John C. Loring

This page is dedicated to the memory of John C. Loring, a great collector and dedicated researcher.
John Loring, now a "broken pipe", was a leading authority on Dunhill pipes. His excellent book, "The Dunhill Briar Pipe - the patent years and after", is an essential addition to any Dunhill collector's library. Sadly, John Loring's website is down. His son, Michael Loring had hoped to get the site back up, but that appears unlikely at this point. In addition to the Dunhill Briar Pipe, Loring wrote several important articles, which he had graciously allowed Pipedia to publish. Some made it here before his website disappeared. Very thankfully, several others were contributed by Jean-Christophe Bienfait, who has also translated them into French, and the rest have recently been added by Yang Forcióri, who also had all the photos. We have them all here now.
== Articles ==
== Loring's Collections ==
* Loring's Dunhill Collection
* Loring's Barling Collection
* CHARATAN, SASIENI, COMOY, GBD, PETERSON, FERNDOWN & A TREE PIPE
* CASTELLO, BALDI & SAVENELLI
* DANISH, AMERICAN & MISCELLANY
* Loring's Collection of Japanese Tobacciana (& misc)
* Partial Tinned Tobacco Inventory
== The Dunhill Briar Pipe – the patent years and after ==
=== About the Book ===
The Dunhill Briar Pipe - 'the patent years and after' by John C. Loring is the first published book devoted to the Dunhill pipe. It is alternatively a dating guide, a history of the Dunhill pipe and a study of the Dunhill pipe generally.
As a dating guide it is the most complete, concise and easiest to use ever made available. Readers for the first time may comfortably date Dunhill pipes from inception in 1905 to the present day. Further, significant attention is directed to dating pipes that either lack, or have unreadable date codes. The information provided will almost always allow an approximate dating, frequently within a few years and at times to the specific year even though a date code is absent.
Beyond completeness it also includes concise and easy to use charts. The extended discussion in the text has been reduced to two independent one page charts which guide the user from nomenclature to year. A backcover chart allows even the novice who hasn't read beyond that back cover to accurately date any Dunhill pipe with a date code in less then a minute, even ones heretofore undatable or wrongly dated by past guides. A companion chart on the inside back cover addresses dating without regard to a date code and allows for the quick general dating of pipes. In addition within the book there are charts of the basic pipe nomenclature for the first half century, all known patent number stampings together with the years used, pricing history, and the ODA/800 series pipe shapes.
Further, the book for the first time anywhere also deals with related pipes such as the Parker and the general dating of Dunhill pipe accessories and Dunhill tinned tobacco. All of these have become increasing valuable and collectable and with this book's easy to use charts readers will not only be able to translate the Parker date codes but further may date Dunhill tobacco tins and pipe cases from the 1910's to the present day.
The book however, is far more then simply a dating guide. Rather with special emphasis on the first half of the century in this initial edition, it addresses the Dunhill briar pipe generally, how it has developed and integrates that history with the pipe's changing nomenclature. As such it may be said to be a 'work in process' intended in time to become a complete, expanded and pictorial study of the Dunhill pipe, but released now in it's present all text form because so much of the information is otherwise unavailable. While authored with a deep affection and regard for the Dunhill pipe, it has been written independent of Dunhill and is candid in it's treatment of 'sensitive' subjects such as errors, 'seconds', and reproductions. Initially printed in June 1998, the book is 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" in size, 88 pages long, paper bound and priced at US$20 including worldwide shipping.
=== Preface ===
This book is both an end and a beginning. It began as a dating guide for Dunhill pipes and in that sense it is very nearly an end. While further definition in the pre 1918 era may be possible, for the first time pipe collectors, pipe smokers, and those just going through those old attic trunks will be able to comfortably date Dunhill pipes from their inception in 1905 through today. Additional tools are provided to allow dating or easier dating of heretofore 'undatable' or 'difficult' pipes having weak nomenclature and question mark years such as 1951 are addressed and I believe, resolved.
As a dating reference this volume may be viewed as being of three parts. First, there are two one page 'quick' guides that unlike previous efforts basically work from 'nomenclature to year' rather then from 'year to nomenclature' on the premise that most all dating questions begin with known nomenclature and an unknown year. Given that similar date codes were used in multiple years, a "0" code for instance can date to anyone of six years (although previous date guides recognized only five) this approach should at least limit the page turning, and perhaps even the puzzlement. To allow easier utilization these charts appear both in the centerfold to this book and on either side of the back cover.
