England, 1950s This is a pipe from Charatan’s second-highest grade, just below the highest grade known as “Supreme.” It appears that this pipe was made before 1960, as the shape number is situated alongside the nomenclature on the left side of the shank, similar to how it was done on pipes from the “family era.”…
England, 1960 A very fine example from the top-grade Dunhill series. Typically, the absence of the year suffix suggests that the pipe was manufactured in 1960, as indicated by some experts, unless it falls within a patent period. However, the most intriguing detail of this pipe is the expertly replaced shank. The quality of the…
England, 1970s Colin Fromm belongs “to the small number of English pipe artisans skilled in making high-end freehand shapes” (c) pipedia. Invicta was Colin’s first major project since 1974 when the ownership of Medway Pipe Repair changed to Colin Leeson, along with the company name becoming Invicta Briars. However, Colin soon shifted his focus to…
Ireland, 1938-41 The “Made in Eire” pipes are the rarest among the other pre-republican Peterson pipes, as they were only produced for a few years, from 1938 to 1941. This Peterson’s System pipe from that period is an amazing, compact, and lightweight piece! Pipe markings “PETERSON’S \ SYSTEM \ STANDARD”, “317”, “MADE \ IN \…
Denmark, 1960s An old and well-preserved Stanwell pipe that we can date fairly accurately. The registration number 969-48 was obtained by the company in 1948, and Stanwell pipes were marked with it until the early 1970s. At the same time, the crowned S on the mouthpiece appeared around 1960, so the pipe can be safely…
USA, 1950s American classics of the 1950s, the era of rock and roll, big, beautiful cars with loud radios (does the title of the series hint at Oldsmobile Starfire? :-)), and the rise of many American pipe brands. The most well-known are the famous Dr. Grabow Starfire pipes with a wire-carved finish that cannot be…
England, 1949 A lightweight, lightly to moderately smoked patent period Dunhill Grade A pipe (Bruyere) from 1949, featuring a canonical pot shape and patented Dunhill inner tube. It seems that there is nothing to complain about the pipe – the condition is really excellent! Pipe markings “A”, “DUNHILL \ LONDON” “MADE IN ENGLAND 9”, “PAT…
England, 1950-70s The Comoy’s Royal grade is both one of the oldest and one of the rarest to date. Royal Comoy pipes appeared in the late 1930s and were then considered the absolute highest grade. However, very soon, the Royal pipes were replaced by the Blue Ribband series. After the Second World War the Royal…
England, 1960s Evidently, this pipe has endured a challenging and turbulent journey throughout its biography. Beyond the customary cleaning, deoxidation, and polishing, considerable effort was invested in sanding and mending numerous scratches and dents on the bowl, carefully repairing a tooth mark on the stem, and securing two shank cracks with a nickel band. Though…
England, 1984-96 An eye-catching and unique, large and capacious pipe, meticulously designed by the former top Charatan carver, Barry Jones, for the esteemed James Upshall Pipe Company. This exceptional creation seamlessly combines high-quality briar with a mesmerizing grain, skillfully carved into an alluring shape. Our estimation places this pipe between 1984 and 1996, as evidenced…