What does a White Dot on a Pipe Mean?

[hauntedmyst]

The white dot is the established logo of the Dunhill/White Spot pipes, which are high-end, high priced factory pipes made in London. Actually, I've seen other brands with a white spot, but they are clearly labeled as a different unrelated brand, so it is not a deception.

Dunhill trademarked identification for their pipes.
Sasieni followed suit but had to change to a blue dot after Dunhill took them to court.

Correct. Evidently Dunhill considered their customers so addlepated that they needed to be shown how to orientate a stem.

BTW, Dunhill was not the first maker to use a single dot. Vauen was there before them.

As usual on this forum, you can get the right information. However, this is only part of the story. When you have a white dot on your pipe, it means you purchased something very special. As near perfect a pipe as you can purchase. It means you've purchased the Rolls Royce or smoking instruments. Properly dried, drilled, engineered and finished to be the most perfect smoking instrument you can buy. Something that shows off your good taste and status that has been the bench mark of quality for over 100 years. That is if you like them. For many it's just an overpriced pipe. A good pipe is a good pipe at any price and you can find them for $30 or $30,000.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Properly dried, drilled, engineered and finished to be the most perfect smoking instrument you can buy.

Well, every one out of five at least.

 

[hauntedmyst]

Well, 1 out of five at least.

hush

 

[dog_park_piper]

It means you have spent too much money on a pipe!

You stole my reply.

 

[aspiring_sage]

This is confusing...
Peterson puts the dot on the top, but it I'm suspicious the Dr Grabow white mark might be on the side... I tried white mark up but it was very uncomfortable. Every time I try clenching, the pipe dumps out. Is this not what is meant by "fishtail"?
Maybe I should just get a real Peterson pipe...

 

[jpmcwjr]

Just to add some new aspect, I submit there are Dunhill pipes in the wild with an ivory insert.

Before the tribe gets too geared up, I am not saying they were ever manufactured with an ivory dot. Some were done in private hands. My Grandfather said his was, but I did not receive the pipe on his death. Who knows?

 

[kcghost]

Sounds like some old fashioned story telling by Grandpa.

 

[FLDRD]

Correct. Evidently Dunhill considered their customers so addlepated that they needed to be shown how to orientate a stem.

BTW, Dunhill was not the first maker to use a single dot. Vauen was there before them.

Thanks for the grammar lesson today.
Addlepated
Nice one

 

[Red Leader]

Could mean a very expensive pipe (ala Dunhill) or a very not expensive pipe (ala Willard). Make sure you know what you are buying if you see a dot. Good luck!

 

[Chasing Embers]

Could mean a very expensive pipe (ala Dunhill)

You're not looking hard enough.

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

I had a pipe that I had to put a mark on the stem to indicate which side up. After a while My tooth marks were very perfect and very deep (why I don't do vulcanite), and didn't fit my teeth the other way around.

Come to think of it, for straight stemmed pipes it would be a sign of extremely high quality if the stem were flush when fitted upside down.
Kind of like the upgrade from USB2 to USB-C, everyone hates guessing which way is right side up, if you make it perfectly symmetrical that solves the problem without demanding attention from the user.

If I were to buy such a pipe my OCD would still demand there be a permanent "Up" side though, and I would inevitably mark the stem.

 

[Pipeoff]

I have several early artisan pipe with gold and silver dots that are now deceased. I wish that I asked them the reason. I suspect they considered thier creations better than Dunhill or maybe just busting ass!

 

[MacMarty89]

A white dot on a pipe means overpaying for a pipe.

Dunhill is overrated.

 

[Pipeoff]

I have several early artisan pipe with gold and silver dots that are now deceased. I wish that I asked them the reason. I suspect they considered thier creations better than Dunhill or maybe just busting ass!

Added, attended pipe club meet last night where most smoke early artisan made pipes. If I waved a white dot Dunny in thier face, they would considered me a big dummy.

 

[telescopes]

Could mean a very expensive pipe (ala Dunhill) or a very not expensive pipe (ala Willard). Make sure you know what you are buying if you see a dot. Good luck!

I'll have you know, as I am sure you already do, Willard is a mighty fine smoking instrument. LOL

 

[telescopes]

Added, attended pipe club meet last night where most smoke early artisan made pipes. If I waved a white dot Dunny in thier face, they would considered me a big dummy.

If they would actually consider you to be cognitively impaired or foolish for smoking a Dunhill, then you are smoking with the wrong people. They sound like pricks.

 

[jpmcwjr]

A white dot on a pipe means overpaying for a pipe.

Dunhill is overrated.

Sure, tell that to everyone who's bought one! You cannot damn everyone who's bought a Dunhill and enjoyed it very much, regardless of how much they paid!

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Haters gonna hate, taters gonna potate.
And, the blessed are always under surveillance.

I love me a good classic Dunhill, if it is actually stamped "dunhill."

 

[Donb1972]

A white dot on a pipe means overpaying for a pipe.

Dunhill is overrated.

I tend to agree(I would NEVER spend over 150 dollars on a pipe!). However, in the final analysis, it's up to the individual smoker to decide what "overpaying" means. People always tell me I spent too much on my car('70 Olds Toronado) ~ but I would have spent even more to get it!

 

[Chasing Embers]

Dunhill is overrated.

Yep

You cannot damn everyone who's bought a Dunhill and enjoyed it very much,

Happens all the time over cobs and aromatics. He wasn't condemning anyone just stating an opinion.