Summary

Set of pipes which belonged to Ettore Checchi and were used by him in Melbourne during the first half of the 20th century. Ettore migrated from Florence, Italy in 1876, with two friends Pietro Baracchi and Carlo Catani. Ettore pioneered water conservation projects, including the Hume and Eildon dams.

Physical Description

Two tiered wooden pipe stand, top tier with series of 6 holes and base with 6 round intents. These act as a support to hold 6 tobacco smoking pipes. Pipes typically consist of a small chamber (the bowl) for the combustion of the tobacco to be smoked and a thin stem (shank) that ends in a mouthpiece (the bit). Pipe 1: Wooden stemmed pipe with 'corn cob' wooden bowl (maker's sticker on base illegible) and vulcanite, lucite or bakelite mouthpiece. Pipe 2: Wooden stemmed 'Varsity' pipe with wooden bowl (maker's sticker on base illegible) and vulcanite, lucite or bakelite mouthpiece. Made in London. Pipe 3: Aluminium plain stemmed 'Alco' pipe with wooden bowl and vulcanite or lucite mouthpiece. Made in England. Pipe 4: Wooden stemmed 'Kaywoodie' pipe with wooden bowl (maker's sticker on base illegible) and vulcanite, lucite or bakerlite mouthpiece. Made in London. Pipe 5: Aluminium stemmed 'Falcon' pipe with decorative central rope section, with wooden bowl and vulcanite or lucite mouthpiece. Made in England. Pipe 6: Wooden stemmed 'Pollo de Luxe' pipe with wooden bowl (maker's sticker on base illegible) and vulcanite, lucite or bakerlite mouthpiece. Made in France

Significance

The significance of this collection lies in their provenance to Ettore Checchi and Pietro Baracchi, two significant figures in the social, scientific and engineering histories of Victoria and also Canberra. See narratives Pietro Baracchi and Establishing Mount Stromlo Observatory.

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