USA, 1930s The history of Briarcraft has begun in 1910 in the State of New York and it was rather short (the company existed till 1950), but really bright and memorable. In the pre WWII years Briarcraft was one of leaders of the USA pipe market, the second manufacturer after the Frank’s Mediko company. Briarcraft…
England, 1950-70s Despite the pipe was not completely marked, we hadn’t difficulties with its identification (as well as with restoration). Such original finish with the panels protected from sandblasting is typical for the GBD Fantasy series. The most likely it is the 549 shape, the manufacturer has just a few models of bulldog pipes with…
England, 1960-70s Fribourg & Treyer was perhaps the most reputable English tobacconist. “While most collectors are familiar with the “Royal Appointment” accorded certain well-established businesses in England (most commonly seen on Dunhill packaging) FRIBOURG & TREYER’s not only held an identical appointment by the King of England, but they also had a similar “Royal Appointment”…
England, 1950-70s One of the top graded GBD pipes. The Virgin series followed their famous Pedigree, Prodigy and Straight Grain grades. The pipe was made in 1970s the latest, before the merge with Comoy’s by Cadogan. Amazing grain, wonderful classical billiard shape, stylish perspex stem! This is the really pleasant pipe!
England, 1950-70s One of the top graded GBD pipes. The Virgin series followed their famous Pedigree, Prodigy and Straight Grain grades. The pipe was made in the 1970s latest, before the merge with Comoy’s by Cadogan. An extraordinary sample! Firstly, the pipe has a significantly extended stem, though it’s a Canadian (or a lumberman, to be…
Denmark, 1970s A wonderful freehand pipe made by legendary Danish artisan Preben Holm in 1970s. Initially Ben Wade was an old good English family manufactory. Soon after the WWII the brand was acquired by Lane Ltd from USA, the producer of fantastic Charatan’s pipes at that time. The new Ben Wade era (“Danish Ben Wade”)…
England, 1960-70s G.W. Sims (just the modest G.W., though some consider that he was George) is known from the first half of the XX century, and the first pipes of the artisan (and at times a repairman) were marked even more modestly – “GWS”. According to some sources, G. W. used to work for Charatan’s…
England, 1950s A very well preserved classical English lovat pipe made during the family, “pre-Lane” era. You may see that the shape number is located on the left side of the shank (from the smoker’s perspective) together with other stampings, what is typical for the Ruben era. So the pipe was made in 1950s, hardly…
England, 1976-81 It would be very much boring if everything was unambiguous and transparent with pipes origin history. But, fortunately, not all producers behaved as Dunhill with their obligatory nearly hundred years stamped year suffixes (however, Dunhill was not always pedantic too :-)). Here is, for example, a very rare (some collectors write “extremely rare”)…
England, 1950-70s A very rare GBD pipe! Even experienced collectors are unfamiliar with the “Dynasty” series. The only thing we can say for sure: this is the “Pre-Comoys” pipe made before 1981.