England Invicta started as a pipe repair service (“Medway Briars”). The careful choice of material, successful market policy and the carvers, experienced with Dunhill and Charatan, made the company one of the live legends of British briar. Invicta pipes is a product of cooperation of three masters – Colin Fromm (Charatan’s, Dunhill), Bill Ashton-Taylor (Dunhill,…
England, 1950-70s A very convincing and very lightly smoked traditional English billiard made by Comoy’s. Their McGahey series was made most probably for the McGahey tobacconist located in Exeter, Devon, UK. The shop is still open nowadays and you can easily find it on Google Maps. We haven’t been there yet, but every English tobacconist…
Ireland, 1910-15 This compact “military” billiard has recently celebrated its century. Except the name of the maker and the city name, there are no other markings on the pipe, in particular a designation of the manufacturing country (COM). Such situation was in 1910-15, when the Peterson patent has already expired, but the stamp “Made in…
England An attractive lightweight classical English pipe of the one of the most famous grades produced by John Redman factory in the second half of XX century. The “Aristocrat” series was destined for export and the company introduced such version of this grade to satisfy more USA customers.
England, 1950-70s “Made of the finest briar root obtainable this natural finish pipe develops a magnificent character and its tan deepens in service”. So the London Pride pipes were described in the old Comoy’s catalogues where this grade was next to the highest – legendary and blazing Blue Riband. London pride pipes are undoubtedly a…
England, 1960s A Charatan’s pipe of “the second Lane era” (1965-76), the period of the brightest blossoming of this brand, delightful shapes and grains, which eclipsed all others pipe makers including Dunhill. There’s no shape number on the pipe, thus it was made by one of the leading carvers at this factory regardless any catalogues….
England, 1979 In the beginning Dunhill created Bruyere. And several years (1910-1917) it was the single brand made by the company of a firm and dense Calabrian briar. And though pre WWII “bruyeres” were marked just by a letter “A” instead of model, the Bruyere series is the one of the oldest long-livers not only…
England, 1950-70s A pleasant example of the pipe carvers art from Sasieni – one of the most aggressive and active competitors of Dunhill for many years. The family business worked successfully till 1979 – until the recession of demand in pipes forced to sell the business to new investors, and interest in Sasieni among collectors…
Denmark “Attractive, well made but affordable Danish freehands and fancy pipes” (c) pipedia. That’s perhaps the best description of the main idea of Karl Erik Ottendahl (1942 – 2004) pipe making. A pipe smoker since 14 y.o., Karl Erik moved to Kenia in 1962 during the war in that country and for the next 3…
England, 2011 A younger sister of Dunhill Cumberland. Brown sandblasted “Cumberlands” have been started to be produced in 1979 on the occasion of closing of warehouses on Cumberland Road. The series was very popular and in 1983 Dunhill decided to start even a more excquisite smooth version of this series – a “Chestnut”. Surely, you…