72 Dunhill Shell?

[bonehed]

This was purchased by the seller's wife in '71 (on 5th Ave for $65) but is it next year's model?
"Dunhill Shell; 56 F/T; MADE IN ENGLAND; 12; 4 [circled]; S" - more photos HERE.
1960 ± 12 = 1972?

 

[georged]

Yes

 

[rigmedic1]

That's a bargain, at twice the price. Good score!

 

[bonehed]

Thanks George. I guess the hunt for an actual birthyear continues. This was listed as a '71...

 

[bonehed]

It was $65 in '71 - I paid a bit more than twice that.

 

[simong]

I was born in 72! Just saying, if you feel guilty smoking it, or too old to enjoy it properly you could always sell it to a young whipper-snapper like myself.

 

[bonehed]

I'll definitely keep that in mind and only charge you %10 over cost... like a true friend. :nana:

 

[simong]

Damned decent of you old boy!

Thanking you in advance of our transaction. Regards Simon.

 

[bonehed]

I'll admit at first I was a bit disappointed that what was advertised as a 71 turned out to be a 72, but if I believe the seller when he said his wife bought it for him in 71, which I do, then despite it being marked 72 - it was actually made it 71 as 72 hadn't actually happened yet. So, I'll consider it a birth year pipe no matter what it's marked.

Sorry Simon - I'm keepin it!

 

[simong]

No need to apologize old boy! Although I do believe your too trusting in taking the memory of a dear old lady as gospel. As the old saying goes, 'what can't speak can't lie'. That stamp is from 1972 which is MY birth year & not yours! May I suggest you take away your daughters cob & give her an upgrade by donating your dunhill to her. I'm sure she'd appreciate it & like me she is younger than you. No offence.

BTW my own daughter was very similar looking at that age (she's 15 now). I only wish I'd had the brains to get her to smoke a pipe from an early age, I'm sure she'd have turned out more placid & less vocal with the abuse & attitude I seem to get on a daily basis. Well done sir!

 

[bonehed]

Bah... she's just lucky she gets to dip into my stash free of charge.

 

[peteguy]

Aren't there Dunhills out there with two date codes, one denoting the year made and one denoting the year sold or something like that?

 

[simong]

Don't tell him that!

 

[bonehed]

From user 'john218' 3 years ago :
"I have a Dunhill that has two date codes, indicating it was made in 1957 and shipped by Dunhill 6 years later in 1963, the year I bought it. So I'm not that surprised your pipe went unsold for 13 years. My understanding is that the British prefer the group 2 and 3 size pipes, so I don't think that's the reason it went unsold."
Interesting...

 

[bonehed]

Just chatting with a fellow on eBay who advertises a pipe as being cut in 71, shipped in 72 coincedentally.

I asked how he knew this and he explained he was going by the 11/2 stamp. Didn't know they had such a stamping... anyone have any other examples of this style, or is he misinterpreting the nomenclature?

 

[doctorbob]

If it is that 120 on eBay right now, I believe the stamping is 11 12 which is consistent with split year production/sales.
Doc

 

[bonehed]

Indeed - nifty, wasn't aware they did that... thanks!