2014 Atherton Premier in African blackwood and elephant ivory. Hallmarked and hand engraved tuning slides and mouthpiece tube.

Elephant Ivory

I do not use 'recycled ivory'. The ivory on this pipe is from brand new tusk material and is pre-ban CITES approved. It's not 1920, and acquiring nerve-centered stock from a 'scrivello' type of tusk and having it all match for color and grain pattern was not easy. I rejected a fair amount of otherwise quality stock to get the look seen here. All ivory is precision threaded and fitted though it can't be seen after manufacturing. All ivory is turned by hand with simple turning tools most of which I make myself from basic tool steel.

Projecting Mounts

The projecting mounts were made with the bass bottom mount matching in style to the tenor bottom mounts but with the larger radius having a larger outside diameter and being longer than the tenor mounts. The tenor bottom mounts match each other and they look like slightly smaller versions of the bass mount - as if the bass mount was reduced in size by 20%. The tenor top mounts match one another but by design do not match the bass drone top mounts, i.e., they are slightly longer and smaller in diameter. The bass bottom and bass middle mounts match one another for style but are just a bit larger in OD and slight shorter than the tenors. All the mounts match for style and the classic, distinctive look is a result of the subtle details.

Stepped Beads

The step and bead seen on the ferrules, ring caps, and hemp stops were made to be delicately complex. The very intricate look of the steps and beads can only be fully appreciated when seen in person as the perspective gets lost in photos. The steps are approx. .025" of an inch and the beads are less than twice that size but with a very low profile with regard to the wood in order to prevent any chipping. Starting with the bass stock ferrule this step and bead is the largest on the set; though just by a few thousandths of an inch. It matches the step and bead on the bass top ring cap. The bass middle and bass top ferrules match one another but the step and bead is just a hair smaller than the bass stock. The tenor stocks have matching beads and steps. The tenor tops have matching steps and beads though they are a hair smaller than the tenor stocks. The tenor ring caps match the tenor stock's step and beads. The tenor hemp stops have matching steps as do the bass hemp stops. I don't measure anything when turning as I rely on my eye for this sort of aesthetic; comparing parts and using experience as my guide.