PAD: Help me date this Ashton Sovereign

hiplainsdrifter · Sep 9, 2014

I just picked up this nice little billard for a bit more than I wanted to pay, but I loved the lines. Any idea on manufacturing date? I have heard Ashton uses a date stamp but I don't see one.

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misterlowercase · Sep 9, 2014

Hard to say, maybe impossible.
Usually there is a date code, and usually there is the X size code too.
Some pipes have no date code, but the X's, like this one:

Although I myself would think it to be an earlier example, just because it seems there were more anomalies and inconsistencies in the BT era as opposed to the JC era, but there is no way to be definitive so it'll probably remain a mystery.
Did that pipe come from a seller in Ireland?
If it was the unsmoked example I'm thinking it was, you got a good deal I think.
I bought an unsmoked 1930's Comoy 2nd from the same seller, and it was pristine --- along with the other rare pipes and scarce tins from that seller, if it did come from there, would make me lean toward your pipe being an early example.

pruss · Sep 9, 2014

Gods... What lovely grain!
-- Pat

hiplainsdrifter · Sep 9, 2014

Thanks Pat- my photos aren't great, the grain actually looks better in person! It is nice and light too. MLC, thanks for your info. Yes, it was from that Irish seller. I was thinking it must be early- I understand that later on they started stamping straight grain Sovereigns 'SG' with a grading mark. Now for the REAL problem- to smoke or not to smoke! :?:

pruss · Sep 9, 2014

S M O K E
just saying...
: puffy

:
-- Pat

hiplainsdrifter · Sep 9, 2014

Here are some better shots of the grain-

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peckinpahhombre · Sep 9, 2014

First, that is a stellar looking pipe. Your palms may bleed when you smoke that from the sharp grain.
As for dating, I am surprised there is not a date code. I am far from an expert, but I thought there was normally one or two digit code - an 03 represents 1983, when the company started, a 17 represents 2000, etc. Truth be told though, I am not sure if they stopped that at some point. However, I do recall reading somewhere that for a period of time Ashton stopped dating pipes that were destined for the US market because some sellers indicated that buyers were scared away from buying a pipe that had an older date code (perhaps they thought it was life a carton of milk with a best before date). I have no idea if that is true though. I hope others with some knowledge will weigh in.

ssjones · Sep 9, 2014

It is rare to see an Ashton without the single or double-digit date code, or the X size mark. In fact, I don't think I have seen such an Ashton until now. Sovereigns are quite lovely, and yours is no exception. It will look even nicer with some smoke curling out of that bowl!
Here's the stamping on my lone Sovereign. The date stamp is usually next to the "Made In England" stamp, a 29 in this case for 2009. The date code is added to the year 1980. So in Pecks example above, a "17' is actually made in 1997.

misterlowercase · Sep 9, 2014

Those pix really do pop, no doubt if it was stamped it probably would have got an SG.
Are you familiar with the Ashton sizes?
Whereabouts do you think yours is?
If you're not sure, you can get a roundabout feeling looking at old SP listings...
X

http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/estate/england/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=104011
XX

http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/estate/england/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=90650
XXX

http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/stanwell/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=39093
LX

http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/estate/england/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=95217
ELX

http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/estate/england/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=78769
Anyway,

congrats, it really is a fine pipe!

:clap:

hiplainsdrifter · Sep 9, 2014

I would say it would be an XXX billiard, as it is about 5 3/4 inches long- although it is nice and slender, so maybe a XX?

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PAD: Help me date this Ashton Sovereign

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