Buescher's

Buescher's made corncob and hardwood pipes stamped "World Famous Pipe".

Buescher's Hickory Pot, courtesy, soldster.com

George Buescher, Jr. started The Buescher Pipe Company in 1939 unofficially, and officially in 1941 according to the West Area News newspaper. It was thought that George at some point may have worked under Missouri Meerschaum, but it is unconfirmed as of right now. In the early- to mid-1900s a lot of corn cob pipe companies sprouted in and around Washington Missouri. Among them of course was Buescher, as well as another prominent competitor: Hirschl & Bendheim.

The Buescher Pipe Company was actually late to the game, as H&B had started quite a bit earlier in manufacturing and selling their pipes, and Buescher had to try and play "catch up". From the 40's through the 60's, Buescher's also experimented with and sold pipes made out of other materials such as Hickory, Maple, and Cherry woods. As of 1976, David Buescher (George Jr.'s son) had become the VP of the Buescher company and was in charge of a lot of the day-to-day operations and distributions of the pipes, along with other corn cob related novelty items (such as salt and pepper shakers or electric toilet paper, which was a corn cob with an electric cord glued on it).

By the late 80's, most of Missouri Meerschaum's competitors had run out of steam, but it wasn't until the 90's (90/91) when Buescher had to finally close their doors for good. It had previously been speculated they were purchased by Missouri Meerschaum in the late 1940's. That is not the case with Buescher's, although many other cob makers were.

Thanks to Wade Rutter for the research, and checking with Missouri Meerschaum for verification.

• Cob example from his uncle's inherited collection, courtesy Joe Marti
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If you have any further information about Buescher's, please add it here, or send it to sethile.pipes@gmail.com