"lead pipe cinch" and plumbers 1893

[Sam Clements]

Michael Quinion noted in his column
http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-lea2.htm

that no connection between the plumbing trade/device for "cinching" pipe
together, etc had been found.

A story from the Dec. 13, 1893 Washington Post says that

"The master plumbers assembled for their annual feast last evening, and they
had a veritable lead pipe cinch.  Every plumber was in the best of humor, as
he had a right to be, for the winter is the harvest time.  Then the cold
grows strong and the pipe joints are weak."

No device here, but it does tenuously connect the plumbing biz with the
phrase, if only humorously.

SC