To anyone who may be interested, a little bit about Dunhill pipes after the Patents Era in 1954, and after 1968.
: : Yang.
- See the full article here.
: : Yang.
Dunhill After the '60s.
- Thread starter forciori
- Start date
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Interesting. I have two dunhills remaining, a 42 and 61. Both are shape 120. I bought several in the 80s, different shapes and finishes and sold them after a few years.
Can you tell who wrote that section? It quotes a number of named authors, but any idea who wrote the stuff in between the quotes? Thanks!
I have only one 120, an A from 1929.
I'm glad you saved 2... Great pipes!
Thanks.
With Dunhills I go on hearsay, but my most reliable source by my lights is the member foggymountain who sold Dunhill's in a Manhattan pipe shop in his teens in the 1950's and as a member here had over a hundred of them, and until he quit pipe smoking was still buying some new ones from Al Pascia, a sponsor here. Most of his most recent purchases, as I recall, were smooth prince shapes. There were several series in recent times he did not like -- Cumberland and Shell among them, if I remember correctly. But my point is, if there had been a precipitous decline in Dunhill quality, he would have been the critical mind to spot and report it, having observed and bought the brand since the fifties. He's a tough critic, to my mind, not an enthusiast. So I would tend to trust his judgement, though pipes are subjective. If he stuck with them, with their prices rising precipitously over the years, I believe he knew what he was doing. Or at least, he's a source with expertise who clearly states his views. He may post and correct or contradict my version, but I believe I have the gist for this discussion.
As you all know, I like the brand, but I don't think it's above criticism. I have few... The article is not intended to make a passionate defense, but justify an exaggerated perception of the facts.
I particularly see a certain nostalgia... Not only for this particular issue, but for many other things - nothing modern is good enough.
I have pipes from all decades (except 1910) and I can speak from experience: there are good pipes after 1968.
I have a set of 3 pipes (cut from the same Bruyère Root) from 1925, and guess what? Only one of them is spectacular. Find a great pipe is a lottery.
My defense is: try it before form such a definitive opinion.
Thanks.
Strong work, Yang. You are a beacon of light for the pipe hobby.
I greatly admire the business acumen that has attained and sustained the pricing on new Dunhills/White Spots, and hence the pricing on estate Dunhills. However, for the price of a Dunhill in reasonably good condition, I could buy a new Ser Jacopo, a Ferndown by Les Wood who used to work for Dunhill, and dozens of other brands and artisans. Since I'm a somewhat thrifty guy, despite my extravagant number of pipes, Dunhill is not a niche I pursue. But they are certainly worthy pipes and an interesting subject of study. Sadly, it is the only major factory pipe with good stamping to identify year of manufacture. Some artisans do that, and Luciano did that, but it is rare.
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