IM- PROVEMENTS IN TOBACCO PIPES
Year: 1879

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Harmston at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th March 1879.
.
WILLIAM HARMSTON, of 323, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN TOBACCO PIPES."
It is well known amongst smokers that tobacco pipes rapidly become foul, and as
at present constructed are so difficult to clean that they are commonly used in this
dirty condition though it is far from pleasant to the smoker. Now my Invention
has for its object the construction of a pipe which though it may foul like other
kinds shall nevertheless be easily cleaned, and this object I propose to attain in the.
following simple manner :-I take, for instance, a pipe constructed of wood; I form
the bowl in the ordinary manner with the stem or tube projecting from it at right
angles, or nearly so; the stem however I divide longitudinally in two parts, equal
or otherwise as may be most convenient, one part being secured to the bowl and
the other part attached to the main portion of the stem in such manner as may be
found most convenient or suitable. I find that a good plan is to insert a pin or
screw into the bottom of the bowl or stem with a nut, which may be made.
ornamental, to screw on to it. One end of the loose part of the stem is placed over
this pin, and the nut being then screwed on secures it. By this means the loose part
can be turned sideways, leaving the passage or hole through the stem clear for
cleaning. A convenient way of securing the rest of its length is to place one or
more ferrules round the stem, and if this be slightly tapered they can be pushed up.
and hold the two parts firmly together. I prefer to form the main part of the stem
with a large recess for the hole or passage, and to place a movable piece of wood
or other suitable material (concave on its inner side) in this recess, so that the
passage is complete while an even surface is presented along the joint. I find that
a piece of india rubber or other springy or elastic material placed along the inner
side of the loose part of the stem serves well to keep the joint secure and air-tight.
A mouth-piece of ordinary construction may be attached to the end of the fixed
part of the stem, or it may even be in two pieces like the stem, one piece being
fastened to each part of the stem. I prefer however to construct it in one piece in
the ordinary manner as stated above. A small hole should be provided in the
lower part of the side of the bowl or end of the stem, which may be stopped with
a suitable plug, round the end of which cotton or other suitable material may be
wound to properly secure it. This hole can be used for expelling juice through
Davies 271

page_text: when it collects. The external end of the plug may form an ornament. It will be
seen that several variations of this method of carrying out my Invention might be
made, such as hingeing the loose end of the part of the stem instead of swivelling it,
or allowing it to fit into a socket, etcetera, but I find that the method of con-
struction above described gives satisfactory results. I do not bind myself to use 5
wood only in the construction as it is evident that other materials may be used.