A Treasure Trove

BEN WADE

About a week ago a couple walked into the store carrying seven large flat boxes, no higher than a couple of inches, some twenty inches deep, some fifteen inches wide. And all around eighteen inches long. Jim’s eyebrows shot –up and down in the span of one second.

They were old pipe boxes. Fashioned to be displayed under a glass counter. The top covers are split in the half, set with hinges, so it can be folded back and show off the beautiful designed bowls of briar sitting on cream colored satin.

What a treasure trove!! These were brand new, never smoked, Saseinis, Ben Wades, Preben Holms, Charantans, GBDs and Comoys. Pipe brands favored in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. And for some reason, these pipes had remained locked away for over 30 years!! They were discovered recently in a trunk, tucked away in an attic. Yeah, these things still happen…

 

BEN WADE

The favoritism of certain pipe brands depended on more than just good business skills. It depended on the company manager or the carver having contact with the smoker. Today, the pipes that are best known are Dunhills, Viprati, Mimo, Costellos, Petersons, Ser Jacopos, etc And in this century, pipe makers apprentice in four ways: The traditional personal mentoring at the workshop, books, videos, exchange of techniques and how-tos during pipe shows or pipe club meetings.

During the early 19^th century most of the pipe makers apprenticed in other companies or

started by learning through repairing pipes, going onto working out how to carve a bowl. After all it is another facet of woodworking. But the most of the pipes available at the time were either made of the fragile clay or meerschaum. The clay using a mold and the meerschaum being carved. And the countries making them were France and England. A curious foot note: The British tobacco trade show or exhibit as it was called then, was already a presence to be reckoned with. The English being the heaviest tobacco importers for Europe!

Of the list I entered at the start of this story, the oldest was Comoy. A British and French company making clay and meerschaum pipes. But the British Charantan was the first to import ebouchons (briar blocks) to turn bowls. Comoy started some 10 years later. With exception of Preben Holm, (from Denmark) who learned as he repaired the pipes at his father’s shop in 1960. All others, Ben Wade, Saseini, Charantan, GBD ( two French and one British partner; Geneval, Bondier and Donninger) and Comoy started anywhere from 1825 and 1860 respectfully (in either France or England). And by 1900 they were established businesses. Creating their own special designs or techniques; always working towards the ultimate  smooth smoking featherweight pipe.

Charantan and Ben Wade followed GBD & Comoy. Founding their businesses in the 1860s. Also established by 1900. And by then Joel Saseini had already apprenticed with Charantan and gone to work for Alfred Dunhill. Establishing himself in 1918 as “Saseini Pipe Making Company” in London.

This is where it all started. The first pipe designers, the first pipe makers…. When briar was abundant and cheap. When gentlemen wore smoking jackets and aggregated in the

“study” or “library” for a smoke and a snifter of brandy after dinner. And the smoker who had a more intense relationship with their smoking was the pipe smoker, who used it as a thinking tool….

All these pipes will be available to our customers in 3 weeks time,
as they need to buffed and polished 

Till next time everyone…. Happy bowls and long ashes…