A LHS Sterncrest Lovat

[OzPiper]

Just in today is this NOS LHS Sterncrest Lovat

This is my very first American factory pipe.

My interest was picqued when I re-read an old thread on LHS pipes.
Ex-Forums members Danielplainview and Tuold posted some wonderful pipes.

I was particularly taken with the silver-banded Sterncrests - very classically shaped in the Britwood tradition.

Pipedia has a very good article on Sterncrest

This pipe is stamped “Sterncrest” on an arch over LHS in a diamond, and “Imported Briar” under that
Thus dating this to post-WW II

It would have cost $7.50 back then.

The briar has pretty ordinary grain with a couple of small, inconspicuous fills.
Sterling silver band
And it is a sitter

Intriguingly it has a chimney condenser tenon extension rather than the more common metal stinger.
In fact this is the only Sterncrest I have come across with a chimney

Any input will be very welcome.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

dear mister,I 'm noticing You have great taste on pipes

 

[OzPiper]

dear mister,I 'm noticing You have great taste on pipes

Paul,
Thank you for your kind comments
As I smoke alone at home almost always, my choice is based entirely on what I find attractive.

 

[Humblepipe]

Vintage LHS pipes are consistently excellent smokers IMO. Good find!

 

[OzPiper]

Vintage LHS pipes are consistently excellent smokers IMO. Good find!

I was drawn to the LHS Sterncrest line because of their classic Britwood shapes, finished with handsome sterling silver bands
They are surprisingly affordably priced for NOS and mint-condition examples today.
A bit more than estate Pipes by Lee and Marxman pipes, but not a whole lot more

The briar is pretty "meh" in terms of grain, but I put that down to the general shortage of premium briar post-WW II
That, of course, should have little or no effect on their smoking quality

I will smoke it this weekend and compare it with a similarly shaped and sized pipe that does not have a chimney condenser.

Those keen on American factory era pipes should have a look at the LHS Sterncrest pipes.

 

[Humblepipe]

I was drawn to the LHS Sterncrest line because of their classic Britwood shapes, finished with handsome sterling silver bands
They are surprisingly affordably priced for NOS and mint-condition examples today.
A bit more than estate Pipes by Lee and Marxman pipes, but not a whole lot more

The briar is pretty "meh" in terms of grain, but I put that down to the general shortage of premium briar post-WW II
That, of course, should have little or no effect on their smoking quality

I will smoke it this weekend and compare it with a similarly shaped and sized pipe that does not have a chimney condenser.

Those keen on American factory era pipes should have a look at the LHS Sterncrest pipes.

For sure... I have 2 or 3 of these in my collection, "Certified Purex". 1950s or earlier. Not everyone favors Rhodesians, but I find the shape charming and have 4 or 5 total (including a Tom Howard, Kaywoodie Oversized, etc.) in my personal collection of 50 pipes or so... The LHS pipes stand their own ground in a decent collection of pipes IMHO.

 

[tklee]

Beautiful pipe bro!

 

[OzPiper]

So. How does it smoke ?
Firstly it’s quite a short Lovat at a tad under 5 ins
It has a very thin bit and it is a lightweight
So clenching is very comfortable

I smoked a bowl of MacBaren’s Mixture: Scottish Blend which was dried in the sun for 5 mins
Lit with just one match.
No relights and smoked down to ash

No gurgles but it did whistle
Was that because of the chimney condenser ?

Overall a good pipe for the money.

 

[newbroom]

I bought a 'lot' of 5 pipes ($10.00) on ebay back 9 yrs ago when I first got into pipes and one was this same model, but it had been robbed of the silver. It is a very nice clencher, for sure. Maybe some day I'll run into a band to put back on it. I've to a few other LHS pipes and they're all fine smoking pipes.

 

[MattRVA]

There was an unsmoked LHS lovat at Blue Room Briars several years ago… I came so close to buying that pipe. I wish I had but then I would have been down the rabbit hole with no exit. Beautiful pipe by the way.

 

[kcghost]

The key thing is that you're happy with the pipe.

 

[OzPiper]

There was an unsmoked LHS lovat at Blue Room Briars several years ago… I came so close to buying that pipe. I wish I had but then I would have been down the rabbit hole with no exit. Beautiful pipe by the way.

Yes.
This is my very 1st American pipe - factory or artisan.
It’s a rabbit hole I‘ve deliberately tried hard to avoid entering

My justification for this purchase was “it’s a Lovat (my latest infatuation) AND the Sterncrests look like Britwoods AND it has the intriguing chimney condenser”

You can talk yourself into anything

 

[snagstangl]

I wonder if that chimney condenser is bakalite or bone?

 

[OzPiper]

I wonder if that chimney condenser is bakalite or bone?

Probably Bakelite.
It’s definitely not bone
It has a narrow opening - I had to use a thin cleaner

 

[OzPiper]

There was an unsmoked LHS lovat at Blue Room Briars several years ago… I came so close to buying that pipe. I wish I had but then I would have been down the rabbit hole with no exit. Beautiful pipe by the way.

If you’re up to being tempted into getting a LHS there are a few on EBay. Including a couple that look ”very minty” or NOS

 

[huntertrw]

In my collection I have an estate LHS Sterncrest briar billiard with a sterling silver band that features an engraving of a pointing dog. It is a well-made, well-drilled pipe, a good smoker, and its briar has a pretty combination of birds-eye and flame graining, and no fills. No complaints here!