The central text more closely approaches the traditional dating guide, proceeding by year and finish, but in greatly expanded form with the premise that it should not be so much a tool for immediate use but rather, a means of providing a sense of background and nomenclature development that will allow for a comfortable and knowing use of the 'quick' charts. In addition the reader will find that I have significantly expanded my previous work regarding the pre 1918 Dunhill pipe.
There then follows the second half of this book which addresses other aspects concerning and nomenclature found on the Dunhill pipe and in many cases how the same may assist in dating. In that latter regard patent charts are provided which should greatly assist in dating or confirming the dating of pre 1955 pipes which have no, weak or unreadable date codes.
The pipe I just put down is a good example of how this book works as a date guide (and in draft form actually did work) with a 'difficult' pipe. It's a 'double patent number' DUNHILL'S "SHELL" churchwarden with crisp nomenclature that has the look and feel of an 'older piece' but suffers from that dreaded decease known as - no date code.
From all previously published material the best one could say in terms of dating this pipe would be that because of the possessive DUNHILL'S nomenclature it has to date before 1935 and because one of the patent numbers ends with a "/20", it can't date earlier then 1920. And it's doubtful that most 'experts' could do much better. However, notwithstanding the lack of a date code, (or as we shall see, because of that absence) with this book one can comfortably date the pipe to 1921. To wit:
The book's patent charts indicate that the particular double patent number combination stamped on the pipe was used between 1920 and 1923. While those charts can not be taken as absolute gospel, in addition one of two patent references on the pipe is an early "Mar.9.15" form, which from an overall review of the patent charts one finds is suggestive in and of itself of not later then the mid '20s. Next turning to another of the book's charts dealing with basic Shell nomenclature (other then date codes and patent stampings), one finds that the particular stamping form found on the pipe in question was used between 1918 and 1923. Further, in another part of the book a discussion of pre WWII Shell shape/category number stampings suggests that the particular shape/category stamping on our pipe is perhaps best consistent with the early '20s, especially since the sandblasting did not seriously distort the original shape of the bowl. Lastly, a discussion of the date code implementation tells us that while date codes were implemented sometime in 1921 they were not commonly stamped on pipes until the following year. Since the pipe's nomenclature is otherwise 'crisp' (thus tending to rule out 'buffing' as the reason for the lack of a date code) and since a patent granted in 1920 (the "/20") would not likely be widely stamped on pipes until the following year, it follows from all of the above that our pipe very most likely dates to 1921.
There is more to a Dunhill pipe however, then simply it's dating, and in that sense, this book is just a beginning. In essence Dunhill nomenclature is a cryptic shorthand history of the development of the underlying pipe. This book, in many respects for the first time in print, attempts to translate that shorthand for the patent years, e.g. prior to 1955, and then to go beyond that shorthand altogether, making the pipe and an understanding of its development the goal. Unfortunately, all too often, even in print, substantive discussions of the Dunhill pipe, particularly in it's early form, devolve to a kind of mythology. This volume seeks to initiate a more serious study, one grounded on documentary resources and the analysis of the same. As such, while it covers some significant new ground, it is nonetheless only a step. There is much more yet to be done and hopefully this volume will be an impetus, perhaps for a multi authored successor wherein various collectors can address Dunhill pipe topics of their particular chosen interest or expertise.
In addition this book goes beyond the Dunhill pipe per se and provides the basic information necessary to generally date Parker pipes and Dunhill tinned pipe tobacco as well as Dunhill pipe accessories and ephemera. To provide ease of use, summary charts of the same are provided on the page facing the inside back cover.
The reader will note the absence of pictures. Pictures take time, cost money, require permissions and will really be warranted for a revised, supplemented successor. The idea behind this volume is to get information out at a reasonable cost and to challenge others to undertake or contribute to a mature successor.
