When Did Sandblasts Show Up?

[mso489]

Does anyone have a handle on the early history of sandblast pipes? When did the early ones show

up on the scene? Where were they made and who made them? I started out thinking they were a

fairly recent finish on briar, but it seems like some go back maybe to the 1950s at least? Who's our

pipe historian on blasts?

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Dunhill got its patent on the process in 1920. I believe the common wisdom is they were blasting a few years before that.

 

[ssjones]

MrLowerCase has a thread here on the history of sandblasting, check it out. (can't find the thread via my phone..)

 

[metarzan]

I am betting it became a modern way of rusticating and quickly became it's own style. Turn of the century maybe?

 

[mso489]

Thanks, peck. Dunhill was there first, with a patent. I wonder how other manufacturers got around that.

So it goes way back to the 1920's. That covers most of the market for estate pipes (not too many pipes

in circulation pre-date the 1920's).

 

[mikestanley]

I know Kaywoodie was doing it with the Thorn series not too soon after Dunhill. I know Kaywoodie did it a different way than Dunhill so that is probably how they got around the issue. Kaywoodie tumbles the stummels in a bin (think kinda sideways washing machine with the medium.Far less "craggy" than those early Dunnhills. Dunhill simply patented their method, not the style would be my guess. I don't know about,and can't think of a previous example of the practice.
Mike S.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Thanks, peck. Dunhill was there first, with a patent. I wonder how other manufacturers got around that.

So it goes way back to the 1920's. That covers most of the market for estate pipes (not too many pipes

in circulation pre-date the 1920's).

I know that Sasieni would rusticate their pipes in a way that made them look sort of like a blast.

 

[foggymountain]

Dunhill has a bullshit story about a pipe being left in the boiler room, etc. Obviously untrue. They were invented to use briar that was otherwise unsuitable. Today a pipe is blasted if it has defects to cover.

 

[sablebrush52]

I know that Sasieni would rusticate their pipes in a way that made them look sort of like a blast.

Sasieni hand rusticated their bowls, following the general pattern of the grain but cutting along the lines to bring out the pattern in high relief. That finish was stamped as "Rustic". I haven't seen early Sasieni sandblasts, though there is one up on eBay that is a one dot. Frankly, I feel that it's a fake, but that's another thread.

 

[mso489]

The Dunhill yarn about the pipe left in the boiler room made me laugh. Like that would simulate a

sandblasted pipe. Why would they use that, even if someone left a pipe where it got roughed up?

Bad judgement in the advertising department. I don't mind that sandblast covers flaws because

the finish is worthy in its own right. Not everyone likes a sandblast pipe, but most enjoy the

texture a lot, as I do.

 

[misterlowercase]

Here's a thread were I investigated a bit,

rambling,

and still no definitive answers...
http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/early-sandblasted-pipes-many-unknowns-yet-remain
...but I do have a strong feeling that sandblasted briar pipes existed pre-Dunhill.