USA, 1900-1920s William Demuth Company is arguably one of the oldest pipe manufacturers in the USA. Founded in 1862, WDC initially specialized in clay and sepiolite (meerschaum) pipes, but by the early 20th century, it had firmly established itself as a key player in the briar pipe market. While mass-produced WDC briar pipes from the…
USA, 1900-1920s A unique example of the earliest products from the Chicago-based M. Linkman & Company, founded in 1898 and world-famous since the 1930s thanks to the technically and marketing-wise super-successful Dr. Grabow brand. Today, we present an exquisite creation from earlier times—showing none of the utilitarianism and pragmatism typical of later American pipes. Instead,…
Englad, 1970s A nice and practical Barling pipe from the corporate period, most likely dating to the 1970s. While it may not hold the same collector’s value as the “family” Barlings, this pipe certainly deserves attention: quality briar, precise craftsmanship, and an elegant silver collar bearing the famous marking—sure to catch anyone’s eye. Pipe markings…
Hungary, XIX century Hungary’s contribution to the history of pipes is not limited to the famous “Hungarian” maximally bent shape (Oom Paul). Meerschaum pipes, much like coffee, were introduced to Central and Eastern Europe during the Austro-Turkish wars of the 16th-18th centuries. Turkish caravans, captured during the wars, carried the pipes made of beautifully granular…
Italy, 1980-2000s As previously mentioned, Luigi Radice is renowned for crafting exceptionally large pipes. However, even when a pipe is of more standard size, his signature style is often evident in long-shanked designs, which require extraordinary skill and a careful selection of briar. This is one such case: a masterfully rusticated, extra-long Radice pipe, released…
Italy, 1970s No need to search for a photo of the marking here—the logo with the famous “moustache” on the mouthpiece clearly identifies it as a Caminetto pipe. This compact and practical design from the 1970s was created by the distinguished trio of Giuseppe Ascorti (whose son, Roberto, later made the family name famous with…
France Zino Davidoff, renowned for his luxury cigar business, expanded his product range to include pipes in 1974. Since then, the Davidoff pipe collection has remained largely unchanged, offering the same 14 shapes in three finishes. It appears that only the contractors have changed over time. Originally, the primary supplier of Davidoff pipes was the…
France, 2000-2010s This is a relatively recent and cleverly designed pipe from one of France’s most renowned brands. The bowl is made of acrylic with a briar insert, while the mouthpiece is traditionally crafted from ebonite. This combination is an innovative approach, opening up exciting possibilities for creating pipes from unexpected materials. Given the design…
Italy Three-digit shape numbers were introduced by Savinelli in the early 1970s, and they use a completely different font for markings. Therefore, this is definitely not a Savinelli Capri. At the same time, Wilczak and Cowell in their book “Who Made This Pipe?” refer to Oppenheimer, an old and respected English brand, and the Italian…
USA “If you must smoke, make it healthful and pleasurable.” Details about David Jelling’s tobacco business are limited, with directories and catalogs providing little more than a brief mention of a tobacco shop in Newark that also sold pipes sourced from other suppliers. More information can be gathered from artifacts of the era, primarily matchbooks…