This page documents smoker’s companions, the multi-purpose tools used by 17th and 18th century smokers to tamp, light, and clean their pipes. Archaeologists often refer to the smoker’s companion as the “Swiss Army Knife” of the colonial  pipe  smoker because  it was designed to serve  so  many  useful  functions. Styles  of  smoker’s companions varied, but most have an integrated tamper, a disk-shaped upper grip, and a spring-loaded pinching mechanism so that the tool could grab a hot ember. Many also have a robust spine that might have been used as a strike-a-light if a hot ember wasn’t available. For examples found archaeologically, this heavy-duty upper portion may be all that survives. The pointed ends for pinching embers, the tamper, and the scraper tend to be more prone to breakage when the object corrodes. Smoker’s companions are generally forged from iron by highly skilled blacksmiths. They would have been considered somewhat of a luxury item since smokers could get by without them by lighting their pipes with candles or hot embers stored in chafing dishes.

1. Pinching tips- these held a hot ember so that it could be
    inserted into a pipe to light tobacco. The tips also may have
    been used to pick and scrape ash out of hard-to-reach areas
   of the pipe bowl.

2. Basal notch- some smoker's companions have a basal notch,
    possibly to allow the tool to perch on the edge of a chafing
    dish or brazier without sliding.

3. Spine- serves as one of the main arms of the tool, but it also
    may have served as a strike-a-light when a hot ember was not
    available.

4. Spring- keeps tension on the pinching tips so the ember held
    there does not fall until released by the user.

5. Disk scraper/grip- the disk or oval platform at the end of the     upper spine might have been used to help pack loose tobacco
    into the pipe before tamping it down. It also may have helped
    scrape ash off the walls of the pipe during cleaning. In     addition, it makes a convenient platform for the thumb when
    pinching the tool together and it generally holds the rivet for
    the spring mechanism.

6. Tamper/grip- the bottom arm has a small flat disk for tamping
    tobacco down into the pipe. It also might prevent the     forefingers from slipping when gripping the tool, or serve as
    another scraper for cleaning.

Terminology

Smoker’s companions have been known by several different terms, including pipe tongs, pipe tongues, and ember tongs. These terms may refer to other types of ember-holders that would not be considered smoker’s companions. For example, there were much longer tools with a similar spring-loaded grip that are referred to as pipe or ember tongs. These were usually at least 14 inches long, and some measured as long as 26 inches. They might have tampers and pipe scrapers integrated into their design, but they were not as portable as the smaller smoker’s companions and they were too skinny and delicate to serve as a strike-a-light. These long pipe or ember tongs were clearly something to be kept by a fireplace, not something to be carried by a smoker on the go.

Other types of ember tongs include small versions of fireplace tongs and styles that look like scissors, but with ember-grabbing tips instead of blades. The latter scissor-like style might also have integrated joints that would cause the tongs to extend when closed. These were known as “lazy” tongs.

The term “smoker’s companion” would not refer to any of these long pipe/ember tongs. “Smoker’s companion” usually has one of two meanings: it either refers to modern desk sets that might include an ashtray, cigarette holder, and lighter, or it describes the small portable tools used for pipe smoking discussed above. This section of the website is devoted to smoker’s companions in the latter category only.

Chronology

Smoker’s companions were in general use in the 17th and 18th centuries. Site summaries and context information for each artifact provide chronological detail on specific examples.

How to Navigate the Smoker’s Companions

This website pictures all of the smoker’s companions that have been located in the MAC Lab’s collections, but because they are relatively rare finds they are easily searched by looking at thumbnail photos of all examples. Click on any thumbnail for a larger version of the photo, an x-radiograph of the object to show its appearance underneath corrosion layers, and details on site context and date range. Click on any site number or name to link to a page summarizing that site’s history and excavation.

Authorship and Acknowledgements

The Smoker’s Companion section of the Diagnostic Artifacts in Maryland webpage was written by Sara Rivers Cofield, Curator of Federal Collections at the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory (MAC Lab). Conversion to web format was completed by Sharon Raftery, MAC Lab Administrative Assistant. The author thanks MAC Lab staff members Patricia Samford, Ed Chaney, and Rebecca Morehouse, who provided editorial assistance and aided in locating artifacts. The author also thanks the Prince George’s County Archaeology Lab of the Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission, and in particular Mike Lucas, for contributing a smoker’s companion and the Mount Calvert Site Summary to the webpage.