Snagged A Dunhill In Old San Juan

[zack24]

My first restoration- the first two pics are original condition- the other pics are after a little work. Negotiated hard in old San Juan- got it down to $35. A question on the nomenclature- with the underscore 2, I think it should be a 1952 Tanshell, but the first year for Tanshell was supposed to be 1953. Any ideas?

http://a63.tinypic.com/b6d93p.jpg

 

[samcoffeeman]

Looks gorgeous! And a great price too! The nomenclature around that era is not an exact science. Yours is almost surely a 1952, considering the patent number. I have a Dunhill Root Briar with patent number and a 4 in a circle with a date code of 9. The patent numbers were supposed to be out before the group numbers in a circle were in place. I'm pretty sure mine dates to 1949 but the stamps are a little conflicting. It is also stamped Dunhill over London, not Dunhill over Root Briar.

 

[georged]

Major super-duper-doubleplus good score, Zack. Meaning to find it at ALL, never mind for $35 (that's obscene).
I have a 472 (LB) that "broke" John Loring's book regarding production date, so don't hang your hat on it. He's gone, but the info is a never ending work-in-progress.
Looks like 1952 is NOW the earliest Tanshell known. :D

 

[zack24]

Thanks guys...I had the underlined 2 figured as a 1952, but couldn't figure out why it would be a year earlier than the first published date for Tanshell...I was surprised what nice shape it was in...

 

[ssjones]

I bet old Alfred said, lets ship this new finish to Old San Juan before anyone else gets a crack, test the waters!

 

[jpmcwjr]

Winner, winner, chicken cacciatore! ... Gorgeous pipe, fine find! I particularly like the LEGO box in the stuff under your work bench:

 

[beefeater33]

That's one hell of a find!! And for $35! NICE!!!

I was a diehard "shell" smoker for years, because I loved the blasts and looks, but I think my Tanshells are my best smokers to be honest. Enjoy that one.

I agree with the 1952 date. I think the first Tanshells were actually made in 1951.......

Here's an old reference FWIW....

Dunhill Tanshell

 

[zack24]

@ jpmcwjr
I just tried a new bulk uploader, but couldn't get the picture to display- how did you do that?

 

[georged]

Beefeater ftw! 8)
I've managed to pick up some Dunhill nomenclature knowledge through osmosis/exposure over the years, but never considered myself a Duke Street Irregular-caliber guy. That's the first time I've seen 1951 & 52 backstory. Muchacho gracioso! :D

 

[codecreatively]

It's a beaut! Like everyone said, definitely a '52 with the patent and that blast to back it up.

 

[didimauw]

I like that...someday I'll own one

 

[weedsnager]

Nice score !!

 

[pagan]

$35 for a 1952 Tanshell, nice score

 

[voorhees]

Incredible and what nice shape.

 

[mso489]

Sounds like you negotiated it down to this absurdly low price. Bravo. Really handsome pipe. (Did they pay you the $35 to get you to accept it?) I paid more than that for my Dr. Grabow Royaltons.

 

[zack24]

Sounds like you negotiated it down to this absurdly low price

They were asking $58....They simply aren't big pipe collectors in the islands...I had to negotiate to what Greta thought was a good deal- about $35- if I had paid $58 for a dirty used pipe, she would have killed me...

 

[mothernaturewilleatusallforbreakfast]

I'll second and thirds all the comments. Great pipe, great deal, and new knowledge to boot. Can you let Greta know that you got a sucker willing to pay $58 for that dirty pipe and then message me so that we can finalize things? :lol:

 

[jpmcwjr]

Wait! I'll pay $75.00! Or maybe triple what you paid for it.....

 

[peckinpahhombre]

What a score. I am envious.

 

[bentmike]

Great find Zack! Congrats.