Hi, I'm a big Castello fan but I haven't bought a new one in over 20 years. I'm sure a lot of things have changed and I would like to learn more. So, if you have an interesting fact, story, etc. about Castellos please share it here. Thanks
The Castello Thread
- Thread starter Searock Fan
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They run from quite nice (I have several and smoke them a lot) to embarrassingly bad.
My guess, since Castello is a mini-factory and not a person, that staff turnover and corresponding fluctuations in experience, skill, QA, etc. is the culprit. Orders must be filled and everything else follows, in other words.
Be especially wary of deep bent designs---I've seen some truly horrid Oom Paul type stuff. I'd also avoid any pipe with a shank extension. They don't seem to understand how to properly execute the design either materials-wise or layout-wise. I've been sent a LOT of them over the years.
Here's an example:
My guess, since Castello is a mini-factory and not a person, that staff turnover and corresponding fluctuations in experience, skill, QA, etc. is the culprit. Orders must be filled and everything else follows, in other words.
Be especially wary of deep bent designs---I've seen some truly horrid Oom Paul type stuff. I'd also avoid any pipe with a shank extension. They don't seem to understand how to properly execute the design either materials-wise or layout-wise. I've been sent a LOT of them over the years.
Here's an example:
IMO some of the changes in the post Hallco era is that they stopped stamping shape numbers on the pipes and the standard shapes have sometimes gotten pretty loose. The draw has opened up significantly. It’s gone from sometimes to tight to sometimes to wide open. They’ve experimented with some different rustication techniques too and It seems like there’s significant size inflation every 10 years. What a KKKK was 20 some years ago jumped to a G and might be a GG now.
I had a couple of Sea Rocks years ago. They smoked fine but I didn't care much for their buttons.
I have a few, some smoke good and some excellent. The ones I have are drilled properly, to my eye, maybe I just got lucky. Stem work is very inconsistent as the buttons vary in thickness even on pipes of the same model.
Here's a Castello Opera shape. She's only 4.25" long with thin walls. Weighs almost nothing and the carving shows why the decided to call it Sea Rock. It's so sharp it feels like coral. Register and stamped 1948. Unsmoked.
I do love the deep and craggy SeaRocks, but their designs just don’t fall into the shapes I collect. Never owned one. But, I do like seeing pictures.
On the whole I find their shapes chunky and unattractive. Of course the mythology around the brand continues to suck me in, most of which, I guess, is justified.
Searock Fan - that's the oldest Castello I remember seeing!
I've seen some pretty shoddy Castello's at East Coat shops, some, as George points out, embarassingly bad
I learned to buy Castellos from the Italian vendors - they seem to get the pick of the litter and prices, even with shipping are more then competitive. I prize the smaller Castello's (KK), that also seem to be availabe only in Europe.
A good Castello is a thing to behold and smoke.
I've seen some pretty shoddy Castello's at East Coat shops, some, as George points out, embarassingly bad
I learned to buy Castellos from the Italian vendors - they seem to get the pick of the litter and prices, even with shipping are more then competitive. I prize the smaller Castello's (KK), that also seem to be availabe only in Europe.
A good Castello is a thing to behold and smoke.
I've had many Castellos, they most often are superb smoking instruments.
I've always had the same problem. I love the finish but none ever end up being a shape I want. One Canadian was really nice but the draught hole was a half inch above the bottom of the chamber so I passed.
Until my love for Danish consumed me, I was a sold out Castello and Pete guy. Now smoking comfort for me is spelled, "Danish." But I recall my first love that was Castello some 40plus yrs ago 
The craggier the better for my taste. But I have pulled the trigger on a few smooth ones from time to time
kindly
mike
The craggier the better for my taste. But I have pulled the trigger on a few smooth ones from time to time kindly
mike
I can tell you for sure, that based on personal experience in Italy, the the Italian dealers "do" get first choice.
I have 9 Castello Pipes. They range from 1950's to 2020. The newer pipes smoke the best in my opinion but they all smoke great. I prefer the rusticated sea rock or sand blast Old Antiquari size KK.
Castello looks cute, but just not my thing. It's gonna be Peterson for me.
That's why they make more than one brand.