French? Hallmark Dating - Comoy

[bayareabriar]

I believe I bought a few very early unsmoked Comoy pipes. More details to follow once the seller ships. I can typically fiddle my way through English hallmarks, and this may be an English hallmark. But I think it is French. I suspect it is from ca. 1885 given when comoy moved from France to England in 1890ish as the pipe is marked France. But it could also be later and imported from France to England. Does anyone have any expertise they would like to share just based on the hallmark alone?

 

[Ahi Ka]

Be curious to see if that band is actually hallmarked silver or nickel/another white metal with gothic font stamps.

What I find most interesting is the encircled H.C stamp. It matches how some of the turn of the century (and not sure how much earlier) pipes were marked in the shanks.

Not the cartouche used on the H.C hallmarks from c1904 onwards.

Post pics when it arrives bro.

 

[jguss]

Be curious to see if that band is actually hallmarked silver or nickel/another white metal with gothic font stamps.

Agreed, whatever they are they aren’t English silver hallmarks

What I find most interesting is the encircled H.C stamp. It matches how some of the turn of the century (and not sure how much earlier) pipes were marked in the shanks.

Agreed again, here are a few typical examples from the early years of the 20th century:

Not the cartouche used on the H.C hallmarks from c1904 onwards.

There were a variety of hallmarks with varying cartouches used from the 1880s on, all as you say different from the one on the OP’s band.

Here are the four that were registered at the London assay office, the most widely known perhaps being the ones dated 1905 and 1914;

 

[bayareabriar]

Be curious to see if that band is actually hallmarked silver or nickel/another white metal with gothic font stamps.

What I find most interesting is the encircled H.C stamp. It matches how some of the turn of the century (and not sure how much earlier) pipes were marked in the shanks.

Not the cartouche used on the H.C hallmarks from c1904 onwards.

Post pics when it arrives bro.

Yeah, I actually debated not buying thinking that HC may mean something else until I saw the same shank stamping. I’ll post photos when I can.

 

[Ahi Ka]

Yeah, I actually debated not buying thinking that HC may mean something else until I saw the same shank stamping. I’ll post photos when I can.

Looking forward to it! Curious to see if the the nomenclature dates it prior to the “London made” era.

 

[bayareabriar]

Agreed, whatever they are they aren’t English silver hallmarks



Agreed again, here are a few typical examples from the early years of the 20th century:

View attachment 405991

View attachment 405992

View attachment 405993



There were a variety of hallmarks with varying cartouches used from the 1880s on, all as you say different from the one on the OP’s band.

Here are the four that were registered at the London assay office, the most widely known perhaps being the ones dated 1905 and 1914;

View attachment 405995

View attachment 405996

View attachment 405997

View attachment 405998

I’ll do some more digging then and see what I find. Thank you! I see that first stamp has an 1884 date. Looks like some of the dates on the websites are off. I’ll keep that in mind as some suggest no history of comoy in London before 88. Or maybe I’m interpreting that incorrectly.

 

[bayareabriar]

Looking forward to it! Curious to see if the the nomenclature dates it prior to the “London made” era.

It’s just going to make you more confused lol.

 

[Ahi Ka]

And the button and tenon? No chance the band is just a repair or later edition?

 

[bayareabriar]

And the button and tenon? No chance the band is just a repair or later edition?

Seller photos. That’s it. I don’t think they were added. But it’s always possible.

 

[Ahi Ka]

Nah they look spot on. Exciting

 

[xrundog]

Band looks like nickel. It’s showing light corrosion vs. tarnish. But European. American nickel bands have specific stamps that are lacking here. Stem looks like it’s from that era when nickel bands were faux hallmarked. Middling date of 1910?

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

I wish I had something to add to this conversation but unfortunately my knowledge of French pipes is on par with my knowledge of French food, wine, the French language, pauvre.

 

[xrundog]

WMTP shows a version of Hunter as being made by Comoy’s. But it doesn’t show it as French. That just confuses the issue. Looks like a good quality pipe from what I’ve seen.

 

[bayareabriar]

I wish I had something to add to this conversation but unfortunately my knowledge of French pipes is on par with my knowledge of French food, wine, the French language, pauvre.

 

[jguss]

I’ll keep that in mind as some suggest no history of comoy in London before 88.

Pipedia is a wonderful resource but is (as is almost inevitable) frequently incomplete or incorrect. As you presumably know Comoy is said to have come from Jura to London with his brothers in 1879 to establish a pipe business. This assertion was made many times during his lifetime and beyond. More importantly there are contemporaneous records establishing Henri’s presence in London by no later than April of 1881. In this particular case I for one find the 1879 date wholly plausible.

The story of how his business grew over the decades from extremely modest circumstances (he is said to have arrived in London “with a little pack of tools as his sole outfit”) is another subject.

 

[bayareabriar]

Pipedia is a wonderful resource but is (as is almost inevitable) frequently incomplete or incorrect. As you presumably know Comoy is said to have come from Jura to London with his brothers in 1879 to establish a pipe business. This assertion was made many times during his lifetime and beyond. More importantly there are contemporaneous records establishing Henri’s presence in London by no later than April of 1881. In this particular case I for one find the 1879 date wholly plausible.

The story of how his business grew over the decades from extremely modest circumstances (he is said to have arrived in London “with a little pack of tools as his sole outfit”) is another subject.

Here is the apple shaped one cleaned up. I’m going to sell it and keep the billiard. Question's to the folks here: Do you think it is safe to identify this one as “Ca. 1880s”? Or, should I present it as a larger date range? I appreciate any input.

 

[sablebrush52]

These may be faux hallmarks. They don't fit the French sterling hallmarks. Maybe a silver plated nickel band as was mentioned earlier in the thread?

 

[xrundog]

I started a thread about nickel bands on English pipes and found it was indeed a thing on early pipes. So by the way the band is showing, I feel pretty sure it’s nickel. The H.C stamp I have no issue with.
The date? I dunno. Maybe. If you use Circa 1880 it’s a bit of a hedge. 1890 might be a safer assertion.
But hey, someone can buy it or not.
It’s really old and it’s nice.

 

[bayareabriar]

I started a thread about nickel bands on English pipes and found it was indeed a thing on early pipes. So by the way the band is showing, I feel pretty sure it’s nickel. The H.C stamp I have no issue with.
The date? I dunno. Maybe. If you use Circa 1880 it’s a bit of a hedge. 1890 might be a safer assertion.
But hey, someone can buy it or not.
It’s really old and it’s nice.

I agree nickel. It didn’t “darken” my buffer wheel. I think 1890 is a good date as well do you think this is because of the style of pipe or if it was earlier it would look different?

 

[bayareabriar]

These may be faux hallmarks. They don't fit the French sterling hallmarks. Maybe a silver plated nickel band as was mentioned earlier in the thread?

Agree faux. I wonder if it happened because it may be from an era where HC was transitioning countries?