(CHARATAN’S MAKE Ben Wade) Special Collection

England, 1960-70s

This pipe didn’t require much effort to restore, and identifying it seemed fairly straightforward: if we look closely at the dimensions, the way the shape adapts to the grain of the briar itself, the style of the mouthpiece, and the font, this is of course a Charatan’s product from the so-called Second Lane Era (1965–1976).

The Special Collection series does not appear in Charatan’s catalogues or reference guides, but it can be found on Smokingpipes with exactly the same markings as ours, and on Reborn Pipes, where the markings are supplemented by the Ben Wade brand name. Well, of course! In 1962, the great and powerful American pipe entrepreneur Herman G. Lane bought this highly respected family-run company from Leeds, just as he had done with Charatan’s, and for two decades Ben Wade became a sub-brand of Charatan’s and a testing ground for experiments and the realisation of the fantasies of talented English craftsmen. And, as we can see, the experiments were very successful!

Pipe markings: “Special Collection \ LONDON ENGLAND”
Length 16.0 cm (6.3″)
Bowl height 4.9 cm (1.93″)
Outside diameter 4.9 cm (1.93″)
Chamber diameter 2.4 cm (0.94″)
Chamber depth 4.2 cm (1.65″)
Weight 59 g

Briar, vulcanite stem, no filter.

The pipe has been thoroughly cleaned, polished, sanitised, and is now ready for a new life.