Help Dating Pre-Trans Barling

[sablebrush52]

In the Post Transition period there seems to be a lot of experimentation with stamping placement.
When Barling switched to the new numbering system in mid 1962, the four digit numbers started with a 2 and went up to 6. These are the "Barling's Make" pipes with the new numbering system. I speculate that this was to avoid confusion with the older four digit system for European market pipes that had existed since circa 1940.
When Barling published a catalog of its completely revamped line of pipes in November of 1962, the four digit numbers started with a 1 and went up to 6. So a script Barling over London England stamped pipe could very well have a four digit number beginning with a 1 because that size was now part of the new line of pipes.

 

[sablebrush52]

@ misterlowercase,
Those are some great shots! Thanks for posting these! If you read the opening that I wrote for the Pipedia Barling page then you know just what I think about Jon's article. The 1928 fight is a revelation as is the changing of their briar source in 1954. And how about 20 months of production of accepted "pre-trans" Barling's that were made after the sale of the company to Finlay? That's one of my favorite parts because it makes a lie out of the whole fable that Barling pipes suddenly went downhill after the sale. No one can actually tell the difference. So buy those 1962 "Barling's Make" pipes with the new numbering system, 'cause they're basically the same thing as pipes going for 2 to 3 times the price.

 

[misterlowercase]

And how about 20 months of production of accepted "pre-trans" Barling's that were made after the sale of the company to Finlay? That's one of my favorite parts because it makes a lie out of the whole fable that Barling pipes suddenly went downhill after the sale. No one can actually tell the difference. So buy those 1962 "Barling's Make" pipes with the new numbering system, 'cause they're basically the same thing as pipes going for 2 to 3 times the price.

I agree. I've read more than one account telling of how good the post62 pipes are!
I'm curious if anyone here has ever smoked the old Ogden's made Barling tobacco? It was in production for quite a good long while.
Here's a document from 1964 talking about it:

http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/action/document/page?tid=buz66a99&page=42
A few more Mr. Gibbons documents as well, not much info, but interesting to see, there's a few more there in the archive, mostly all from '62...

http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/action/document/page?tid=dqh95a99
http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/action/document/page?tid=bqh95a99
http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/action/document/page?tid=qbx72a99

 

[dmcmtk]

Pipe 5105, I didn't believe it for a second. Especially given our discussion here,and in PM. More likely mid '60's, or at least that would be my working assumption if I were to be bidding, which I don't think I will be. Don't get me wrong, it looks like a real nice pipe. I've got it in my watch list because I'm interested to see where it ends up.

 

[dmcmtk]

Three "Transition" pipes. 6109,1959,and 6574. They all came from the same seller, amongst some other pipes from the same period.

Sorry these aren't the greatest pictures, but I thought they would be of interest. I would definitely try for some better ones if I were to send them to Scott.
Dave

 

[globi]

Dear Gentlemen,
I found this exquisite site when search for information about a pipe seen at ebay. It is a Barling pipe with a stamp reading “Barling 5105 London England” on one site and another stamp reading “T.V.F.” on the other:

Could you please help me with dating this pipe? I thought, I’d just bid a small amount of money on this pipe. If I’d purchase it, I could send some more information …
Thank you very much!

 

[globi]

What a pity! Thank you for your quick answer!

 

[sablebrush52]

While it is not a Family Era pipe, I wouldn't be too quick to dismiss it. It looks well carved in a proper Barling shape, the stem looks like it's hand made, and it's of English manufacture, which puts it in the early Post Family era. Could be a fine smoker. I would want to see pictures of the rim and the button of any pipe on which I'm considering bidding, regardless of pedigree.

It's a myth that Barlings suddenly went to hell in a hand basket after the family left the business. There was a decline, but it wasn't immediate. My first Barling was a Post Family pipe and it's easily one of the best pipes I've ever owned, fully the equal of the best of the many Family Era Barlngs that I've acquired.

That said, these don't have much collector value. You could get a quality smoke and a good value for the money.

 

[globi]

Thank you, sablebrush52! I am not looking for “collector value”, so this pipe could indeed be of good value for me (especially as the current bid is less than 10$ ). If I get the pipe, I will post some more pictures here.
By the way: I never ever smoked in my whole life (except clematis, do your kids have this habit too?) until I bought a Lorenzo Manola some days ago. So, I am a real rookie!

 

[sablebrush52]

Hi Globi,
I don't know what clematis is. As for the Barling, it could be a very nice pipe. Just remember that you will need to clean it thoroughly before smoking it. As you are, by your statement, a rookie, check out the excellent threads here on cleaning up an estate pipe. It's not rocket science, but it is critical with estates, especially those from eBay. Best of luck with your pursuit.

 

[globi]

Hi sablebrush, clematis is a plant connatural to vine, whose stems get kind of wooden (I cannot describe better; my English is quite poor and I have to use an English dictionary … ). Kids here in Central Europe sometimes cut these wooden stems and smoke them like cigarettes. Of course, I will check out the threads on cleaning! Thank you!

 

[ssjones]

We have a clematis around our front porch light, I'd have never thought to smoke the vine!

 

[globi]

We have a clematis around our front porch light, I'd have never thought to smoke the vine!

Give it a try! Unfortunately, I did not get the pipe. But thanks to all of you, who answered my question!