I posted a thread the other day about a Dunhill Shilling I bought. I was quite confused about its nomenclature, or lack thereof. I email Dunhill with photos of the pipe taken from the Ebay auction. Dunhill responded with a very thorough explination. They said there should be more nomenclature which the photos didn't show. Yesterday I received the pipe and this raised further questions. The pipe is a 1996 Dunhill Shilling. In a pipe of this age, it's HIGHLY unlikely that the nomenclature would've been worn completely off without the slightest sign it was over there. I email more detailed hi res photos to Dunhill and received the response below.
Dear Mr. Allen,
Thank you for supplying the new photos.
The date stamp "36" confirms that we were spot on; your pipe was manufactured in the year 1996.
As to the missing HT/HT XL stamp there are two possibilities - either it was buffed out when the pipe was re-polished in the past or it left the factory without that stamp by oversight, although the latter is extremely rare.
In any case, if you wish, you can send us your pipe and we can add the missing stamp(s). Some collectors might want to leave it as it is, maybe as this might give them an opportunity to show their fellow collectors an "oddity" and something to discuss about ...
We leave that decision in your good hands. Should you wish to have the stamp(s) added please send your pipe to my attention at below address.
Sincerely yours,
Dear Mr. Allen,
Thank you for supplying the new photos.
The date stamp "36" confirms that we were spot on; your pipe was manufactured in the year 1996.
As to the missing HT/HT XL stamp there are two possibilities - either it was buffed out when the pipe was re-polished in the past or it left the factory without that stamp by oversight, although the latter is extremely rare.
In any case, if you wish, you can send us your pipe and we can add the missing stamp(s). Some collectors might want to leave it as it is, maybe as this might give them an opportunity to show their fellow collectors an "oddity" and something to discuss about ...
We leave that decision in your good hands. Should you wish to have the stamp(s) added please send your pipe to my attention at below address.
Sincerely yours,
it's funny how these little happenings can color the way you see an object. Obviously I liked the pipe since I purchased it, but it wasn't anywhere near a favorite among mine. Thru a simple, common email exchange my feelings about it have changed. I can't imagine a situation where I'd sell this pipe now, but having a letter on Dunhill letterhead concerning the pipe would make it seem that much more uncommon.