Charatan Selected Prince 502

[mblocker]

I just acquired a Charatan. Looks good, but cannot seem to find much information on it except that it is a Prince 502. There is nothing on the stem (slightly oxidized). It is stamped on one side only and this is all that is shown:
CHARATAN'S MAKE

LONDON, ENGLAND

SELECTED

502
Any ideas on the date?

 

[jguss]

what if anything do you see on the stem; a logo? a registration number?

 

[mblocker]

Thanks jguss. There is nothing on the stem. The only identifiers are stamped on the briar. And look like:
CHARATAN'S MAKE

LONDON, ENGLAND

SELECTED

502
with the 502 offset to the right ending very close to where the stem is inserted. The best picture I can find is this link.
https://smokingpipes.com/pipes/estate/england/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=126217

 

[kenbarnes]

Hi, I came across your question just now and have taken a photo of the 501 (one size smaller than the 502) from a 1951 Charatan Catalogue. I am imagining that the pipe has a nice straight grain. If you look at the stamping in the photo, and match it to your own, it is the stamping they used in the 40s 50s and early 60s. I think your pipe may be that kind of age. if the mouthpiece is the original, you can check whether it is hand cut by looking at the lip and seeing if it has a single draught hole which has been opened up by hand. Earlyish Charatans did not always have a cp logo on the mouthpiece. finally,it is unusual to find a selected quality pipe in this 'catalogue shape' in later Charatans.

 

[kenbarnes]

Sorry, I am struggling to place the picture here.
Edit/Al: you were using the "URL" function - instead use the "IMG" and paste in the URL code

 

[kenbarnes]

what a palaver on the Costa Brava. i'll try again http://pipesmagazine.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/album/14299/dsc00592-600x450.jpg[/img]
It does not seem to work today!

 

[dmcmtk]

Ken, fixed it.

 

[ssjones]

Here's one that sold in 2015....for $56. Ugh.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Charatans-Make-502-Light-Rustic-Diplomat-Shape-Estate-Tobacco-Pipe-/251847798716?nma=true&si=NMWvBlC7LPw4eMhnchcpV3qlXoI%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

 

[mblocker]

Thanks kenbarnes and dmcmtk!
I wish I could figure out how to post a picture of it. The catalog pic is exactly what I have, but the 502. Really nice straight grain and a pipe that is a pleasure to smoke. On real close inspection, I can see the faint imprint of the CP on the stem. Previous owner(s) have polished it down to where it is barely visible, so I'm fairly confident that it is not a replacement stem.

 

[dmcmtk]

The SELECTED was a high grade Charatan. Would love to see a picture. For some help with pictures see here,
http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/instructions-for-posting-pictures
What isn't exactly spelled out, is to upload from your computer Title>Description>Browse(select the image from your computer, double click)>Upload. Then follow the instructions in the third post.

 

[kenbarnes]

I am sending you the qualities- explanations from Reuben Charatan from 1951 catalogue. I am also enclosing a photo of Reuben Charatan himself holding a briar burl! He mentions in another part of the catalogue that he was producing "orthodox models in straight grain" although these were rare at the time and I would suggest very rare to find one nowadays.

 

[mblocker]

 

[mblocker]

So thanks for the advice on posting a pic. Here is the pipe.

 

[ssjones]

That looks worthy of the "Selected" stamp!