Dunhill PAD

[americaman]

I got bit bad by PAD this month, and then yesterday got bit by the Dunhill bug. I am normally a TAD guy, but I decided that I should obtain a few higher end pipes.

I bought my first Dunhill from a forum member yesterday. Super cool guy and the price seemed fair for a 1964 Dunhill.

I then discovered that you can buy new Dunhills from Italy for what is actually an affordable price, so I ended up buying another one this morning. The font used on the newer markings is so classic and good looking. I love how it says, “Alfred Dunhill’s The White Spot.”

If these smoke well I might never buy another brand, because Dunhill just about sums up everything surrounding pipe smoking for me. It is the top of the mountain, the icon of the pipe smoking world, and the brand just takes me back to another era. If I only have a few pipes in my collection, why not put my money towards something I actually want? Cheers.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Bingo! Whatever provides lift to your water craft.

"f I only have a few pipes in my collection, why not put my money towards something I actually want?"

 

[shanez]

Love them both!

 

[mso489]

I'm not a Dunhill guy, but my source on Dunhill information on Forums has long been foggy mountain, who sold pipes on Manhattan in his teens and has quite a stable of Dunhills. He is both knowledgeable and particular about the pipes and does not recommend all of their series. Because of health, I believe he said he is in the process of selling off some of his Dunhills. He hasn't surfaced yet on the new improved site, but if he does, you may want to get in touch and see what he has to offer. In more recent years, I believe he bought mostly prince shapes, but he has many others.

 

[sandollars]

Lovely pipes and a sound philosophy!

I've got a size 3 County tan and a size 5 Bent Billiard Amber root. Love, LOVE them!

I wished I could afford more..

 

[mso489]

I'm not the person to say this because I have not followed this philosophy, but the advantage to collecting fewer, more expensive pipes is that you will have less storage, and you may think longer about each purchase, which could be a good thing. I just love old U.S. factory pipes, like old American cars, and others "lesser" pipes, though I have a group of much treasured higher end pipes, no Dunhills.

 

[cshubhra]

Beautiful pipes - Specially the tanshell

 

[lukasstrifeson]

The 1964 one will be a dream. Unfortunately, newer Dunhills or The White Spot rather are very mediocre pipes for their price. They've definitely declined.

 

[SpookedPiper]

I too had similar thought process as you and sought after the dunhill or several sights, until I smoked an elegant, then I smoked a meet and well then it went to hell in a hand basket....and before long..PAD reared its nasty little head.

Good luck and enjoy!

 

[bluegrassbrian]

I love how it says, “Alfred Dunhill’s The White Spot.”

You're one of the few from what I've seen.
I still find shapes and individual pipes by contemporary Dunhill that I like, but the prices are often more than I'm willing to pay for what it is.

I've got a '63 Tanshell that is one of my best smokes. Your '64 should be a keeper.

 

[americaman]

I'm not a Dunhill guy, but my source on Dunhill information on Forums has long been foggy mountain, who sold pipes on Manhattan in his teens and has quite a stable of Dunhills. He is both knowledgeable and particular about the pipes and does not recommend all of their series.

Thanks for the heads up! I’ve seen some of his posts and he describes Dunhills as “predictable” smokers. He says that they are consistent in quality.

The 1964 one will be a dream. Unfortunately, newer Dunhills or The White Spot rather are very mediocre pipes for their price. They've definitely declined.

From what I’ve read from the Dunhill guys, many do not think that is true. Some people believe that the newer Dunhills are actually higher in quality, so it will be interesting to see how they compare side by side. Here are some quotes from one thread I found from a few forum members:

“I've purchased more than a few dozen Dunhill pipes ranging from 1918 to 2000's and I see absolutely no difference and actually prefer the later ones, my new Diplomat being my favorite. There isn't the slightest chance of anyone convincing me of pre-x Dunhill superiority as I've just not seen it.”

“New Dunhil pipes are (generally) very high quality, high grade, factory pipes.”

“Our resident Dunhill expert, Foggy, has said he thinks the Dunnies made in this century are better than previously (or something like that). Forgive me if I misrepresented you, Foggy.”

“I'm the opposite of most Dunhill fanciers in that I think the newer Dunhills actually smoke better than the older ones.”

 

[sablebrush52]

I got bit bad by PAD this month, and then yesterday got bit by the Dunhill bug. I am normally a TAD guy, but I decided that I should obtain a few higher end pipes.

