CASTELLO Old Antiquari SC 32

Italy, 1950-60s

Carlo Scotti, founder (in 1943) of Castello trademark used to say “I run an artisan business and not a factory; my pipes are artistic pieces, the fruit of skilled hands, hearts and imaginations”. Over next years Scotti’s company shown how it’s possible to join the highest aesthetic and technical qualities and today Castello is one of the mostly appreciated and collected Italian brands.

Dating of Castello pipes is sometimes tangled and complicated contrary to some other world known brands 🙂 But with regards to this pipe we might be pretty sure – it’s from the period late 1950s – middle 1960s: the size stamp is “SC” was used before “K” grading (SA, SB, SC, SS – the largest). The shape number 32. Some experts say “3 in front means that the carving is somehow unique”. OK. The stems were usually inlaid with a white bar logo, except those which were marketed in USA (“White bar” is the registered trademark of Wally Frank). Therefore this pipe with the rhinestone was dedicated to export. The number “3”on the stem refers to an inner tube length that fits the stem and the shank, but such tubes were very rarely used in USA and either this pipe wasn’t equipped with the tube or it was lost over there years.

The pipe markings are “SC 32”, “CASTELLO \ OLD ANTIQUARI”, “MADE IN CANTU \ ITALY”, “(CARLO \ SCOTTI)”. The length is 15.6 cm (6.14″), bowl’s height is 5.0 cm (1.97″). External diameter of the bowl is 3.9 cm (1.54″), internal diameter is 2.2 cm (0.87″). The depth is 4.2 cm (1.65″) and this pipe weights 47 gr. Briar, acrylic stem (marked “HAND MADE \ CASTELLO \ 3”), no filter. There was a very small neat crack in the shank which we have carefully fixed and the shank was clamped with a collar for the maximal reliability.