ORLIK Supreme
England, 1950-70s
According to Wilczak & Colwell own “Supreme” series were produced by Charatan’s, Orlik, Comoy’s and Hall & Fitzgerald. It’s definitely not a Charatan’s make pipe and hardly can be a H&F product (look for comparison at their Clifton pipes). With regards to Comoy’s the word supreme was used rather as an addition to a grade name – “Supreme Patent”, “Virgin Briar Supreme” etc. On the other hand the shape, nice cross-cut grain and stamping correspond very well to Orlik Supreme pipes available at times in online auctions and stores. Thus we’re pretty sure it’s a Pre-Cadogan (made before merge with Comoy’s in 1980) Orlik product.
The pipe markings are “SUPREME \ LONDON MADE”. The length is 15.0 cm (5.9″), bowl’s height is 5.5 cm (2.16″). External diameter of the bowl is 4.2 cm (1.65″), internal diameter is 2.1 cm (0.83″). The depth is 4.6 cm (1.81″) and this pipe weights 67 gr. Briar, vulcanite stem, no filter. The chamber is moderately smoked with some small roughness but without any major issues.
In about 1986 I met a pipe-maker in a tobacco shop in Exeter. He made pipes by hand. He was a former employee at Dunhill he said. I bought a pipe from him for 40 pounds. The pipe I own has the same markings with the hand on the stem.