Books of this type really just build on the past work of others. The author collates, reorganizes, copies and occasionally adds a new fact or thought. This book is no different although given the dirth of prior publications it is a bit easier to add new, still it rests significantly on what has gone before and substantially upon the assistance of others. I would name names but some wish to remain anonymous, and honoring that wish, with one exception, I will render my thanks anonymously: to the real pioneers of the 1980's who published the first dating guides and preserved important material for future study; to collectors and dealers who made available to me invaluable source materials; to collectors who allowed me to study their collections; to those who have previously published; to those I have trapped at pipe shows and drained of knowledge; and the exception, to Michael Balfour for his 1992 general corporate history of Dunhill "Alfred Dunhill One Hundred Years And More".
In working on this book I have come to learn first hand how valuable old source materials, such as catalogues, factory logs, advertisements and the like truly are, especially when they can be compared and analyzed. Unlike the situation with some other collecting interests, far too few of these materials are available today to pipe collectors. To that end it is my intention to develop a public archive of Dunhill and other pipe brand material, with copies of the same, to the extent possible, being available to collectors. Profits from this book will be devoted to this end and to further Dunhill research, and with the intent that once established and working the archive will be turned over to a pipe club or coalition of clubs for continued operation.
Lastly, the reader will note that contact information follows. A book like this can not help but have errors and omissions. To the extent you spot the same or to the extent you have material which may be of help in preparing a successor edition or to the extent you would like to contribute to such a successor please contact me. John C. Loring, June 1, 1998.
== Catalog Compilations ==
A Four Volume Compilation of Dunhill Catalogs & Patents. Encompassing 33 complete catalogs from 1910 - 1962 (approximately 1,500 catalog pages) & 29 pipe related Dunhill English patents granted between 1904 & 1940.
Dunhill Catalogs
1910-1926, Volume I 'The Early Years'
1927-1935, Volume II 'The Elegant Years'
1936-1962, Volume III 'The Later Years'
Volume IV 'Addendum”
Publication date: December 1999.
Second Printing December 2000.
Third Printing with Addendum March 2002.
Fourth Printing with Addendum May 2003.
A major compilation of classic Dunhill catalogs from 1910 to 1962 in four volumes plus the patent papers for twenty nine pipe related Dunhill English patents granted between 1904 and 1940. The catalogs include the 80 page 1917 ‘About Smoke’, the 64 page 1923 'About Smoke', the 190 page 1928 'About Smoke', the 150 page 1938 'About Smoke' and such gems as the 34 page 1923 Christmas catalog in the form of a pipe essay "by a Dunhillite"; a 1928 Le Fin Fumeur produced for the French market; the first 1910 'About Smoke' catalog, a circa 1930 shape catalog showing all shapes then available, the 1952 Xmas catalog showing the first modern ‘ODA’s and the 1957 50th Anno catalog, together with 25 other complete catalogs. Each volume includes a product index, a pipe shape number index and a tobacco blend index with composite indices in Volume IV.
File:Cover1.jpg|© John C. Loring.
File:Cover2.jpg|© John C. Loring.
File:Cover3.jpg|© John C. Loring.
The compilation represents a very substantial improvement over the earlier, now out of print, compilation published by the late Barry Levin. The Levin Xerox compilation (which originally sold for $50 and has sold on eBay for over $100) reproduced 135 catalog pages from Xerox copies of a half dozen or so catalogs with no attempt to date the compiled catalogs or index the same. This new compilation reproduces well over ten times the catalog pages, approximately 1,500 pages as compared to 135, working in many cases with original catalogs, using 150 dpi scanning and laser printing on high quality paper to avoid the serious image degradation inherent in the Xerox process, and with each of the 33 catalogs dated and indexed. Indeed with respect to pipe shapes the resulting indices effectively serve as the first fairly complete 'shape chart' for Dunhill pipes prior to the mid 1970's. In addition papers for twenty nine pipe related Dunhill English patents from 1904 -1940 are provided.
Because laser printing is significantly more expensive then Xerox reproduction two original catalog pages have been reproduced in grayscale on each compilation page, however, because catalog pages are significantly smaller then the compilation pages the reduction is on average only 25% - 35%. 
A SELECTION OF PAGES FROM THE DUNHILL CATALOG COMPILATION
file:Shapes.jpg
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file:1930smidpipe.jpg
file:1930spipe.jpg
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file:1928lighter.jpg
