Pipes Magazine » General Pipe Smoking Discussion

1. 

   Mick
   

   Member
   Joined: Dec 2011
   Posts: 1,180

   offline

   Login to Send PM

   As some of you my recall, I am actually from Belgium. Reading up on some pipe history and materials last night, I came across an article on an old Belgian pipe maker called "Hilson", a contraction of the makers name (Hillen) and his son. The factory was originally located in the northern part of Belgium, but was acquired by Gubbels who also makes Big Ben pipes.

   You can read more on the history here

   Here's some questions
   1) Does anyone by any chance have a Hilson in their collection ?
   2) Is it pre or post-acquisition
   3) If so, are they any good ?

   I've found a couple of vintage, pre-acquisition ones out there, and I may eventually get me one. If nothing else than out of patriotic nostalgia

   Just wondering if anyone has any experience with these.

   "The fact is, squire, the moment a man takes to a pipe, he becomes a philosopher. It's the poor man's friend; it calms the mind, soothes the temper, and makes a man patient under difficulties. It has made more good men, good husbands, kind masters, indulgent fathers, than any other blessed thing on this universal earth."
   -"Sam Slick, the clockmaker" aka T.C.Haliburton

   Posted 4 months ago #
2. 

   OTD
   

   Senior Member
   Joined: Jun 2011
   Posts: 2,175

   offline

   Login to Send PM

   No idea on the date but I have this Hilson "Maestro" from my father. He purchased the thing new in the mid 60's from Iwan Ries. Mail order of course! (-;

   

   I do have another older Hilson, also from my father, in the refurb box. A small billiard, it needs a lot of TLC!

   Snus, snuff and briar.
   Not much more required in a day.
   Brian from Oregon USA

   Posted 4 months ago #
3. 

   Mick
   

   Member
   Joined: Dec 2011
   Posts: 1,180

   offline

   Login to Send PM

   OTD

   That's a great looking pipe. Does it smoke well ? Feel free to post the TLC one as well. I'm getting more and more interested in this brand.

   if he bought it in the 60's it would have been made in the original factory in Bree (North Belgium). Hilson was originally founded in 1846 and apparently made mostly clays. After WW1, the grand-son, called Jan Hillen, started making briar pipes that were turned in the Jura region in France and finished up in Bree. they were renowned for their quality and found an eager market in Europe and the US. In 1980 the factory was acquired by a Dutch company, moved and eventually closed down. All new Hilson pipes are being made in the Netherlands now in the same factory that makes Big Ben. However, there is now a young pipe maker trying to revive the art in Belgium.

   From what I found the "Maestro" series were completely handmade in Bree by a carver named Sanoul. Still trying to figure out when exactly that period was, but at least it'll give you some background.

   Hope this helps. Am I being patriotic enough

   Posted 4 months ago #
4. 

   OTD
   

   Senior Member
   Joined: Jun 2011
   Posts: 2,175

   offline

   Login to Send PM

   From what I found the "Maestro" series were completely handmade in Bree by a carver named Sanoul.

   
   I had never looked into the history myself Mick. Thanks for that bit, always fascinating!
   Where did you find the info about the Maestro line?

   Posted 4 months ago #
5. 

   Mick
   

   Member
   Joined: Dec 2011
   Posts: 1,180

   offline

   Login to Send PM

   Some on pipedia, some on the hilson website, some on the dutch pipe smokers forum. My native language is Flemish (form of Dutch), so it makes it a little easier to read up on the brand on some Belgian and Dutch sites.

   Here's the pipedia link that mentions the Maestro line. I've seen a couple in Belgian smokers albums as well.

   http://www.pipedia.org/index.php?title=Hilson

   I've got my eyes on a couple out there, especially this one
   

   Posted 4 months ago #
6. 

   OTD
   

   Senior Member
   Joined: Jun 2011
   Posts: 2,175

   offline

   Login to Send PM

   Well of couse, pipedia! (-: Oh, yes it does smoke perfectly.

   Posted 4 months ago #
7. 

   Mick
   

   Member
   Joined: Dec 2011
   Posts: 1,180

   offline

   Login to Send PM

   Hmmm.. they seem to be out there on the estate marketplace.

   Here's another nice one. Now I just need to find out more about them since they seem to be very reasonably priced. Probably because there's not much demand for them

   

   Posted 4 months ago #
8. 

   unclearthur
   

   Preferred Member
   Joined: Mar 2010
   Posts: 7,639

   offline

   Login to Send PM

   I have several Hilson pipes and all are excellent. No idea on the manufacture dates though.

   If at first you don't succeed you are running about average.

   Posted 4 months ago #
9. 

   Mick
   

   Member
   Joined: Dec 2011
   Posts: 1,180

   offline

   Login to Send PM

   The more research I'm doing on it, the more apparent it becomes it's hard to actually date them.

   All that I've found thus far that those stamped "Made in Belgium" are most likely pre-1980. There were some ebauchons left over after the transfer and those are now being used and released as old briar pipes. Not sure yet whether they're stamped "Made in Belgium" or not. And then there's those that are stamped just "Hilson", which are in the transition era and could be made either place. It's actually a fascinating story. Of course, being from Belgium helps

   I'll end up compiling it all and update the pipedia article when I get to it

   Posted 4 months ago #
10. 

    Mick
    

    Member
    Joined: Dec 2011
    Posts: 1,180

    offline

    Login to Send PM

    OK... talk about freaky..

    Kevin.. apparently the forum is now available in .... DUTCH !!

    I'm searching for hilson history and this popped up
    And yes, I can read it ... I was using a belgian google to find perhaps more info

    

    Posted 4 months ago #
11. 

    maxpeters
    

    Member
    Joined: Jan 2010
    Posts: 193

    offline

    Login to Send PM

    Hello Mick,

    I do have a Hilson. I think I picked it up at a pipe show some years ago.
    I think it smokes great. It's never given me any problems. I don't know what the bowl is finished with, but it has never lost it's luster. That worried me at first because pipes like that usually smoke hot, but this one has been the exception.
    I would buy another Hilson if i ever saw one I liked.

    

    Posted 4 months ago #
12. 

    Mick
    

    Member
    Joined: Dec 2011
    Posts: 1,180

    offline

    Login to Send PM

    Thanks max. Gorgeous looking pipe you got there.

    Does it have any markings ? I'm trying to get some info pulled together on this maker.

    Posted 4 months ago #

RSS feed for this topic

Reply

You must log in to post.

    Back To Top  | Back to Forum Home Page

   Members Online Now
   nsfisher, flipflopsandshades, carlosviet