Comoy's

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The basis for this article is an excerpt from A History Of Comoy's and A Guide Toward Dating the Pipes written by Derek Green . This article was published in the June 2006 issue of The Pipe Collector. The official newsletter of the North American Society of Pipe Collectors (NASPC), and is used here by permission. It's a great organization--consider joining.
Francois Comoy and his brothers started making pipes (probably clays, boxwood and beech) in 1825 in the small monastic town of Saint-Claude in eastern France. Francois and his son Louis discovered that briar had vastly superior qualities and from 1848 made pipes only in this wood. In 1879 Francois’s son Henri, who was born in 1850, moved to London with a small bag of tools, but a great deal of experience. Henri set up a small factory in Seven Dials which is today known as Cambridge Circus. He was one of the prime movers in the establishment of the briar pipe trade in London and is credited with being the author of the appellation “London Made”.
He was helped at first by some of his brothers and around 1891 was joined by his two nephews, Louis and Charles Chapuis. Louis took the name of his adoptive parents. By 1895 the business had outgrown the Seven Sisters site and a new factory was built in Newcastle Place, Clerkenwell. By 1905 markets were being sought in America and the extra business required a new factory to be built in 1913 at 72 Rosebury Avenue.
In 1914 the partners, Henri Comoy and his nephews Louis and Charles, incorporated the business as H.Comoy & Co. Ltd. Before the 1914/18 war Henri was also joined by his sons, Adrien and Paul who were born after his nephews arrived in London. In 1921 Sam Zinberg was appointed Director of Sales for the USA and the House of Comoy was established. Henri Comoy died in 1924 at the age of 74 leaving the company in the hands of Louis and Charles.
In 1929 the company was invited to join Cadogan Investments Ltd. This was known as “The Merger” which consisted of the Civic Company and Oppenheimer Pipes with their associated companies. This merger was formed in order to create co-operation between the various companies. 
In 1937 a new, model and splendidly-equipped factory was opened in Pentonville Road to accommodate additional staff of several hundred. The next generation had joined the firm by the time the Second World War broke out. Louis Chapuis Senior joined in 1938 and Pierre Comoy in 1947 after service in the Royal Armoured Corps.
The Second World War was a difficult period for the company, because the whole of industry in Great Britain was turned over to the production of armaments and the war effort, consequently the manufacture of pipes ceased, except for a small workshop. After the war ended in 1945, it was an uphill struggle for all British companies to once again get established, and it was not until 1950, and the opening of a new purpose built factory in Aldershot, that production nearly met demand. 
The main manufacturing companies in the merger known as Cadogan Investments Ltd were Civic, Comoy’s and Marechal Ruchon & Co Ltd, and in the early 1960s manufacture came under one management, but the marketing departments continued working independently for a number of years. My 1965 catalogue makes the following statement “And now, we the Comoy's of the fourth generation, together with those of the fifth, Pierre Comoy and Louis Chapuis, continue to follow the course set by our forefathers, who would be gratified to see our latest ultra modern plant in Aldershot Hampshire.” Comoy’s remained a family owned company until it was finally taken over by Cadogan Investments during the early 1980’s. Cadogan have continued to manufacture Comoy pipes to the present day and, under Michael Adler, the Comoy brand is their flagship and efforts are being made to once more re-instate the well known quality of the brand.
The collector of Comoy pipes is really only interested in those pipes made before Comoy was finally taken over by Cadogan in the early 1980’s and I have therefore concentrated on that period. I have also, for the purpose of this article only briefly mentioned some of the other brands made by Comoy’s such as Cecil, Every Man, Town Hall, Guildhall etc, where they can contribute some evidence to help in dating.
