Take the Pipe

Where does "Take the Pipe" come from? It means to die (aka "Kick the bucket").

Thanks for your help

Just a guess but maybe suicide by gas pipe?
Homes at one time had gas that contained large amounts of CO which could displace oxygen in your bloodstream.
Or maybe take the exhaust pipe of an automobile?

Umm... I'm not sure what gas pipes bring into British homes, but usually carbon monoxide (CO) is the result of incomplete burning of what ever fuel is brought in rather than a contaminant of the original fuel. Breathing concentrated methane or propane doesn't have the same effect of breathing small amounts of CO, but it can deprive you of oxygen - and if it doesn't, there's always the explosion afterwards (^_^).