Charatan Double Comfort?
- Thread starter milk
- Start date
SmokingPipes.com Updates
Watch for Updates Twice a Week
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
Site Sponsors
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
Hi MIlk,
The reason for their introduction was they were to provide "more comfort" , while I believe the plant also saved quite some ebonite on the DC bit. I own quite a few and depending on the model/shape of the pipe I think of them as "tolerable", in general I prefer a tapered stem. More becoming on any pipe . Aside from that I'm not a clencher and the DC stems were supossed to offer the clencher a thinner bid . .
As for the polishing they are a pain, so is every Ch. pipe stem because of the high sulphur content in the ebonite. The DC stems are also more vulnerable to damage because of bite through etc.
The reason for their introduction was they were to provide "more comfort" , while I believe the plant also saved quite some ebonite on the DC bit. I own quite a few and depending on the model/shape of the pipe I think of them as "tolerable", in general I prefer a tapered stem. More becoming on any pipe . Aside from that I'm not a clencher and the DC stems were supossed to offer the clencher a thinner bid . .
As for the polishing they are a pain, so is every Ch. pipe stem because of the high sulphur content in the ebonite. The DC stems are also more vulnerable to damage because of bite through etc.
Last edited:
I saw what you did there! (It's actually Charatan).
Interestingly, according to the United States Patent (dated January 25, 1966), the Double-Comfort Bit was created by William Alan Williamson Barling, and assigned to F. Charatan & Sons, Limited, London, England.
Last edited:
There is nothing inherently wrong with the double comfort bit itself, it's the materials it was made from thats the problem. Charatan made some very nice pipes even in the Lane era, but the vulcanite they used was absolutely horrendous. It turns green instantly, and tastes very bad when it does. There is nothing you can do to keep one from oxidizing except not smoke it, not touch it, and keep it in a pipe sock in a drawer. Or just have a new bit made for it.
And I wholeheartedly agree !
Aside from the poor quality of the ebonite ( JU comes to mind also ) whether you like the looks of them is a matter of taste.
In that era, it seems, that many pipe manufacturers were looking for a gimmick to standout -hence all of the stinger contraptions, etc to yield a "cool smoke".
Charatan used pre-made not handcut stems and poor quality vulcanite, as pointed out earlier. Their selling point was the briar (much like James Upshall). Their briar was magnificent for sure. It is puzzling why pairing with a great stem was not chosen. No doubt cost saving measures (or difficulty finding good stem makers for the factory?)
Charatan stems are very soft rubber, even without the stepped Double-comfort stem. So if you don't like a "clicky" feeling stem - the are great. I prefer a little harder vulcanite (but don't much care for acrylic).
My biggest issue, that I cannot get past is aesthetics - I cannot unsee those ugly stems. Beautiful grain with an ugly stem. I can't do it. Charatans are also often fairly large, also not my preference.
Charatan used pre-made not handcut stems and poor quality vulcanite, as pointed out earlier. Their selling point was the briar (much like James Upshall). Their briar was magnificent for sure. It is puzzling why pairing with a great stem was not chosen. No doubt cost saving measures (or difficulty finding good stem makers for the factory?)
Charatan stems are very soft rubber, even without the stepped Double-comfort stem. So if you don't like a "clicky" feeling stem - the are great. I prefer a little harder vulcanite (but don't much care for acrylic).
My biggest issue, that I cannot get past is aesthetics - I cannot unsee those ugly stems. Beautiful grain with an ugly stem. I can't do it. Charatans are also often fairly large, also not my preference.
I agree with everything written so far. I have three Charaton pipes all frim the Lane Era. I use softies on each of them to protect the stem. I also dont smoke or store them where UV light can get to the stem.
I removed the "L" from the title.
And it is pronounced "chair-a-tan", not sheraton (like the hotel).....those crafty Brits.
And it is pronounced "chair-a-tan", not sheraton (like the hotel).....those crafty Brits.
Williamson Barling is on the patent as are a couple of other names. Barling was the General Manager of Charatan at that time.
I don't know that the double comfort bit saved Charatan anything in terms of cost since the more complex shape would require more expense to create.
The execrable Vulcanite was sourced from the US, NYC if I remember correctly what Ken Barnes wrote to me. It came in thick sheets, and one of Ken's first jobs training up at Charatan was to saw those sheets into strips for being carved into stems.
The notion was that the stepping would offer greater strength where it was needed, and a thinner, more comfortable bite zone.
As for why Charatan didn't focus on using the best quality para rubber, German rod stock, etc, was they were focused on the wood. Same with Upshall, who sourced their Vulcanite from the same maker that Charatan used. As was explained to me by several dealers at different times, some makers , like Charatan and Sasieni, thought the wood was the most important thing, other makers, such as Dunhill, were more focused on the quality of the stem work, and then there was Barling, which thought it all important. That's from three different top tier Dunhill dealers, in separate conversations. Weird that they all had that same consensus.
That matches up with my "on the ground" experience of the brands.
Fun offshoot: some of the wood Charatan used was SO good that collectors today have a new and better stem made that's interchangeable with the original. A solution with no downside: Enjoy the replacement without affecting the pipe's value as a collectable.
An X-out Charatan with DC stem was one of my first three nice pipes, so I'm biased. I think I paid $30 or $35 for it. I have a love/hate relationship with the DC stem. I love how they look. Truly do. And when I think of Charatan, the aesthetic is an integral part of the brand. I don't think Charatans look right without a DC stem. But after I think 4-5 pipes, all being British and that X-out being one of those bunch, I tried an Italian pipe with lucite and never changed my mind about vulcanite. I nearly hate it. I have absolutely no interest in having to upkeep a stem, and I don't find a significant advantage or preference to the bite on a vulcanite stem. In other words, the material serves no purpose to me other than being an unwanted job. That's where the hate comes into play: DC stems are a pain in the arse to keep nice with their added faces and edges. On top of that, WAY TOO MANY estate Charatans have buffed down and screwed up DC stems because the person didn't have the tools, the know-how, or the patience to clean up the stems properly and without damage. Charatan is my favorite British brand, and I still own a couple with DC stems (the only kind of Charatan I care to own). I'd own more if the price was right and if I was more of a glutton for punishment. I probably will own more too. It's too bad there's never been a precise lucite alternative offered by a stem repairmen. It's something I would have really appreciated (back when replacement stems were $20 or less).
I couldn't never bring myself to spend my hard earned money on the double comfort stem. I won't sit here and rag em, they're just not my thing. They also just look uncomfortable to me ironically. YMMV
To each his own.
To each his own.
Can we also note: just because something has the lane L, doesn’t mean lane era. Although, yes double comfort stem does. Reuben era from 1955/6 til his death had the L for American imports. Jesse, can I get an amen? Lol
Rich at Briarville does make replacement stems made out of acrylic. He even stamps them. I may eventually replace the DC stems on all three of mine and keep the stems for if I ever sell them.
I would most likely use the pipes more.
The L was used for American imports when Lane was the distributor, prior to buying the company. Conversely, the lack of an L doesn't necessarily indicate pre-Lane. Pipes for the British market didn't always get the L and it may be that none of them did. I just don't know that for certain.
If you get them done, please post pictures. I'd love to see that. For me, it would be antithetical to spend $40+ on replacement stems, which is why I mentioned the $20 figure of days past, because Charatan always represented value to me on the British market and on the estate market. Good wood with no fills of fine designs and genuine artistry (if you wanted to get into the upper grades). You could pick up Belvederes and Specials all day long for $30 on the estate market. In principle, and generally speaking, I'm not paying more for the stem than the pipe. I'll live just fine grumbling at the oxidation.