File:Comoy1.jpeg
File:Comoy2.jpeg
File:Comoy-1907-3.jpeg
Comoy-HC01.jpg
Comoy-HC07.jpg
Comoy-HC09.jpg
 
File:1916com-020.jpg
File:1916com-021.jpg
File:1916com-201.jpg
File:1916com-202.jpg
File:1916com-203.jpg
File:1916com-204.jpg
File:1916com-205.jpg
File:1916com-206.jpg
File:1916com-207.jpg
The basis for this article is an excerpt from A History Of Comoy's and A Guide Toward Dating the Pipes written by Derek Green , published in the June 2006 issue of The Pipe Collector. The official newsletter of the North American Society of Pipe Collectors (NASPC), and is used here by permission. It's a great organization--consider joining.
In addition to seeing the complete article A History Of Comoy's and A Guide Toward Dating the Pipes here on Pipedia, more detailed information on Names, Grades, etc., as well as photo examples can be found at Derek Green's Website.
=== 1920 Hallmarked Super Sports w/Double stamp ===
The following pipe is unique in that it is double stamped, “London Made” and then fainter “Made in London”. Both are in the rugby style (click the image to enlarge):
Comoy-1920-SuperSport.JPG
Comoy-1920-SuperSport2.JPG
Comoy-1920-SuperSport3.JPG 
Comous-Wagners-1921.jpg
Comous-Wagners-1921-2.jpg
=== Special STRAIGHT GRAIN ===
Here's a brief explanation from "MrCan" Tony Soderman: The History of the "Special STRAIGHT GRAIN" (like all early Comoy's) is murky at best! Special STRAIGHT GRAINS were rarely available and were offered with the same frequency of Specimen Straight Grains (generally regarded as the "rarest pipe in pipe-collecting" as only one in every 10,000 Comoy's became a Specimen). Also, much like the fabled Specimen, Special STRAIGHT GRAINS were NOT included on Comoy's Price Lists! (They were not distributed with other Comoy's but were held at the factory and were available upon special request to retailers.
Dating: This is stamped in a circle with “MADE” at the top, “IN” in the middle, and “ENGLAND” forming the bottom of the circle. This can be seen on a Cecil as early as 1910 and on an Old Bruyere of 1921 and more frequent from the 1930s. It can also appear as “MADE” arched, “IN” below, and “ENGLAND” arched the other way. These stamps are in an oval rugby-ball shape rather than a circle round shape.
SpecialStrGrn01.jpg
SpecialStrGrn07.jpg 
SpecialStrGrn08.jpg
SpecialSG01.jpg
SpecialSG07.jpg
SpecialSG08.jpg
 
 
SelectStrGrn01.jpg
SelectStrGrn07.jpg
SelectStrGrn08.jpg
SelectStrGrn09.jpg
SelectedSG01.jpg
SelectedSG07.jpg
SelectedSG08.jpg
 
*Greg Pease has a nice collection of Comoy's, some excellent examples and photos of which can be seen on his website.
File:2283-001.jpg|COMOY’S LONDON MADE 235 Courtesy of Blaik-Pipes
File:COMOY'S 61XL.png|COMOY’S EXTRAORDINAIRE 61 XL Courtesy of Blaik-Pipes
File:287.png||COMOY’S EXTRAORDINAIRE 805 1920 Courtesy of Blaik-Pipes
File:286-1.png|COMOY’S OLD BRUYERE 1919 Courtesy of Blaik-Pipes
File:Comoy's Old Bruyere.png|COMOY’S OLD BRUYERE A.MARTIN FRIBOURG 47 Courtesy of Blaik-Pipes
File:Comoy-1909-Catalog.jpg|1909 Catalog
File:Comoy1922.jpg|1922 Catalog
File:Comoy-grandslam-ad1.jpg
File:Comoy's Sunrise.jpg
File:Comoy's.jpg
File:Comoys Grand-Slam.jpg
File:Grand Slam Patent.jpg|Grand Slam Patent
File:COMOYS GRAND SLAM PATENT.jpg|Grand Slam Patent
File:Pipe-Comoy's Old Bruyere.jpg|Old Bruyere
File:Comoy's Blue Riband.jpg|Blue Riband
File:Grand Slam Sandblast.jpg|Grand Slam
File:Comoy-Specialty.jpg|Speciality Pipes
File:Comoy's Early.jpg|Early Catolog Page
File:Comoys Supreme Patent.jpg|1935 Supreme Patent
File:Shape Chart 1975 1.jpg
File:Shape Chart 1975 2.jpg
File:Shape Chart 1975 3.jpg
File:Faders Ad.jpg|thumb|Fader's Ad featuring a set costing $10K!
