“Lettering on the top of the box indicated the consignee but is so faded that it was impossible to obtain a good photograph; however the stencil once read,—B. A. L. Vivian & Simpson, Virginia City, M. T.” (Plate 3) (Switzer, personal communication).
“One end of the box was lettered, No. 1, 216, M. Size” (Plate 3). The meaning of this can only be conjectured, however it may have indicated shipment No. 1, to this consignee; containing 216 pipes; of Medium size.
The stencils identifying the consignor, J. R. Franklin & Co., appeared on both sides of the box and were identical (Plate 3). The same, except in abbreviated form, appeared diagonally on one end of the box.
The account book of the store at New Store, Virginia, about 23 miles northeast of Pamplin, which is in the collections at Appomattox Courthouse, records that on Sept. 1, 1866, I. H. Schenault was paid $8.00 for 1,600 pipes, and later, (apparently the same day) was paid $8.75 for 2,175 pipes. The latter was evidently a partial and immediate “in trade” transaction.
So in the Pamplin area in the 1860s general stores were taking clay pipes made in the home industry, allowing about ½¢ each in trade for commodities, and at least in one instance were shipping them west for use by the miners in the gold fields.
Mrs. Betty Price has said that the Powhatan “Original” (Plate 13 A) the “Hamburg” (Plate 14 F) and the “Zuvee” or “Zoo” (Plate 19 T) were some of the first pipe forms made in the area. (_News-Leader_, April 30, year unknown).
Many of the clay pipes made at homes near Pamplin were traded for commodities at the Thornton General Store in Pamplin, and this store was truly “general”, for it handled, in addition to groceries, everything from threshing machines and horsepower mills to silk thread.
Miss Wilsie Thornton had a copy of her Father’s letterhead: the letter was dated, Jan. 9, 1892. The letterhead reads,—
_W. D. THORNTON, DEALER. General Merchandise and Agricultural Implements. Wholesale dealer in All Styles of Clay Pipes and Stems Manufacturer’s Agent for Aultman and Taylor Threshers, Horse Power and Farm Engines. Also Buckeye Reapers & Mowers & Thornmill Wagons._
“The pipes made by the local women,” Miss Thompson said, “were traded to the Thornton Store for the necessities of life. The pipes were stored in the basement of the store and packed in barrels, in either pine needles or sawdust, and shipped to the Baltimore Bargain House, or to other wholesale houses. From the wholesale houses they were shipped to the Cotton States and to the West. Large orders were filled for a tobacco factory in Pennsylvania, where they sold bags of tobacco with the pipes.”