Von Erck's Classics Naming And Nomenclature

von Erck's Classics naming and nomenclature

Serial numbers are interpreted as follows

The first 2 digits are the year reversed.

For example, a pipe numbered 20010 was made in the year 2002. The last 3 digits are chronological within the year. So the example above is the 10th pipe in the year 2002.

MINE stamp - vEC Serial # Addition

Fully built, crafted and oil cured smoking pipe pieces which have been stamped “MINE” after the standard vEC serial, indicates the pipe was at one time an estate pipe smoked by Lee von Erck, and is certified to have been smoked by the maker himself.

Interpreting Grades

AAA

Strong straight grain with no pits visible to the naked eye. Only 3 of this grade have been produced to date.

AA

No flaws (pits) visible to the naked eye. This grade may have some flame grain.

A

Most of the production ends up in this grade. There could be up to 10 pits or flaws that have been hidden with feathers, partial etching or sand blasting or completely sand blasting. If there are more than 3-4 pits the piece will be sand blasted.

C

May have fills that have been hidden in etching or sand blasting. Drilling may be off. This grade is not sold. Mostly these pipes Lee smokes. Some are given away to friends.

R

Revised. Very few of these pipes exist. These are pipes Lee had second thoughts about and redesigned them after Lee thought the pipe was done.

Briar Sources

None

If there is nothing to indicate briar it is Greek briar imported in 1997.

TVC

Greek briar, imported in 1970

ALG

Algerian briar.

DB

Italian briar purchased from the importer.

CORS

Sold to me as Corsican briar. One of the 3 (so far) AAA pipes produced came from this briar.

von Erck’s Classics naming and nomenclature