Curious Castello - Seeking More Information

[gamzultovah]

I’m looking to see if anyone has any further information on an odd Castello pipe I have in my collection? Everything about this pipe seems out of place to me. The size is extremely small and all of the proportions seem wrong. The bite bit and shank seem to have been carved for a much larger bowl, but the bowl itself is extremely petite. The chamber (fire hole) is about a Dunhill group 2 and the walls are thin (but the pipe has no signs of being over reamed). By all appearances, this pipe looks like something that Castello would have pawned off on Wally Frank, but it is a true White Bar Castello. The markings are also hard (for me) to decipher as some of them don’t make sense or seem incomplete. They are as follows (stummel to stem):
- LO (Lorenzi Italy)
- 1947 (no other number afterwards)
- Castello (in script)
- A 6
Markings on stem:
- HAND MADE over
- CASTELLO over
- 3 (I understand this designates a unique shape)
If anyone can fill in the blanks, I would appreciate it. Pictures of the pipe are below.

 

[OzPiper]

You could have a very early (? 1st year of manufacture) Castello

Pipedia states that Carlo Scottish started Castello Pipes in 1947 and that the early shapes were small and English-inspired
So that small-bowled Belge fits that description

Contact Castello to see if they can shed a definitive light on your pipe

 

[VDL_Piper]

As stated by you LO is Lorenzi pipe shop which is now closed and the A6 means it’s ”fancy” for its model. 1947 stamp is a bit off but smarter minds @briarblues @daveinlax will be along shortly I’d say. I’m surprised to not see “Hand Made” stamped on the stummel but Castello’s do vary and this would have definitely flagged it as an older pipe. I think a 47’ pipe would most definitely been stamped “My Reserva” but I’m happy to be corrected there too. Also no Reg Number stamp means it’s newer as well.
Lovely pipe regardless and I hope it brings you lots of good times.

 

[Chasing Embers]

By all appearances, this pipe looks like something that Castello would have pawned off on Wally Frank

Well he did save the company from going under.

Not all of their pipes appear on their shape chart. May have just been a one off.

 

[gamzultovah]

You could have a very early (? 1st year of manufacture) Castello

Pipedia states that Carlo Scottish started Castello Pipes in 1947 and that the early shapes were small and English-inspired
So that small-bowled Belge fits that description

Contact Castello to see if they can shed a definitive light on your pipe

I would agree and be happy to know, that this pipe is an early Castello, but a couple of things about it don’t line up. 1) There is no registration number. 2) There is rumor that early production Castello’s had ivory white bars and this pipe definitely has a plastic white bar. My family owns quite a few ivory carvings (such as Netsuke) and all of them have yellowed and formed natural flaws over time (such as micro-cracks) and the white bar on this pipe is perfect. I’ve also never seen the nomenclature “Castello” written in script (although an online source says that early production pipes did have a lot of variations in the nomenclature).
Side note: I bought this pipe (as an estate) about 5-7 years ago from The Pipe Den. Bob Marshbanks (the owner) insisted that it was from 1947 and said that it had been in his shop for about 20 years. When I asked why no one had purchased such a seemingly rare pipe in all that time he shrugged his shoulders and said “No one wants such small bowled pipes. That’s why they trade them in.” and he was correct. His estate showcase was filled with small bowled Dunhill’s, Tsuge’s and the like. Thank you for the input. I will definitely reach out to Castello if no one has any further information and report back what I find.

 

[daveinlax]

I think this pipe might have been half of the 40th 1947/1987 anniversary set. The 3 on the stem is the straw size(length).

 

[gamzultovah]

I think this pipe might have been half of the 40th 1947/1987 anniversary set. The 3 on the stem is the straw size(length).

Thank you for the insight. I did a quick Google search for the 40th anniversary pipe set but, of course, nothing came up. I will reach out to Castello later today to see what they remember.

 

[daveinlax]

Thank you for the insight. I did a quick Google search for the 40th anniversary pipe set but, of course, nothing came up. I will reach out to Castello later today to see what they remember.

I’ve seen a few over the years and as I remember there is some variation in the pipes. The Belge in my set is black with a silver band and not as dramatically canted. There was a set for sale on eBay not that long ago. Here is my set. The pipes have similar nomenclature.

 

[gamzultovah]

I’ve seen a few over the years and as I remember there is some variation in the pipes. The Belge in my set is black with a silver band and not as dramatically canted. There was a set for sale on eBay not that long ago. Here is my set. The pipes have similar nomenclature.

Wow! That’s a nice set, and the Belge is very close in looks. Thanks for sharing.