Can You Tell Me Something About This Pipe?

[jguss]

I never found information about this bulldog.
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I’m reasonably sure the Blackburn was sold by James Hargreaves & Sons, a longtime wholesaler of tobacco and tobacco products based in Blackburn Lancashire. The business was founded in 1862 by James Hargreaves (1841-1918) and after his death was eventually sold and resold before winding up as part of Palmer & Harvey. The shell company was liquidated in 1912.

As you can tell from the “London Made“ nomenclature the Blackburn was produced for Hargreaves by a London manufacturer (no idea which one, although a close comparison of fonts often gives a clue) and got its name from the town which was the birthplace and longtime home of the Hargreaves business.

For a fun look at the life of a wealthy tobacco goods wholesaler over a century ago read this: Fascinating insight into lifestyle of Blackburn merchant James Hargreaves - https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/19012483.fascinating-insight-life-blackburn-merchants-house/

For the only other pipe I’ve seen with the Blackburn stamping see this very recent sale of a remarkably similar example here: Vintage Hargreaves Blackburn Dental Smoking Pipe | eBay - https://www.ebay.ie/itm/154469192942?hash=item23f714d4ee:g:soAAAOSwQ6Vgrv3Y#vi__app-cvip-panel

 

[OzPiper]

I’m reasonably sure the Blackburn was sold by James Hargreaves & Sons, a longtime wholesaler of tobacco and tobacco products based in Blackburn Lancashire. The business was founded in 1862 by James Hargreaves (1841-1918) and after his death was eventually sold and resold before winding up as part of Palmer & Harvey. The shell company was liquidated in 1912.


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As always your diligent exhumation of pipe-related "arcania" astounds

 

[verporchting]

As always your diligent exhumation of pipe-related "arcania" astounds

+1 on this comment. Respect!

 

[Alejo R.]

I’m reasonably sure the Blackburn was sold by James Hargreaves & Sons, a longtime wholesaler of tobacco and tobacco products based in Blackburn Lancashire. The business was founded in 1862 by James Hargreaves (1841-1918) and after his death was eventually sold and resold before winding up as part of Palmer & Harvey. The shell company was liquidated in 1912.

As you can tell from the “London Made“ nomenclature the Blackburn was produced for Hargreaves by a London manufacturer (no idea which one, although a close comparison of fonts often gives a clue) and got its name from the town which was the birthplace and longtime home of the Hargreaves business.

For a fun look at the life of a wealthy tobacco goods wholesaler over a century ago read this: Fascinating insight into lifestyle of Blackburn merchant James Hargreaves - https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/19012483.fascinating-insight-life-blackburn-merchants-house/

For the only other pipe I’ve seen with the Blackburn stamping see this very recent sale of a remarkably similar example here: Vintage Hargreaves Blackburn Dental Smoking Pipe | eBay - https://www.ebay.ie/itm/154469192942?hash=item23f714d4ee:g:soAAAOSwQ6Vgrv3Y#vi__app-cvip-panel

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That is a lot of very precise information. thank you.

 

[Eric Nolan]

I've just come across this very interesting piece. I was literally the last appointed Director of James Hargreaves & Sons Ltd., (though not a family member), so you & your readers might find my input of interest !
I have to say that I very much doubt that the "Blackburn" pipe was named after the Hargreaves' Business, I've not heard of that before. There were at least six other Tob, W/S firms in Blackburn at that time, even another (though small) one called "Hargreaves". It was common to name different models of manufactured items after various towns & cities - and there's actually a Blackburn in Scotland too, also an Aircraft Manufacturer by the same name !

But the main reason I don't think that pipe is named after the company I worked for for 18 years, is that the Chairman, "Mr. Roger" (Hargreaves) never mentioned it to me when I was writing an article for a Tob. Trade Magazine, when he had completed 60 years with the Blackburn company.
(His Grandfather, James H. himself was born in Woodplumpton outside Preston).

He confirmed some details that I already knew and told me of others I didn't. There was a brand of cigs., "No. 16", after his second and large shop 16, King William St, B/b. There was also "Pendle Snuff", named after nearby Pendle Hill, supposedly home to witches ! Then there were various cigars and pipe tobaccos, and even own-label pipe cleaners !
I came in to run the modern Vending Machine side of the business.
Incidentally, the company was fully family owned until being taken over by Messrs. Palmer & Harvey Ltd., in 1984; they ceased trading and went into liquidation in 2017.

If all the above isn't enough (!), and anyone has an hour to spare, there are 2 videos on YouTube of a Talk & Display I gave in March 2022, that give an awful lot more !

The first is 57. mins., titled "James Hargreaves - Blackburn Tobacco Factor and Worthy", Ray Smith Memorial Lecture, Blackburn Central Library, March 2022 by Eric Nolan.
youtube.com/watch?v=o8g57SBevSQ

The second, only 1.43 mins., is "Tobacco Exhibition - James Hargreaves and Sons, Blackburn.
youtube.com/watch?v=OpGY8F9GWx4

As they say "Enjoy" ! Eric Nolan, former pipe & cigar smoker !

PS Hope no typos in above titles & links !