James Upshall Pipes - A Discussion

[ssjones]

Those are beautiful Ted! It's great to see some long-time James Upshall collectors join this thread.
Perhaps Ken can shed some light on this one, stamped "Connoisseur" and numbered. I can't find any reference to this stamp.

 

[kenbarnes]

Hi Ted, thank you for your kind words.

What a lovely canted Billiard! - I really like this shape and with some really fine grain too.

This pipe was definitely made by Barry Jones and it looks like he personally took this pipe through each stage.It has some really great lines.

I am not familiar with this limited edition which indicates that it is post 1989.

 

[orlandofurioso]

Hi Ted ,
Welcome back to the forums, this is a wonderful canted billiard indeed.

Reminds me of the ones I think Barry Jones carved for Charatan in the older days.
Greetings to you all, may the force be with you.
Roland

 

[fabioptrn]

My friend has a very similar Charatan Executive (the stem is not original, it is made by Mauro Gilli, a famous Italian repairer).

 

[fabioptrn]

I am currently courting this Upshall P, it is from a friend but it is too big for he. I do not like buying smoked pipes, but if the inside of the bowl will be without burns under the crust, I think I will buy it. Unfortunately, the JU logo on the stem is now deleted. I believe there is not even a chance to reprint it.

 

[kenbarnes]

What a lovely Charatan Executive Fabioptrn. This is the first Charatan that I have seen fitted with a Cumberland mouthpiece!!!

The James Upshall P grade looks like a very early one - nice shape & nice grain.

 

[fabioptrn]

Very nice with cumberland, my friend has a good eye. Then Mauro Gilli is a really good worker, certainly the best we have here in Italy. If it came out with that original stem it would have been fantastic.

 

[fabioptrn]

Here is my new Upshall, a grade P.

Unfortunately, the JU mold on the stem is now deleted (and I do not think anyone has the stamps to do it again). On the shank the word "James Upshall" is slightly worn.

I took a friend's pipe for a few euros, it's a little smoked and the inside of the bowl has no burns.

 

[kenbarnes]

Here is my new Upshall, a grade P

This is, in my opinion, a very early piece - I would say 1979 - 1980. I think the stamp mark has been 'pressed into the shank by hand'. This was before we got the stamping machine from Sasieni in 1980-81. The machine would press them with more pressure, making the stamp deeper.

The finish looks good and the pipe well-looked after. Nice pipe!

 

[fabioptrn]

Yes, I'm trying to acquire only Upshall from the first period, at most only as long as you and Barry Jones worked together.

I remember that you explained to me that the hand stamps can be more inaccurate than those engraved; I believe however that these stamps are a little canceled due to the many polishes, I think I'm the third or fourth owner.

For the rest what to say? The wheat of the briar is not so fine to be one of the highest grades, but, like the Upshall of your period, it is devoid of imperfections and the cut is made with knowledge. For me it is always a joy to acquire one of these Upshalls.

 

[ssjones]

@fabio, very nice, I want to hang out with your friends! I'm can't recall the last time I ran into someone smoking a James Upshall, at a club meeting, show, etc. (except for me!)

 

[fabioptrn]

They are some friends from Turin (Italy). Here in Turin in the '70s /' 80s there were many important tobacconists and all treated quality pipes. Today almost exclusively Bollito Pipe remained.

 

[jfreedy]

Hello Ken - I'm new to this forum, but I've been reading the posts for years. In fact, I just joined today so I could ask you about my recently purchased Tilshead pipe. I would be curious to know more about it. Specifically, I'd love to know the age and if you actually helped create this one. I also noticed a small '4' near the stem which I assumed was the size. Is that what this means? Any information you can share would be great. Thank you, Ken, for sharing your amazing history and wealth of knowledge with this forum.

 

[jfreedy]

Here are some better pics that show off the pipes grain. Great smoker too!

 

[fabioptrn]

Beautiful your Tilshead. The wheat looks very beautiful, who knows why it has not become James Upshall. Only Ken can tell us this.
This is my new James Upshall unsmoked. It does not have the grade and as Ken has suggested some comments back, this pipe is perhaps one of the samples that Ken gave to Lubinski, here in Italy, to show their finishes to dealers.

 

[jfreedy]

fabioptrn - That's a lovely Tilshead... and unsmoked?? Wow. Do you plan to smoke it?
My Tilshead has a couple of flaws on the bottom. So even though the grain is nice it couldn't be labeled a JU without the "Tilshead" designation. It smokes great though.

 

[fabioptrn]

I still do not know, I have an Upshall almost the same. Perhaps I will exchange it whit a friend for a Charatan. I still have to decide.

 

[jfreedy]

Can't go wrong with a Charatan either. Both are great pipes.

 

[londonmake]

Hi There;

Here is my latest James Upshall, with a unique shape.

In fact, I had seen this pipe before on eBay, and did not bid....glad someone put it f/s again! Now it's in my herd.

 

[londonmake]

one more pic, from above!

I think it has a very art deco look with those interesting bowl rings which relate to bulldogs in a funny way.