Charatan Selected 99

[mothernaturewilleatusallforbreakfast]

I bought this Charatan Selected 99 Billiard off eBay this week. I thought the pipe may be on the cusp of the Rueben and Lane eras somewhere around 1960? The seller believed that it may be closer to 1955. Nonetheless, I cleaned it up a little this afternoon and fired it up this evening. It smokes like a dream and I couldn't be happier with my purchase. I don't buy many pipes, but I couldn't pass this one up as it's a 1 ounce Charatan Billiard. I pulled some photos from the listing to share.

 

[pagan]

Very nice, surprisingly good for the Bay, enjoy :puffpipe:

 

[philobeddoe]

That grain is simply beautiful, good catch!

 

[jpmcwjr]

Oh, my, yes! A stunning grain and many happy smokes to you!

 

[dread]

That is some sick (in a good way) grain!

 

[jkrug]

That sir is a beautiful pipe!! Enjoy. ::

 

[kenbarnes]

Wow! This has got to be my most favourite pipe of the year so far. Originally, I think that this piece came in a case and therefore has been preserved so well. What a beauty.

In the 1950s Reuben Charatan was specialising in making straight grain 'Orthodox' shapes in straight grain and, according to Barry Jones, Reuben was the only one who turned these pipes at that time (about 24 pieces a week).

In my experience this shape (Billiard, Lovat & Canadian) is the very rarest shape to achieve in a straight grain and that is probably one reason why I love this pipe so much. It would be great to see the other photos.

This is a 1951 Charatan catalogue which shows this pipe - yours is so much more beautiful!

 

[disinformatique]

Italians call it the Angel's Hair Grain. Love it !!

 

[jensen]

British Pathè........search : Briar pipes....then Pipe Dream (1945)

A small Charatan movie !

 

[elpfeife]

That is a great acquisition. Congratulations and enjoy it for many years.

 

[pepesdad1]

Stunning grain on that pipe. Smoke it in good health.

 

[mothernaturewilleatusallforbreakfast]

Thanks for that information Ken, and also for everyone's nice comments. Here are some more pics from the listing and a couple additional that I requested showing the drilling. I thought I had one of the slot, but I don't. I can try and take one if anyone would like to see the slot. It's nice too. The shank is off-center to the bowl a little and the seller believed it was most likely for grain accommodation? It didn't bother me once I saw the pipe was drilled correctly.

 

[ssjones]

What a beautiful piece of briar! That date sounds about right to me,I'm not sure you can get it any more specific.

I love a Charatan with a tapered, non DC stem!

 

[ssjones]

We don't get many Charatans here, do you mind if I move this to the British section?

 

[mothernaturewilleatusallforbreakfast]

We don't get many Charatans here, do you mind if I move this to the British section?

I should have posted it there to begin with, so by all means. Cheers.

 

[oldgeezersmoker]

I have owned Supreme billiards with lesser grain.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

Count me as jealous!