Calling on Peterson Experts

[peckinpahhombre]

I was given a Peterson system pipe that is in fantastic condition. On the back of the shank it says:
Made in England

No. 36
Were Peterson pipes ever made in England? Any thoughts as to how I would date this thing?

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

English made Peterson pipes actually spans between the pre-Republic and Republic eras. In 1895, Peterson opened a shop in London England that lasted until the late 1950s or early 1960s. So the English Era, for a simplified date, will be from 1895 through 1959.
Copied from.... http://thepetersonpipeproject.blogspot.com/2007/07/dating-peterons-pipes.html
hope that helps. I'm not an expert.

 

[piperl12]

Thanks Anthony that's awesome information!

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Wow, that is great Anthony. It says Made in England in block letters is probably the oldest, and that's what mine has, but doesn't give a date range. It also says nothing about what the number (36) means. Still, very helpful. I did a double take when I read Made in England. Thought it was some sort of copy.

 

[rebornbriar]

Peck, is the stamp:
MADE IN

ENGLAND
Not in a circle but in 2 lines? All the information is on that page.

We believe the earliest stamp of this era was the "Made in England" in a block format since Peterson was using the "Made in Ireland" block format at about the same time on their Irish production pipes

Peterson pipes made during the majority of this period had no "Country of Manufacture" (COM) stamped on them. However, later in this period, say around 1915/16, Peterson began stamping their pipes "Made in Ireland" in a block format.

The Irish Free State was formed on 15 January 1922. So the Free State Era will be from 1922 through 1937. Peterson followed with a COM stamp of "Irish Free State" in either one or two lines, either parallel or perpendicular to the shanks axis and extremely close to the stem.

So if the stamp is as above it can be dated 1915 - 1922 range, but could also go to 1938 before the circular stamp was used.

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

Hopefully someone that knows a whole heck of a lot more than me (because I'm clueless lol) can answer about that number. I would take a wild guess and say perhaps its a pipe shape number?

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Correct, it appears:
MADE IN

ENGLAND

No 36
Why do you think 1915-22? What does the No. 36 mean?

 

[peckinpahhombre]

I thought it might be shape too, but on the one side it says:
PETERSON'S

SYSTEM

3
I assumed the 3 was the shape number.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Oh, I see, the assumption is they changed the Made in England stamp in 1922 (or maybe 1938) when they changed the Irish stamp

 

[rebornbriar]

Correct!
The first stamp on Petersons after about 1915/16 was:
MADE IN

IRELAND
Before this there was no country stamped on any of their pipes. This changed in 1922 to IRISH FREE STATE. in either one or 2 lines. Then again in 1938 to MADE IN EIRE. But this time the stamp was circular and it is assumed the English stamp changed to MADE IN ENGLAND in a circle as well.
So it is assumed that the block letter stamp was the initial 1915-22 period but may well have extended until the introduction of the Made In Eire circular stamp in 1938.

 

[rebornbriar]

System 3 was a grading system. I have seen a System 0, a System 2 and a System 3 (assume there may have been a System 1 as well but I have never seen one). I have also never seen a Peterson with "No." stamped on it. They used to have 3 digit shape numbers.

 

[petes03]

Got any pics Peck? You know I love Petersons!

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

Regardless... if it's as old as we think it is and in good shape, that's just FREAKING AWESOME!!! :D I seriously want to see pics.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Will try to take a pic later this week

 

[numbersix]

Congrats on that Pete Peck! I also have a "Made in England" Pete.

From my research, I estimated this to be a 1940s - 50s (it does say "A Peterson Product" on mine. This happens to be my lightest pipe at 1.2 oz and smokes beautifully.

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

Nice pipe, six

 

[castellarius]

Peck, Six....you lucky guys, wonderful, wonderful pipes in stunning conditions :D

 

[numbersix]

Thanks guys - looking forward to seeing Peck's Pete (that just sounds wrong!)

 

[petes03]

@Six, that's hilarious, and it does sound wrong! It kinda makes me a little embarrassed to admit that I wanna see it too! LOL!

 

[ssjones]

Thanks guys - looking forward to seeing Peck's Pete (that just sounds wrong!)

That made me laugh and remember why I don't share forum discussions with my wife...