Damn, you do have a great eye!
I absolutely love those Thorns, especially the real gnarly one on top that looks like it was blasted to hell, those early KBB blasts are amongst the best ever done!
The BW is highly interesting, I've never seen that particular font style either, and info for Leeds-era BW is very scarce, even The Pipe Rack where there's usually a pretty good historical write-up, has little to say,
http://www.thepiperack.com/blue-chip-estate-pipe-1918-hallmarked-ben-wade-bruyere-anciene-w-amber-stem/
Here's an advert snippet from Vanity Fair, vol.26 #4, 1926...
The Ben Wade family of Leeds know their art. Since 1860 Ben Wade men have been pipe makers to the English gentry. A pipe by them is as mellow as the tone of a Cremona violin. Lustrous as your polished riding boots. Sweet as a breath...
Here's a BW from 1910 with an unusual stamp,
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BEN-WADE-BRIAR-amp-STERLING-SILVER-EDWARDIAN-1910-PIPE-IN-CASE-/331252030215?pt=UK_Collectables_Tobacciana_Smoking_LE&hash=item4d2028db07&nma=true&si=oh8mUiuLt7owvhZwE7ajlgU8zhw%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
The original factory was totally destroyed in the Leeds Blitz. Up until 1965 they used this address - Ben Wade Limited, Yorkist Works, 29, Clarendon Road, Leeds - but I'm unsure if that was a factory or just a headquarters.
They were bought out by Charatan in 1965.
Some really good info here,
http://yeoldebriars.com/benwade.html
...run it thru google translate and you'll get the gist of it, be sure to check out the pix too, he's got original boxes too!
Congrats on such a sweet find!
:!: