Comoy's Pre-Cadogan Collectors Thread

[buckaroo]

Comoy's (small caps) over HEIRLOOM on left with 3 piece as you can see.

MADE IN LONDON in a circle (football) over ENGLAND on the left.

And just a 'D' on the bottom of the shank.
I don't see any metal in the tenon, but it looks like someone shaved/ sanded down the tip of it a bit for some reason.
A bit of a mystery pipe. Has to be '60's 70's!? I think Neil Archer is still on sabbatical or I'd email him. I never owned a true magnum so I bought it.

 

[ssjones]

That is the first "Heirloom" pipe that I have seen. Your date guess sounds about right. This line looks very similar to the GBD "Unique" or "Collector" lines, but I find almost no reference to it anywhere. Here's few thin leads:

http://pipes.org/forums/messages/23/74950.html?1222882685

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/comoys-heirloom-pipe-large-133914652

 

[buckaroo]

A big thx, SS. Interesting. One off’s by Jameson? Any other info down the road please post/pm.
Btw, your Comoy's are spectacular. Those are the shapes I enjoy most.

 

[ssjones]

Horry was a carver for Barlings, but I found no reference that he every worked Comoys work. Perhaps Comoys was trying to cash in on those GBD shape lines with a similar offering?

 

[gloucesterman]

SS, I think you're right. Given what we know about the Comoy/GBD relationship your conclusion seems reasonable.

 

[samcoffeeman]

There are a number of suggestions that Horry Jamieson worked for Comoy's as well as GBD. Google Comoy's Horry Jamieson and you'll see numerous pipes purported to be made for Comoy's by HJ.
I'm becoming a fan of the Grand Slam pipes. The system is quite interesting, and works well. I'm not a huge stinger pipe guy, but these are different than just normal stingers. I've been smoking one recently, and although it is not a collector's piece by any means, it smokes great. Here is a diagram of the Grand Slam system. The system creates an extra chamber inside the shank. The smoke enters the first arrow on the left from the bowl, and exits out the bottom hole of the stinger. The smoke expands in this extra chamber and circles around and enters the hole in the top of the stinger and goes into the stem.

As far as the difference between Cadogan and Pre-Cadogan pipes, I think the main difference is in the stem. The older Comoy's stems are so thin at the button that they are a dream to clench. I've read that current artisans aim for 4mm thickness at the button as a comfortable button. I went ahead and measured my 3 Comoy's with a caliper I recently acquired. The Blue Riband zulu in the pic below is a Cadogan pipe, at 4.5mm thickness. The other two are pre-Cadogan, a London Pride and the aforementioned Grand Slam, both at 3.8mm.

 

[ssjones]

Excellent observations Sam. I'll have to check my buttons. I recently finished this Cadogan era 1992 Comoys Christmas pipe (shhh, its a birthday gift/birthdate pipe for my son-in-law, it gets shipped out later this month). By feel, it's button is thicker but that grain sure is nice!
This one appears to have a one-piece drilled logo. I'd love to give it a test smoke, but I better let him go for the first ride.

 

[buckaroo]

Outstanding grain on that one. Against my better judgement a few months ago I bought a barely smoked '94 Xmas pipe because I am a sucker for a bent bulldog with a tapered stem (acrylic.) Great grain on it too and no complaints after after 4 or 5 bowls, so I think he'll be quite pleased. Came with the Xmas wood stand too. The bit is quite different though as Sam indicated.

 

[ssjones]

That is interesting Buckaroo, this one came with a mildy oxidized vulcanite stem. The dimensions of the button are almost identical to a 3-Pc C stem, but the draft hole is not as nicely finished (squared off). We also found the stand to this one, in a completely different drawer (the shop has maybe 15 big drawers jammed full of estate pipes).

The Christmas Pipe stem is on the left.

Perhaps we need a dedicated Comoys Christmas Pipe thread.

 

[buckaroo]

I sort of wish I had a caliper now to measure my stem's. That Xmas pipe looks great and I'm sure he'll really enjoy the stand too if he is somewhat new to the hobby. Great paneled shape. A bit rare.