Dunhills?

[PaulTheScandinavian]

Despite the fact I love Dunhill pipes I have to admit ,there are bad apples' among them,previously I have come across brand new Dunhill pipe(s)which drilling ought to have been done way better.and I have learned this following rule hard way: in case you've got a higher end pipe and if you suspect your purchase is not 100% flawless in every aspect, please do not start messing with it,don't try to kind yourself,save your nerves&money and send the sucker back to its original vendor,the sooner the better.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Value?? I find great value in Dunhill pipes in the world of pre-smoked/used/estate pipes.

I even have a couple recently acquired which join my beater pipes. They smoke just fine, but aren't beauties even if polished up.

 

[captpat]

Judging from Al Pascia updates I receive they usually have quite new ones each time. They must be in demand somewhere.

 

[Davy Jones]

Despite the fact I love Dunhill pipes I have to admit ,there are bad apples' among them,previously I have come across brand new Dunhill pipe(s)which drilling ought to have been done way better.and I have learned this following rule hard way: in case you've got a higher end pipe and if you suspect your purchase is not 100% flawless in every aspect, please do not start messing with it,don't try to kind yourself,save your nerves&money and send the sucker back to its original vendor,the sooner the better.

Indeed! When one pays good money and is in doubt the pipe must be returned for an exchange or a refund. Even when the price is low I will return it.

 

[Davy Jones]

Dunhill started selling men's furnishings. Pipes and tobacco came later. And, afaik, it is not a family owned business any longer.

I was under the impression it was the other way around?
Alfred Dunhill was in the building construction business, then patents, then he got into the pipe & tobacco sector.
It would make sense that none of the Dunhill descendants is part of it. It would explain keeping the luxury department only and selling the rest.

 

[mso489]

One of our late Forums members who worked at a Manhattan pipe shop in his teens reminded us all that when he was selling pipes in the 1950's, the top premium factory pipe, and the most expensive, was the Kaywoodie, with Dunhill coming in second. Neither was beyond a young salary man's paycheck. It was in the 1960's that Dunhill made its marketing moves to establish the brand as the one you had to have, to have a top quality pipe.

This appealed to pipe smokers who had a lot of discretionary spending and wanted to reward themselves for their success, and also for those who aspired to be in that position, as a matter of status-seeking. The marketing strategy succeeded, and Dunhill/White Spot has been selling its pipes for more than most other comparable up-market factory pipes ever since.

P.S. I really enjoyed reading that old thread from 2016. What a chatty fellow I was.

 

[mso489]

I should probably add, Kaywoodie still makes a fine pipe at a notably reasonable cost, a true bargain in quality briar.

 

[trouttimes]

There are cigar lounges in Asia where that level of service is de rigeur. Only with pretty Asian rather than blonde/redhead/brunette hostesses. They are there to help you select your cigar(s) and will cut, light and even test the draw (pre-Covid) if you desire. And of course steer you around the highly expensive selection of libations.
Mind you, a couple of premium cigars and a couple of single malt will almost pay for a White Spot pipe ! ?

That’s where I got the idea. Only, they offer more services.???

 

[warren]

Alfred started his selling career with automobile accessories, many he invented. He got into pipes because they were away which allowed drivers to smoke more or less safely, particularly in vehicles without a roof.

Pipes and tobaccos were simply an expansion to his sales of auto accessories. Pipes became his primary source of income in the 1900's. He received a royal warrant and suddenly lots of people wanted his pipes. He never left the luxury accessory business, in fact he left the pipes and tobaccos for family members to run when he started to put more of attention back into luxury items.

Alfred Dunhill was much more than a "one trick pony." Pipes and blends were merely a part of his luxury wares bus8iness. I believe he was still running the company when it purchased Mont Blanc. If, many can't seem to, one can see the difference between Dunhill and dunhill the various brands can be easily followed when researching. Alfred Dunhill started the business selling luxury items for the brand new, just invented automobile. Tobacco and pipes came along because of his interest in owning and selling luxury items. The royal warrant gave the pipes a cachet but, pipes and tobacco were only a small part of the empire Alfred sired and grew.

