A Nice Little Dunhill Surprise

[rmbittner]

To be honest, I've never paid any attention to the nomenclature on the few estate Dunhills I've managed to pick up over time. But today as I picked one out for my first pipe of the day, I decided to look it up to see when it was made.
Much to my surprise, I discovered that today's Tan Shell billiard was made in 1964! It's not quite a "birth year" (1961) but it's pretty darn close.
Now I feel a little guilty. When I've smoked this one before, I just thought of it like any other pipe. It had darkened significantly, but I'd just attributed that to over-smoking by the previous owner(s). Now I realize that that darkening has been earned. This one is now going to be getting the respect it's due, given its age.
Bob

 

[davidintexas]

That's a great discovery Bob. I can see how that would make that pipe much more special to you. I think that's given me an idea to hunt out a birth year pipe for myself (1958). It doesn't have to be a Dunhill, but if I found a Dunhill that would be even better.

 

[andystewart]

Aha! 1964 is my birth year. Great to hear the Dunhill and you are getting along well.
Andy

 

[mso489]

I think it adds to the mystique and value (and price) with Dunhills that the company has made the pipes

traceable to year of manufacture. Access to information is good.

 

[ssjones]

What a minute: you had a '64 Dunhill and didn't know it???

 

[rmbittner]

Ssjones:
Yep. Just something I picked up on eBay. I'm positive the date wasn't mentioned in the description. But I've just been smoking it off and on for about the last six years without thinking about it too much. And I'm pretty sure I didn't pay more than $100 for it. (It does have a replacement stem, but otherwise it's in very good shape.)

 

[rmbittner]

Okay, this little discovery led me to look up my two other Dunhills to see what I've got. (Honestly, I have no idea why I never paid attention to this before...)
In addition to the 1964 Tan Shell, I now know that I have a 1975 Shell and a 1978 Red Bark.
Clearly I'm not a Dunhill collector! Just a puffer.
Bob