file:1925lighter.jpg
file:1923pipe.jpg
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=== Preface to the Fourth, ‘Addebdum’ Volume ===
This is the fourth and final volume of a compilation of Dunhill catalogs initially published three years ago in as many volumes. It is an addendum of important catalogs acquired since that publication together with my working set of twenty nine Dunhill pipe related English patents granted between 1904 and 1940. As with the preceding volumes the material has been scanned at high resolution, reduced to two catalog pages per addendum page and laser printed on high quality paper.
The initial catalog in this addendum dates to 1917. It was Dunhill’s first major catalog effort, including, in the original, a few full color pages. It covers the entire Dunhill product line of the period, including all then offered pipe shapes. While the Dunhill archives contain earlier catalogs this is the key entry for the 1910’s period. Scanned from the original, with the numerous price and inventory changes over the 1917 – 1919 period of use carefully pasted in, it is likely that the original was a counter copy at the Duke Street shop, perhaps even perused by Alfred himself.
The second short catalog dating to 1920/1921 is quite similar to a slightly later one in the initial compilation set. It is included in this addendum because it has a better shape chart and has been scanned from an original as opposed to the previous entry which was taken from a poor Xerox.
The third entry is a pipe shape catalog dating to the early 1930s and intended for pipe shop use. It shows in numeric and alphabetical order the complete shape line of the day in outline form, including a great many letter denoted quaint shapes. I have found it to be my most commonly used ‘everyday’ working resource because of its ease of use and completeness. Another later, similar, catalog was included in the initial compilation but it is not near as complete, especially with regard to lettered quaint shapes. Indeed between the 1917 catalog and this one, this addendum offers a greater and more systemic coverage of the 125 + letter shapes then all three previously published volumes taken together. 
The fourth entry is a unique American Dunhill catalog dating to circa 1943. World War II and its aftermath is almost completely without catalogs. The Dunhill archives for instance have only four somewhat similar catalogs dating to 1948 and 1949 for the entire decade and did not even know of the existence of the American 1943 issue. Most likely reflecting the scarcities of the times, the included catalog is the only Dunhill catalog that I know of to include an offering of Parker branded pipes.
The final two catalog entries are the 1952 and 1953 Xmas issues. Besides reflecting that even in the early 1950’s Dunhill was still recovering from the war of almost a decade earlier, the importance of these catalogs is that they represent the initial inclusions of the post-war ODA pipe series. Since the 1953 entry is from a Xerox and is very similar in content to that of the previous year only the pipe pages are included here.
The cumulative contents and index of the earlier three volume set has been undated to include this addendum. The shape number index effectively serves as the most complete ‘shape chart’ available for the Dunhill ‘patent years’ period, and further allows the reader to both generally date the availability of any given shape and gauge which ones Dunhill sought to promote.
Lastly, the reader will find copies of Dunhill’s twenty nine pipe related English patents granted between 1904 and 1940, including those going to heat treatment/oil curing equipment. I have crossed checked with the Dunhill archives and I believe this represents full coverage as regards pipes. This is my working set acquired over the years so a few of the less important are represented by official abstracts only and one or two others are missing pages. In any event however, they represent twice the number of patents previously reported.
While I have never found a catalog that didn’t offer at least a scrap of new information, I believe that with this addendum the now four volume compilation of Dunhill catalogs from 1910 through 1960 effectively offers the reader the most complete picture of this period to be found outside of the Dunhill archives. Indeed save for a few early catalogs from 1911 – 1916 perhaps as complete a picture as might be obtained from a visit and free access to those very archives, in fact arguably in limited respects, even a better one. 
This compilation project began when I initially sought to write about the Dunhill ‘patent years’, i.e. 1910 – 1954, and found a dearth of readily available source material. It reflects both my efforts to develop those resources for myself and to effect an internet like, wide spread repository of the same for others in the future, not dependent upon any one individual or company. With this addendum I believe that project is complete. John C. Loring, March 2002.
=== Cumlative Contents of Volumes I, II, III & IV ===
 
