these pipes was held in place with a spring-loaded pin that could be released by pulling the bit.
• Drinkless Tuckaway. Smaller versions of "popular shapes". Available in smooth or carved finishes (Also see Section 3.5)