M&T | German Estate Pipe

Müllenbach & Thewald
 

A brand founded in 1830 by Jakob Müllenbach and Wilhelm Thewald, in the years before briar had begun to be used in pipe making. Although they were producing pipes from other woods by 1848, they only began making pipes from briar in 1860.

 

At first they made entirely handmade pipes, but in 1864 they started producing machine-made pipes. On January 5, 1945, the company buildings and the pipe workshop were largely destroyed in an air raid. Reconstruction began on May 1, 1945, and pipe production resumed on January 15, 1947. 

 

After a difficult period that began in 1970, by 1972 M&T could no longer compete with brands such as Oldenkott and Vauen, and it halted production after 142 years.

 

Source 1
Source 2

 

Briar Quality

 

Very Poor
Poor
Good ✅
Very Good 
Excellent

 

Smoke Channel (Draft Hole): Drilled dead center of the chamber floor and flush with it. Exactly as it should be.

 

Shank: No soot or tar residue. Very well cleaned.

 

Chamber Cleanliness: There is a very thin layer of cake, which is why it has not been reamed. It will have a positive effect on the smoke.

 

Flaws: Although the sandblasting is well done, I spotted one or two pits (sand pits). On the mouthpiece there is one very light tooth mark on the top and one on the bottom.

 

Score: 5/10

 

Comment: I would call this pipe a proper short-smoke pipe. It can be packed quickly and enjoyed on a lunch break or whenever time is tight. We know the factory stopped production in 1972. Even if it were made in their final year, we are looking at a pipe at least 53 years old. I believe their transition to modern cuts came in the 1930s. Minimum 53, maximum 95 years... A pipe I expect to perform very well, especially once a cake layer has built up.

 

Note: Any pipe in which you have not built up a cake layer will run hot unless you smoke at an extremely slow, systematic cadence. Running hot is not a criterion for judging pipes that have no cake.