 
 CATALOG
 
 
 VOLUME I
 (1910 - 1926)
 
 
 VOLUME II
 (1927 - 1935)
 
 
 VOLUME
 III
 (1936
 - 1962)
 
 
 VOLUME
 IV
 (ADDENDUM)
 
 
 
 
 circa
 1910 About Smoke (GB) 
 
 
 3
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 1921
 About Smoke (US)
 
 
 22
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 1923
 About Smoke - Xmas (GB)
 
 
 29
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 circa
 1923 About Smoke - Export (GB)
 
 
 63
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 1923
 Retail Price List (US)
 
 
 127
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 1923
 Export Wholesale Price List (GB)
 
 
 135
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 1925
 About Smoke (US)
 
 
 141
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 1926
 Shape Chart (Can)
 
 
 185
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 1926
 Gifts (US)
 
 
 189
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 circa
 1928 About Smoke (GB)
 
 
  
 
 
 3
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 circa
 1928 Vanities (GB)
 
 
  
 
 
 95
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 1928
 Le Fin Fumeur (FR)
 
 
  
 
 
 99
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 1928
 About Smoke (US)
 
 
  
 
 
 121
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 circa
 early 1930's Abridged Catalog (GB)
 
 
  
 
 
 133
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 1933
 Catalog (US)
 
 
  
 
 
 164
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 circa
 early 1930's Gift (US)
 
 
  
 
 
 177
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 circa
 early 1930's Gift (US)
 
 
  
 
 
 193
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 1936
 About Smoke - Export (GB)
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 3
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 circa
 mid 1930's Pipe Shapes (GB)
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 28
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 circa
 late 1930's Pipes (US)
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 45
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 1938
 About Smoke (GB)
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 51
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 1954
 Xmas (GB)
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 126
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 1957
 Catalog (GB)
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 149
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 1958
 Catalog (US)
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 170
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 1958
 Retail Price List (GB)
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 178
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 1959
 Catalog (GB)
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 180
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 1959
 Tobacco (GB)
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 190
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 1962
 Catalog (US)
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 194
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 1917
 About Smoke (GB)
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 1
 
 
 
 
 circa
 1920/1921 Catalog (GB)
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 43
 
 
 
 
 circa
 1930 Shape Catalog (GB)
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 56
 
 
 
 
 circa
 1943 Gift Catalog (US)
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 97
 
 
 
 
 1952
 Xmas Catalog  (GB)
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 112
 
 
 
 
 1953
 Xmas Catalog (partial) (GB)
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 132
 
 
 
 
 English
 Pipe Related Patents 1904  - 1940
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 143
 
 
== A Compilation of Five English Maker Catalogs – Barling, Charatan, Comoy, GBD, Sasieni ==
A compilation of pre and post WWII catalogs from Barling, Charatan, Comoy, GBD & Sasieni in one 200 page volume encompassing approximately 400 catalog pages in the same format as the earlier Dunhill compilation as follows:
 
 
 Barling circa 1920's Booklet
 
 
 Page
 3
 
 
 
 
 Barling 1962 Catalog 
 
 
 
 Page
 5 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 Charatan circa 1920's 'Underboar' Catalog
 
 
 Page
 32 
 
 
 
 
 Charatan circa 1950s Booklet
 
 
 Page
 46
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 Comoy circa 1930's Booklet
 
 
 Page
 49
 
 
 
 
 Comoy circa 1950's Catalog
 
 
 Page
 54
 
 
 
 
 Comoy 1965 Catalog (english pipe & tobacco excerpts only)
 
 
 Page
 73
 
 
 
 
 Comoy 1971 Catalog (english pipe & tobacco excerpts only)
 
 
 Page
 86
 
 
 
 
 Comoy 1977 Catalog (english pipe & tobacco excerpts only)
 
 
 Page
 94
 
 
 
 
 Comoy 1978 Catalog (english pipe & tobacco excerpts only)
 
 
 Page
 98
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 GBD circa 1920's Catalog (earlier)
 
 
 Page
 103
 
 
 
 
 GBD
 circa 1920's Catalog (later)
 
 
 Page
 112
 
 
 
 
 GBD/Oppenheimer
 1960 Booklet
 
 
 Page
 123
 
 
 
 
 GBD
 1970 Catalog (english
 pipe & tobacco excerpts only)
 
 
 Page
 128
 
 
 
 
 GBD
 circa 1975 Catalog 
 (english
 pipe & tobacco excerpts only)
 
 
 Page
 139
 
 
 
 
 GBD
 1980 Catalog (english
 pipe & tobacco excerpts only)
 
 
 Page
 150
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 Sasieni circa early 1930's
 Catalog
 
 
 Page
 157
 
 
 
 
 Sasieni circa mid 1930's Catalog
 
 
 Page
 167
 
 
 
 
 Sasieni 1937 Catalog 
 (nonduplicative
 excerpts only)
 
 
 Page
 184
 
 
 
 
 Sasieni 1964 Catalog
 
 
 Page
 187
 
 
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Yang (talk) 13:28, 2 January 2023 (UTC)
Category:Writers
Category: Dunhill