FFF Pipes out of Birmingham and a Sasieni One Dot Specially Selected

[mattia76]

Hello Gentlemen
Just got in a box of some old estate pipes that included two pipes with Sterling Bands from Birmingham that are a mystery to me
Both have
FFF
stamped on the briar.
Both have Birmingham marks on the silver work, along with PREMIER stamped in a diamond shape. One most likely hails from 1917 with the "S" Hallmark. Can't make out the letter-date stamp on the other.

Any ideas on who made these? I've consulted Pipedia to no avail.




Oh yeah, in the same box was a Sasieni One Dot "Specially Selected" that was sold in the H. A. & E. SMITH Department store of Bermuda. It's late now so the pics aren't turning out at all, but it's a real beauty. In my 17 years of dealing with estate pipes, I've never come across one of these in a collection.

 

[Ahi Ka]

Looking forward to seeing that saseini bro.

My only thought about the FFF pipes (and I could be wrong) is that maybe those bands have faux-hallmarks and the pipes are from the 1950s, possibly even USA.

 

[jguss]

The brand is listed twice in Who Made That Pipe; once as a Reiss-Premier product, and once under Hall & Fitzgerald. Given the “Premier” stamp on your pipes I’m going with the former identification (unless you tell me there’s a Made in England COM stamp which a H&F pipe ought to have).

 

[jguss]

I must say though that the identical name suggests a collaboration of some kind between the companies (it wouldn’t be the only case of a collaboration between a US and UK manufacturer); plus faux hallmarks aren’t commonly stamped “sterling”. Interesting stuff.

 

[Ahi Ka]

I must say though that the identical name suggests a collaboration of some kind between the companies (it wouldn’t be the only case of a collaboration between a US and UK manufacturer); plus faux hallmarks aren’t commonly stamped “sterling”. Interesting stuff.

It reminds me of this one



There are examples somewhere on this forum of pipes with this band.

Also, in the second pic above it almost looks like the hallmarks are laser cut not stamped, and that the horizontal anchor is “normally” on pre-1900 pipes

 

[jguss]

I think the bottom line is if the pipe was manufactured or sold by Hall & Fitzgerald it would have their makers mark on the band.

Their hallmark was registered in London in 1899:



and Chester & Birmingham in 1901:




I don't have time for the story now, but Hall & Fitzgerald was established as a fancy goods importer. The company was based in Bristol, and founded by William Sydney Hall and Henry Edgar Fitzgerald. Note Edward Thurston Davis started as an apprentice in 1891 and became a partner in 1903. After the founders were out (Fitzgerald retired and Hall died in harness in 1919) Davis became sole proprietor.

 

[mattia76]

What you see are the ONLY stampings on either pipe. No "Made in England" designation. The only clue to home country, for me, is the Birmingham anchor stamp, but that could just be English silver wrapping a French bowl. Wouldn't be the first time...

Both stems sport the orific round bit-hole, which was pushing me toward the 1917. The option for pre-1900 would be 1867 which would actually blow my mind and is probably not historically possible.

 

[greeneyes]

What you see are the ONLY stampings on either pipe. No "Made in England" designation. The only clue to home country, for me, is the Birmingham anchor stamp, but that could just be English silver wrapping a French bowl. Wouldn't be the first time...

Both stems sport the orific round bit-hole, which was pushing me toward the 1917. The option for pre-1900 would be 1867 which would actually blow my mind and is probably not historically possible.

The "faux hallmarks" by early American pipemakers have anchors as well. And some sort of bird. And a lion. Doesn't make them British, by any means. I'd say there's a significant amount of evidence that it's a Premier pipe. I like Premier pipes and have a few in my collection.

 

[greeneyes]

Can we see the Sasieni now?

 

[mattia76]

Can we see the Sasieni now?

I'll take good pics when I get home. The nomenclature is faded, but there. Bowl and rim are clean and sound. Grain is awesome. a little tooth indent on the end of the bit is all that keeps it from being PRISTINE, if smoked.
What really surprises me is the Bermuda part. I haven't seen any other tobacco items from H.A. & E. Smith

 

[mattia76]

Here we go. A few pics of the Sasieni One Dot
5.5" long
1.65" bowl height
.80" interior bowl width

 

[mattia76]

And here is a pic of the two FFF Premier pipes

 

[mattia76]

And here's one more that was interesting to me in the lot, though not British.
It's a KBB, I think pre-Kaywoodie, that is stamped "FRENCH BRIAR" and is an all briar.
This one is unsmoked.

 

[Ahi Ka]

That all briar is awesome!!!

 

[ssjones]

Here we go. A few pics of the Sasieni One Dot
5.5" long
1.65" bowl height
.80" interior bowl width
View attachment 355585View attachment 355586View attachment 355587View attachment 355590View attachment 355591View attachment 355592View attachment 355593View attachment 355594

Wow, the best of the best by Sasieni, and an easy restoration!

 

[greeneyes]

Here we go. A few pics of the Sasieni One Dot
5.5" long
1.65" bowl height
.80" interior bowl width
View attachment 355585

This pipe is pretty darn near my ideal of the perfect pipe. It would be my entry into the "if you could have any pipe in the world" thread. I did manage to finally get a Sasieni One Dot, but it's not what I would consider my ideal shape (nor is it specially selected), and it's also en route and I'm not entirely convinced yet it'll actually arrive. In any case, I'd say you won the lottery with this one. The Premier is also a stunner.

 

[sablebrush52]

Reiss-Premier Co. - Pipedia

pipedia.org

 

[mattia76]

This pipe is pretty darn near my ideal of the perfect pipe. It would be my entry into the "if you could have any pipe in the world" thread. I did manage to finally get a Sasieni One Dot, but it's not what I would consider my ideal shape (nor is it specially selected), and it's also en route and I'm not entirely convinced yet it'll actually arrive. In any case, I'd say you won the lottery with this one. The Premier is also a stunner.

The Premier on top in the photo, I am keeping. Smoked it this morning and it is a WINNER. The opposite side is COVERED in beautiful Birdseye (always my favorite) and then it's Cross Grain everywhere.

Fittingly enough, I smoked some 20 year old Former Cross Grain in it this morning and it SINGS.
Hangs just right for a morning commute.

I am selling the One Dot. I've always been more of a Loewe guy than a Sasieni, though I DO generally favor all things Ye Olde and British.