1999 Ashton question
- Thread starter Ben.R.C
- Start date
If you mean that all Ashton pipes were single-handedly made by Bill Taylor, I’d guess not. Ashton wasn’t a one-man operation. However, I know that he personally hand-finished every private-label pipe that Ashton made for the McCranie’s shop. So perhaps he performed some level of handwork for every pipe that left the Ashton factory. But that’s just guesswork on my part.
I ask because I’ve had trouble with the stems on the JC Ashton’s, I took a risk and got a ‘99 to compare. I don’t have it quite yet thiugh, on layaway
Taylor Made was a stamping he used before Ashton began.There is a Taylor Made Stamp! Not sure what that means
All the Bill Taylor era Ashton's I've smoked have been from the 80s and the stems have been fantastic.
I've only had 2 Craig era pipes and both stems were fine - not phenomenal- but smokable.
My experience as well. Bill Taylor stems were usually very good, but sometimes bowl drilling could be wonky. They used to say those pipes were made after a pint-or-two lunch. Taylor Made's were early on and I bet soley made by Bill himself. I suspect the 2007-2008 Taylor-era pipes were largely made by Jimmy and his sons, as Bill would have been too sick to contribute much at that point.
The "Taylor Made" stamp was used by Bill for the pipes he produced while still employed at Dunhill.
Once he was on his own, most of his bowls were cut by a guy named Sid Cooper, who started working for Hardcastle in the 1930's.
Once he was on his own, most of his bowls were cut by a guy named Sid Cooper, who started working for Hardcastle in the 1930's.
