As I recall, the late Ian Walker among others insisted that they were
not kaolin pipes, but "white ball clay pipes" because they were not
actually made of kaolin, but for some reason the misnomer persists.
Walker's 4-volume study on the Bristol tobacco pipe industry, published
by Parks Canada in the '70s, is an excellent reference, and may have
some information on 18th-century use.  Plenty of information exists, of
course, for the 19th and 20th centuries.

Lauren Cook

----- Original Message -----
From: [log in to unmask]
Date: Wednesday, March 16, 2005 7:06 pm
Subject: Kaolin pipe purchase and use references

> Greetings,
>
> I've just completed a reevalution of the kaolin pipe collections from
> Brunswick Town, NC, and would like to add a little more historic
> context pipe smoking
> in the 18th century British colonial sphere.  Specifically, I'm
> interested in
> period accounts of the purchase and use of such pipes in the
> British colonial
> sphere.  I have excellent import records for pipes coming into the
> port, but
> am curious more of historic references to pipe smoking in the 18th
> century.
> So far, the only reference I have is from Compton Mackenzie's "Sublime
> Tobacco," in which he offers mention of a king and a friend up all
> night at party
> and used over 30 pipes each.
>
> Any references appreciated, and will reciprocate with a copy of
> the study
> when completed.  Feel free to contact me privately off HistArch.
> My thanks in
> advance.
>
> Cheers,
> Tom Beaman
> [log in to unmask]
>