Two old British pipes, Oppenheimer and Ben Wade

[jaingorenard]

Hi all,

I'm going through my collection of pipes awaiting restoration under orders to thin the herd. I'm finding some interesting pieces.

I was wondering if anyone here could provide some information.

The first one is a rather large Adolphe Oppenheimer from 1886. The only similar pipes I've seen are early GBDs, but could this be another maker? Is it likely a French stummel from St Claude? Did Oppenheimer finish or produce their own bowls?

The second is a recent find and appears to be a Ben Wade, but the hallmarks are so worn it's impossible for me to see the date. I would place it at some time in the 1880s-1910s but if anyone has any further information that would be great.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

Oppenheimer had relations with GBD until they bought GBD in 1902. Oppenheimer and GBD both had operations in France. Most "English" pipes prior to about 1919 were turned in France and finished in GB.

The AO hallmark was used on many GBD's as they had many of thier pipes mounted by Oppenheimer even prior to the merger.

The tenon on your pipe looks like a GBD to me.

 

[MCJ]

Nice lines on those pipes -- especially like the Oppenheimer!

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

GBD 1892 bone tenon and AO hallmark

 

[jaingorenard]

GBD 1892 bone tenon and AO hallmark

View attachment 208155

View attachment 208156

That's really helpful, thanks! Is that one of yours?

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

That's really helpful, thanks! Is that one of yours?

No, not mine. That pipe apparently belonged to the French General, Alfred-Amédée Dodds. It's on Pipedia. But I have had several GBD's with the AO hallmark over the years.

GBD - Pipedia

pipedia.org

 

[sablebrush52]

Oppenheimer had relations with GBD until they bought GBD in 1902. Oppenheimer and GBD both had operations in France. Most "English" pipes prior to about 1919 were turned in France and finished in GB.

The AO hallmark was used on many GBD's as they had many of thier pipes mounted by Oppenheimer even prior to the merger.

The tenon on your pipe looks like a GBD to me.

Spot on! Here's an article on pipephil that goes into i:

Document: GBD Comoy Chacom -- Pipes: Logos & Markings -

www.pipephil.eu

 

[sablebrush52]

Most "English" pipes prior to about 1919 were turned in France and finished in GB

It went on quite a bit longer than that. As late as 1928, when Barling sought to have the Merchandise Marks Act amended so that only pipes actually wholly made in GB could be stamped as with "made in England" or "London Made", etc, the rest of the British pipe making industry lined up against them, led by Dunhill and Comoy. Dunhill stated to the court that such an amendment would be "disastrous" for their business.

 

[kcghost]

Lovely regardless of where they come from.

 

[Mantis_Shankman]

Hi all,

I'm going through my collection of pipes awaiting restoration under orders to thin the herd. I'm finding some interesting pieces.

I was wondering if anyone here could provide some information.

The first one is a rather large Adolphe Oppenheimer from 1886. The only similar pipes I've seen are early GBDs, but could this be another maker? Is it likely a French stummel from St Claude? Did Oppenheimer finish or produce their own bowls?

The second is a recent find and appears to be a Ben Wade, but the hallmarks are so worn it's impossible for me to see the date. I would place it at some time in the 1880s-1910s but if anyone has any further information that would be great.

That Ben Wade looks terrible, you should let me take it off your hands.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

It went on quite a bit longer than that. As late as 1928, when Barling sought to have the Merchandise Marks Act amended so that only pipes actually wholly made in GB could be stamped as with "made in England" or "London Made", etc, the rest of the British pipe making industry lined up against them, led by Dunhill and Comoy. Dunhill stated to the court that such an amendment would be "disastrous" for their business.

Jesse, Thanks for the clarification. Ho much longer is thought that those other than Barling continued to have bowls turned in St Claude?

 

[sablebrush52]

Jesse, Thanks for the clarification. Ho much longer is thought that those other than Barling continued to have bowls turned in St Claude?

I don't know. Comoy and GBD probably continued to use their French factories for quite some time, though I could be wrong about that, and Dunhill established a factory in Paris. @jguss might be able to supply you with better information.