MGM Pipes?

[Bruce Harris]

Does anyone have information on the MGM pipe? I have one with the
following stampings: ITALY, M.G.M., BRIAR 1912, ROCK (in script), 18.
There is also a little circle with a small pipe stamped within. The stem
(military mount) has the letter "M" on it. It is flat and very
comfortable. The shape of the bowl is a little weird. The bowl sort of
looks like a cube. It has a smooth finish with a few carvings on it. The
briar looks nice and the pipe appears to be well made. About a group 5
size bowl, yet very lightweight.
Anyone have one of these? Any information you can provide is
greatly appreciated! Thanks.
Bruce Harris
Frog Morton in a new Ashton XX Old Church Quaint

[John Haldeman]

This is from The Pipe Smoker's Ephemeris Winter - Spring 1994 issue:

Founded in 1938, the company was a volume manufacturer, but
refocused in the 1960's to make higher quality, hand crafted pipes.
The M.G.M. nomenclature stands for Mario Gasparini Manifattura.

Regards,

John H.

Bruce Harris <mar...@home.com> wrote in message
news:39A97415...@home.com...

[Wm. Kelly Crow]

I have about a dozen different M.G.M. pipes and they all have the same "M"
on the stem. I also got my Gasparini info from "Who made that pipe"; an
invaluable tool.

I have noticed that the plastic (?) material from which the "M" is made
tends to disintegrate over time. They just fall apart like dust. The Bowls
are the most interesting part of the pipe. I have several different
variations (and variatios of the variations). The 1st type is the "wax
drip". This is my favorite, of which I have 2. The 2nd and most prevalent
is the "carved" look. The bowls usually have longitudinal valley and
creases running up and down. All of the bowls are very light, as the "1912"
refers to the age of the briar (or so I have been told).

I got off on a tear once and started collecting everything Gasparini.
However, 85% of the pipes I found with his name on them are disappointing
for one reason or another. The M.G.M.'s are cool though, mostly in a
"poker" fashion.

Enjoy,

-Kelly Crow
Atlanta, GA

[daviddo...@gmail.com]

Mario Gasparini's daughter told me in an email that the MGM stood for Mario Gasparini Milano (where his shop was).

[bluewind]

I picked up an MGM many years back. Its a quasi free-hand boasting beautiful birdseye. A great smoker too.
Mine also has a date stamped on it; I was told the date is the year the briar was harvested--I don't know about that. However, the wood is awesome and tight.

Enjoy your pipes
Blue