Missouri Meerschaum Factory Tour

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The following photos are from a factory tour on my visit in March of 2019. Several of the pipe makers have worked for Missouri Meerschaum for thirty years. The ones I spoke with took a great deal of pride in their work, and being part of an American tradition enjoyed Worldwide. Courtesy, S.E. Thile Pipes

  • Factory Tour, March 2019
  • The wonderful old building across from the Missouri River. The corner is the original building, which was added onto in all directions to keep up with the demand for cobs

    The wonderful old building across from the Missouri River. The corner is the original building, which was added onto in all directions to keep up with the demand for cobs

  • One of many stacks of cobs aging (a minimum of two years before being made into pipes)

    One of many stacks of cobs aging (a minimum of two years before being made into pipes)

  • Corn cobs awaiting their fate

    Corn cobs awaiting their fate

  • Cutting machine (some start here while others are cut singly)

    Cutting machine (some start here while others are cut singly)

  • Cobs cut to length

    Cobs cut to length

  • Drilling the chamber is an early step--it facilitates the remaining work by allowing the cobs to be easily chucked

    Drilling the chamber is an early step--it facilitates the remaining work by allowing the cobs to be easily chucked

  • Drilling in process

    Drilling in process

  • Cobs after drilling chamber

    Cobs after drilling chamber

  • Cobs after drilling chamber

    Cobs after drilling chamber

  • Cobs waiting to be shaped

    Cobs waiting to be shaped

  • One of several fraising (shaping) machines used for some of the standard shapes

    One of several fraising (shaping) machines used for some of the standard shapes

  • Cobs heading into the fraising machine

    Cobs heading into the fraising machine

  • Operating the fraising machine

    Operating the fraising machine

  • Cob bowls after fraising

    Cob bowls after fraising

  • Many of the shapes are hand turned on one of several lathes

    Many of the shapes are hand turned on one of several lathes

  • Lathe work

    Lathe work

  • Sanding the outside of the bowls to smooth and carefully refine the shape

    Sanding the outside of the bowls to smooth and carefully refine the shape

  • Sanding work

    Sanding work

  • Mixing the plaster of Paris, discovered and adopted by Henry Tribb, the founder of Missouri Meerschaum, and still used for many of the models

    Mixing the plaster of Paris, discovered and adopted by Henry Tribb, the founder of Missouri Meerschaum, and still used for many of the models

  • All done by feel--feel of plaster consistency, feel of the amount used, and feel of when it has been worked optimally into the cob

    All done by feel--feel of plaster consistency, feel of the amount used, and feel of when it has been worked optimally into the cob

  • Inspecting the next cob to have plaster applied

    Inspecting the next cob to have plaster applied

  • Plastering detail

    Plastering detail

  • Bowls drying after plastering (takes a day or so before they can be sanded)

    Bowls drying after plastering (takes a day or so before they can be sanded)

Stay tuned, more photos are coming...

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