I bought my first Dunhill from a forum member yesterday. Super cool guy and the price seemed fair for a 1964 Dunhill.

I then discovered that you can buy new Dunhills from Italy for what is actually an affordable price, so I ended up buying another one this morning. The font used on the newer markings is so classic and good looking. I love how it says, “Alfred Dunhill’s The White Spot.”

If these smoke well I might never buy another brand, because Dunhill just about sums up everything surrounding pipe smoking for me. It is the top of the mountain, the icon of the pipe smoking world, and the brand just takes me back to another era. If I only have a few pipes in my collection, why not put my money towards something I actually want? Cheers.

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Absolutely! If Dunhill satisfies you like no other, look no further.

My searches took me in a different direction. I used to smoke Dunhills exclusively and still have a number of Dunhills, but once I started smoking Barlings, the Dunhills went in the drawer. I was just getting better flavors from the Barlings. For my use, there's no question who made the better pipes, and who had the better process at that time, though two of my older Dunnies hold up against anything and I still smoke them.

And Charatan, Comoy, BBB, GBD, and Sasieni don't take a backseat either. I've never had a bad Comoy. I sometimes wonder if I wouldn't have been just as satisfied focusing on Comoy.

Nobody had better wood than Charatan, but I just don't like the vulcanite that they used.

And then there's those damned pre-War Ben Wades that I recently got turned onto. Beautifully crafted and smoke as well, if not better, as any other Britwood.

Okay time to stop before I get started on the early Kaywoodies...puf

 

[americaman]

Jesse, that Barling 451 you helped me decide to get is absolutely amazing. I love it.

I was out in the backyard yesterday enjoying the end of summer with a bowl of Germain’s Rich Dark Flake in it. I was tasting flavors I had never before experienced in that tobacco. The briar they used back then has this magic that brings out the nuances and sweetness of the tobacco.

 

[mso489]

Dunhill/White Spot pricing has long been a little grating, but if you hunt for good prices, you can keep it somewhat in check. Hiking the prices was a risky but successful gambit. In the 1950's, the primo and most expensive pipes in the U.S. (at least among big brands) were Kaywoodie, with Dunhill tagging along behind it. Over decades, Dunhill slowly ratcheted up their prices, so now many examples are about twice other up-market pipes and coveted artisan pipes, and a steady customer base pays up. Brilliant marketing, and admittedly, some extra pretty pipes.

 

[americaman]

Yeah, Al Pascia has great prices on new Dunhill pipes.

 

[lawdawg]

That's some very good looking Britwood you've got there. I plan to eventually add some prewar English pipes to my little collection, mainly because I want to smoke some pipes from the days of the Empire, and I like the gentlemanly English aesthetic cultivated by Dunhill in particular. Like you, I've mainly been in TAD mode lately, but I keep eyeing pipes like these. Nice little collection you've started sher

 

[ron123]

You'll hear a lot of back and forth opinions when it comes to Dunhill pipes. It's a real lightning rod for some reason. I agree with you @americaman on pretty much every point. I like old ones, new ones, and in-between ones ;-) Also the shift in nomenclature really doesn't bother me one bit. I don't like that they've moved away from tobacco, but they still evoke a romantic, maybe misplaced, bit of nostalgia. I never thought of myself as an anglophile, but in this regard it's probably the case. Also, yes, you found the best pricing that I'm aware of for buying them new. Enjoy them!

 

[cigrmaster]

Congrats on purchasing two great looking classics. I hope they both smoke great for you.

 

[hauntedmyst]

Bollito has good prices on Dunhills.

 

[jpberg]

Dunhill/White Spot pricing has long been a little grating, but if you hunt for good prices, you can keep it somewhat in check. Hiking the prices was a risky but successful gambit. In the 1950's, the primo and most expensive pipes in the U.S. (at least among big brands) were Kaywoodie, with Dunhill tagging along behind it. Over decades, Dunhill slowly ratcheted up their prices, so now many examples are about twice other up-market pipes and coveted artisan pipes, and a steady customer base pays up. Brilliant marketing, and admittedly, some extra pretty pipes.

I’ve long thought that this whole premise was 2% fact and 98% internets myth.
So yes, I’ve seen the catalogs where some Kaywoodies cost more than some Dunhills, but Dunhill always humped itself as elite, while Kaywoodie went the way of the drug store.