Samuel Gawith Scrapped There Old Machinery?

[heyeveryone]

Most of us know that SG moved in with GH not long ago, but did they bring there old equipment with them?

Watching this German reviewer open a brand new tin Navy Flake shows thinly sliced flakes that are not only thin, but also just damp and not soaking wet.

I could see past FVF not being as wet or dark in color anymore, but if they start coming MacBaren styled in thickness I'm done, enough is enough! Stop changing things!

 

[Casual]

Stop changing things!

I hear you. But If this level of change gets you, then you’re in for a heck of a ride in the next few decades.

 

[karam]

Gawith can make thin and perfect-looking flakes, just most of their offerings aren't. 1792 flake for example are no different from MacB in terms of presentation. I don't know this specific blend though.

It's pretty expected that leadership of GH and SG will want to improve efficiencies where possible (e.g., buying greaseproof paper to take plugs out of the press, limiting production of non-profitable blends) but I doubt they'll mess with their staples.

 

[Sonorisis]

Why is there suddenly so much speculation and "information" being offered about Gawith's business??? Has this become part of someone's campaign for high office?

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I think that old machinery was powered by oxen. Getting oxen fecal matter into the tobacco was one of their best selling points. But, the powers that be... blah blah blah.... just have no clue, so that makes them oxenmorons.
Sorry, I just couldn't help it.

 

[rajangan]

I think that old machinery was powered by oxen. Getting oxen fecal matter into the tobacco was one of their best selling points. But, the powers that be... blah blah blah.... just have no clue, so that makes them oxenmorons.
Sorry, I just couldn't help it.

There's so much chompin' going on. Those old mangers must be oxengenarians by now. I wish people would slacken the reigns on them a bit.

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

When I've bought bulk Gawith blends they sometimes come in uniform flakes about 6 inches long, Bourbon Flake was a recent example.

 

[verporchting]

“Oxenmorons” ?

 

[mso489]

Slightly off subject, but I keep worrying about the Dr. Grabow factory in Sparta, N.C., which was shut down by an earthquake some weeks ago. I hope they are back up and running. Dr. Grabow and Kaywoodie of Winslow, NY, are the last of the briar pipe factories in the U.S. so far as I know. Now it is up to the artisans and MM cob, mostly. You can still buy Grabows at my local Walgreens, displayed at floor level behind the check-out candy counter, slightly over-priced, but actually there, available, so real live people can buy them today. Gotta give credit. You don't have to chase them around the world or around the net. Real pipes.

 

[bent1]

Just as long as the taste is there is all I care about.

 

[Worknman]

I'd like to see what their ancient machinery looks(ed) like. Is there a link that anyone knows about?

 

[mortonbriar]

I'd like to see what their ancient machinery looks(ed) like. Is there a link that anyone knows about?

I feel like they used to have a website with a few photos of the used equipment they inherited when they got the building 200 odd years ago! they had to customise it I think because it has been used to process something else prior, sorry to be vague but I can't recall the details now.

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

I'd like to see what their ancient machinery looks(ed) like. Is there a link that anyone knows about?

I don't think they use this particular bit of kit anymore but just look at all that lovely twist

 

[paulfg]

from the 50/60s ?

 

[kcghost]

I always laugh when companies merge. They say nothing will change but before long things begin to, add rarely to the good. If ain't the lawyers screwing you its the accountants.

 

[craig61a]

From a 2015 post...

Gawith’s One Big Happy Family Again After 150 Years: Merger Confirmed

James Foster & Kevin Godbee Rumors have run rampant in forums and social media all week about the merger of Samuel Gawith and Gawith Hoggarth. Now they are confirmed. PipesMagazine.com exchanged email and spoke on the phone to Bob Gregory, the Managing Director of Samuel Gawith. The official...

pipesmagazine.com

The two companies had been closely associated with each other for decades.

 

[craig61a]

And this...

A Chat with Chris Gawith of Gawith and Hoggarth

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor I had a chance to sit down with Chris Gawith and chat to him about his two brands, Samuel Gawith and Gawith and Hoggarth. It was an audio interview, so I have transcribed it as such. Are you thinking about dropping one of the brands? No, not at all. They are all …...

pipesmagazine.com

 

[pantsBoots]

I'd like to see what their ancient machinery looks(ed) like. Is there a link that anyone knows about?

Someone posted a link in the past few months from another forum. It was all in Spanish, but there was a good slew of pictures.

Here it is:

Samuel Gawith, reportaje fotografico de Marcelino Piquero

bien, de muchos es conocido mi admiracion hacia los tabacos de Samuel Gawith, para mi son de lo mejor, tabacos artesanales, con formulas de mas de dos siglos,

rinconpipa.foroactivo.com

 

[hawky454]

Dudes, ever hear the saying, “change is the only constant”?

So they are making their flakes more uniform and consistent? What is this world coming to!!!??? How dare they!

 

[oldgeezersmoker]

The merger was six years ago.

Packaging and presentation is a moving target right now. Best explanation/guess is that the reduced moisture level in SG from recent shipments in all markets, even perfectly vacuum sealed ones, is that the product spends more time in the factory between slicing, when SG in particular is sopping wet, and packaging. I have checked weights on mine from the last drop, nothing is short weight, though dryer (close but not quite dry enough for me) than I am used to. So that explanation seems sensible.

MacBarens has great tobacco. I particularly enjoy Plumcake, and when a limited release of Burley London Mixture became available this year, I loaded up and bought 18 tins with every confidence that it would be exactly the same as it was 20 years ago when I last smoked it. I was not disappointed. MacBarens operations, including slicing and packaging, are fully automated. Consistency is assured in every aspect.

If you want a product that might show marks of random human variations, don’t expect to find it at MacBarens, STG or K&K. If you want a consistent, homogenized product with no soul, stay away from anything made in Kendal. If you like different styles of pipe tobacco, as I do, choices abound.