I have always been fascinated with the old coupon pipes and proudly own several now.
The “Signature’ pipes were manufactured by Linkman for the Larus &Brothers Co. out of Richmond Virginia. Manufactures of the original Edgeworth Ready Rubbed . Basically you sent in a a form with whatever you wanted stamped on the stem in gold , filled in on a box in the form along with a few dollars . You got a pipe, pouch or tin of Edgeworth Ready Rubbed and a booklet on how to care for your pipe.
Forms could be had from various places. This is one from the back of a printed shape chart.
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The most common i think was the one from the the Edgeworth tubs. This is one from one of my 1940’s original tubs that i have.
The earliest i can find any mention of the “Siganture” is this 1938 ad in Popular Mechanics.
This ad also mentions that these pipes were manufactured by the Linkman Pipe Co.
Linkman also made the “Olde London” pipe for Larus & Brothers and was sold packaged with a pouch of Edgeworth.
The “Signature”pipes were offered well into the 1940’s and maybe into the 1950’s. Since i acquired my first old tub of Edgeworth and found the coupon offer inside i have been on the lookout for a good example of one.
This one caught my eye, the condition was excellent and the price was right.
Has the printed name of PHIL on the stem.
I gave the pipe a good cleaning. The stem received some minor filing and sanding along with a buff and wax on the wheel. I also re-filled in the PHIL.
The pipe is simply stamped Signature over Imported Briar.
Here is the pipe along with coupon from tub of Edgeworth,
The pipe was certainly made on the inexpensive side. You can see sanding marks in spots from the factory and the rustication covers some large fills. The pipe though is sturdy ,well made and tough as nails. The stem is made of some good hard vulcanite. I was thinking of filling in the PHIL and taking it somewhere and get my named engraved on the stem , but i have decided to just leave it original.
It seemed fitting to re-break in the pipe after the refurbish with some original Edgeworth Ready Rubbed.
I have smoked a couple bowls of Edgeworth through it now along with a few bowls of Granger. The pipe has a easy draw and is a excellent burner of the old drug store burley blends. This is the third of my old Linkman push stems and find them to be wonderful regular smokers. Certainly worth the price of a dollar or two Phil shelled out for the pipe so many years ago.
Til next time ,
Happy smokes to you.
Baccy Pipes 
July 22, 2016 at 8:31 pm
Nice cleanup on that pipe. Thanks for the history too! Makes it all that much better.
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July 22, 2016 at 9:10 pm
Thank you Charles, I am glad you liked it.
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July 25, 2016 at 1:36 pm
Reblogged this on Papaw's Pipes and commented:
Troy is another friend and fellow pipe restorer. He and I have at least a few things in common including a love of good burley blends and old American-made factory pipes; I suspect we have more than a few other common interests as well. I thought this wonderful old “coupon pipe” was something others would be interested in too, especially with the history Troy added.
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July 25, 2016 at 1:38 pm
I reblogged this on my new blog PapawsPipes.wordpress.com
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July 25, 2016 at 1:48 pm
Thank you Greg
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March 16, 2018 at 9:49 pm
Thanks so much for the research and resulting history. I was putting a group of pipes for sale and used your blog info for a signature pipe (giving credit of course). I went to do another pipe in the lot and it was an Olde London. Thanks twice!
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March 17, 2018 at 1:35 am
You are very welcome,glad you find the information useful.
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