File:BlueRiband BlueColored C01.jpg|Blue Riband
File:BlueRiband BlueColored C03.jpg|Blue Riband Nomenclature
File:BlueRiband BlueColored C04.jpg|Blue Riband Nomenclature
File:BlueRiband ReinforcedShank.jpg|Blue Riband Detail
File:BlueRiband01.jpg|Blue Riband
File:BlueRiband07.jpg|Blue Riband Nomenclature
File:Castleton01.jpg|Castleton
File:Castleton07.jpg|Castleton detail
File:ComoyDeLuxe01.jpg|Deluxe
File:ComoyDeLuxe07.jpg|Deluxe Nomenclature
File:ComoyDeLuxegold01.jpg|Deluxe Gold
File:ComoyDeLuxeGold07.jpg|Deluxe Gold Detail
File:ComoyDeLuxeGold10.jpg|Deluxe Gold Detail
File:ComoyExtra01.jpg|Extraordinaire
File:ComoyExtra07.jpg|Extraordinaire Nomenclature
Highgate01.jpg|Highgate w/box
Highgate11.jpg|Highgate detail
File:ComoyLondonPride01.jpg|London Pride and original box
File:ComoyLondonPride09.jpg|London Pride Nomenclature
File:ComoyMark2 01.jpg|Mark 2
File:ComoyMark2 12.jpg|Mark 2 stinger
File:ComoyMark2 13.jpg|Mark 2 Detail
File:ComoyMonogram01.jpg|Monogram
File:ComoyMonogram07.jpg|Monogram Nomenclature
File:ComoyGrandSlamPatent01.jpg|Grand Slam Patent
File:ComoyGrandSlamPatent12.jpg|Grand Slam Patent Detail
File:ComoyNewGrandSlam01.jpg|New Grand Slam
File:ComoyNewGrandSlam07.jpg|New Grand Slam Nomenclature
File:ComoyOldBruyere01.jpg|Old Bruyere
File:ComoyOldBruyere07.jpg|Old Bruyere Nomenclature
File:ComoyOldBruyereRare Marking.jpg|Old Bruyere Rare Marking
ComoysOldBruyere01.jpg|Another Old Bruyere
ComoysOldBruyere07.jpg|Old Bruyere nomenclature
File:ComoyPebbleGr01.jpg|Pebble Grain
File:ComoyPebbleGr07.jpg|Pebble Grain Nomenclature
File:ComoyRockroot01.jpg|Rockroot
File:ComoyRockroot07.jpg|Rockroot Nomenclature
File:ComoySandblast01.jpg|Sandblast
File:ComoySandblast07.jpg|Sandblast Nomenclature
File:ComoysDesigner01.jpg|Designer
File:ComoysDesigner09.jpg|Designer Nomenclature
File:Designer01.jpg|Designer
File:Designer07.jpg|Designer Nomenclature
File:ComoySilverCloud01.jpg|Silver Cloud
File:ComoySilverCloud07.jpg|Silver Cloud Nomenclature
File:ComoyTigerEye02.jpg|Tigers Eye
File:ComoyTigerEye07.jpg|Tigers Eye Nomenclature
File:Tradition01.jpg|Tradition
File:Tradition07.jpg|Tradition Nomenclature
Tradition2-01.jpg|Tradition 
Tradition2-07.jpg|Tradition Nomenclature 
File:ComoysTraditionEarly01.jpg|Early Tradition
File:ComoysTraditionEarly07.jpg|Early Tradition Nomenclature
ComoyTrend01.jpg|Trend
ComoyTrend07.jpg|Trend Nomenclature
File:ComoyVanguard01.jpg|Vanguard
File:ComoyVanguard09.jpg|Vanguard Nomenclature
Comoy's_1920's01.jpg|1920s example w/box
Comoy's_1920's_02.jpg|Box
Comoy's_1920's_03.jpg|1920s Example