It can be hard to follow the various Dunhill labeled business, particularly if one can't tell the difference between Alfred Dunhill, dunhill, and Dunhill. Or, maybe some simply refuse to acknowledge the all the various an distinct trademarks involving the word "Dunhill" in some form or another.

 

[Donb1972]

For the same reason people paid an arm and a leg to visit Mr. Roarke on Fantasy Island.

 

[shane1]

Great info everyone, thanks. Whatever Dunhill is now, it seems they have been a major player in pipes and tobacco. I wont pay that much extra for a name (because I am cheap), but I respect the work they have done.

 

[leonardbill1]

They are living on reputation at this point in my opinion.

 

[anotherbob]

Yeah, I hear ya.
I've seen a lot of discussion on that level. The Dunhill family moved away from pipe making and tobacco and focused on luxury, clothing, etc. Because they are seemingly and probably douche bags that shy away from smokers, like many others that do not want to be associated with the tobacco industry, etc, etc.

It is their business and shouldn't they do what they think is in the best interest of their company? We don't have to like it or them and frankly I bet there is a good chance they are douche bags but changing their company with the times isn't an indication of that. That said at least they're not pretending they didn't used to have pipes as part of their history. Just not something they want to continue forward with, which frankly to most people is going to make them seem like a not forward thinking company (in terms of their place in the world) which part of being a luxury brand is following a lot of silliness and stupid little details can make a company seem stuck in the past. I wouldn't be surprised to say there are legit things to criticize them for (assumption, but still a good bet) but not holding on to part of their business that only us weirdos care about isn't one of them.

 

[anotherbob]

That’s where I got the idea. Only, they offer more services.???

haircuts? I bet they offer haircuts. And advice. Probably it.

 

[kcghost]

It doesn't matter what we are talking about it all comes down to supply and demand. For everyone who's staunchly in the "I won't pay more than $X for a pipe" there's someone who will. You have to remember your values aren't shared by everyone.

 

[LotusEater]

Great info everyone, thanks. Whatever Dunhill is now, it seems they have been a major player in pipes and tobacco. I wont pay that much extra for a name (because I am cheap), but I respect the work they have done.

I don’t know how you feel about estate pipes but as @jpmcwjr mentioned- there are a lot of Dunhill estates available and often at affordable prices. You aught to get one and see for yourself what all the fuss is about. I’ve only got 2 Dunhills both are estates and both are sporting silver repair bands. I think the repair bands look great and my pipes were considerably cheaper because of them.

 

[warren]

Pipes and blends were only a part of the luxury company, a small part. For those of us who came along years after Alfred Dunhill started his business, we tend to only think of Dunhill as a pipe and tobacco company. I suppose because those two items are what interest us. Tobaccos and pipes were never the driving reason for existence. "dunhill" is probably closer to the original concept of Dunhill, luxury items. I doubt Mr. Dunhill had any interest in providing pipes for the masses. Hence the seeking out and securing of the "Royal Warrant." I'm guessing he'd find the almost rabid interest in his pipes, in this day and age . . . puzzling. Or, he might not give it a though since he already made his profit in the original sale.

 

[kola]

I have never seen a Dunhill shape I liked. A few Prince shapes maybe but that's about it. Overpriced white-dotted pipes, I'll pass.

 

[shane1]

I don’t know how you feel about estate pipes but as @jpmcwjr mentioned- there are a lot of Dunhill estates available and often at affordable prices. You aught to get one and see for yourself what all the fuss is about. I’ve only got 2 Dunhills both are estates and both are sporting silver repair bands. I think the repair bands look great and my pipes were considerably cheaper because of them.

Good point and I look often. It’s just that I strongly prefer 9mm filter pipes and there are few in the US. I tried a non filtered Dunhill and I did not like it very much. But I did not like any no–filtered pipe as much as filtered.

 

[Morrison Jeremiah]

A new White Spor is pricey, but not overpriced I think.
I'm definitely in the market for one, and am considering a root Briar that I absolutely love, it's just the sheer beauty of the thing.
I already have 24 James Barber pipes made by Dunhill, so I know already that the quality and smoke ability is right up there. Quite simply they are are the best pipes I have ever had, and I've got some fairly expensive Italian pipes put away unloved in a drawer.