Ep 2. The Meershatz Pipe

In The Dick Van Dyke Show season 1 episode 2, titled "The Meershatz Pipe", Rob Petrie (played by Dick Van Dyke) discovers that his late grandfather's beloved meerschaum pipe is missing. His wife Laura (played by Mary Tyler Moore) convinces him to search through some old boxes in the garage that belonged to his grandfather.

Along the way, Rob and Laura come across a few other items from his grandfather's past, including an old photograph and a letter written in German. Rob attempts to translate the letter using an old German-English dictionary, but eventually gives up.

Meanwhile, Rob's co-worker Sally (played by Rose Marie) expresses interest in the pipe and suggests that Rob ask Buddy (played by Morey Amsterdam), their other co-worker, to appraise it. Buddy agrees, but upon seeing the pipe is outraged that Rob would consider selling such a valuable family heirloom.

As Rob and Laura continue their search for the pipe, they visit a few antique shops and even go to a seedy part of town trying to find it. Along the way, they encounter some interesting characters, including a shifty antique dealer and a group of beatniks in a coffee shop.

Eventually, Rob and Laura come across a lead that takes them to a pawn shop, where they find the pipe. However, their excitement is short-lived when they learn that the pawn shop owner bought the pipe from Buddy, who had stolen it from Rob's garage.

In the end, Buddy admits to his wrongdoing and apologizes. Rob decides to keep the pipe, but not before accidentally dropping and breaking it. Despite the disappointment, Rob and Laura are just glad to have the pipe back and to have learned more about Rob's family history.

"The Meershatz Pipe" is a lighthearted episode that explores themes of family and heritage. It also showcases the comedic talent of the show's ensemble cast, led by the dynamic duo of Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore. With its clever writing and entertaining performances, it's no wonder that The Dick Van Dyke Show remains a beloved classic even decades after its original airing.