File:ComoysOB01.jpg|Old Bruyere with H. Sutliff San Francisco (Tobacconist) stamp
File:ComoysOB07.jpg|Old Bruyere detail
File:ComoysOB08.jpg|Old Bruyere detail
ComoysOB2-01.jpg|Another Old Bruyere
ComoysOB2-07.jpg|Old Bruyere detail
ComoysOB2-08.jpg|Old Bruyere detail
File:SelectSG01.jpg|Selected Straight Grain
File:SelectSG07.jpg|Selected Straight Grain detail
File:SelectSG08.jpg|Catalog page showing Selected Straight Grain
Air-O-Dry1.jpg
Air-O-Dry2.jpg
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1919YaleComoyPoker2.jpg
1919YaleComoyPoker3.jpg
1919YaleComoyPoker4.jpg
== Seconds made by Comoy's == 
* Academy Award
* Ace of spades
* Ancestor
* Astor
* Ayres
* Britannia
* Brompton
* Canadian Club
* Carlyle
* Charles Cross
* Claridge
* Coronet?
* Cromwell
* Damman?
* Dorchester
* Dunbar
* Drury Lane
* Emerson
* Everyman
* Festival of Britain
* Golden Arrow
* Grand Master
* Gresham
* Guildhall
* Hamilton (according to Who Made That Pipe)
* Kingsway
* Lion's Head
* Lord Clive
* Lumberman
* Hyde Park
* Lloyds
* Mc Gahey
* Moorgate
* Newcastle
* Old Mariner?
* Oxford
* O'Gorman
* Rosebery Extra
* Royal Falcon
* Royal Guard
* Royal Lane
* Scotland Yard
* St James
* Sunrise
* Super Sports
* Sussex
* The Academy Award
* The Balmoral
* The Golden Arrow
* The Mansion House
* The Exmoor Pipe
* Treaty Bond
* Throgmorton
* Tinder Box Royal Coachman
* Townhall
* Trident
* Trocadero
* Westminster
* Wilshire
File:AcademyAward01.jpg|Academy Award
File:AcademyAward07.jpg|Academy Award Nomenclature
File:AcademyAward13.jpg|Academy Award box, sock, and pamphlet
File:AceSpades01.jpg|Ace of Spades (Early France)
File:AceSpades07.jpg|Ace of Spades detail
File:Ancestor01.jpg|Ancestor
File:Ancestor07.jpg|Ancestor Detail
File:Ancestor08.jpg|Ancestor Detail
File:Ancestor2-01.jpg|Ancestor
File:Ancestor2-07.jpg|Ancestor Detail
File:Ancestor2-08.jpg|Ancestor Detail
Ancestor296-01.jpg|Ancestor For Clubb's Los Angeles
Ancestor296-07.jpg|Ancester - Clubb's detail
File:AstorB01.jpg|Astor
File:AstorB07.jpg|Astor Detail (Straight Made in London England)
File:AstorB08.jpg|Astor Detail (Straight Made in London England)
File:AstorB09.jpg|Astor Detail (Straight Made in London England)
File:AstorBantam01.jpg|Astor Bantam
File:AstorBantam07.jpg|Astor Bantam Detail (Straight Made in London England stamp)
File:AstorBantam08.jpg|Astor Bantam Detail (Straight Made in London England stamp)
File:AstorBantam09.jpg|Astor Bantam Detail (Straight Made in London England stamp)
File:AstorBulldog01.jpg|Astor
File:AstorBulldog07.jpg|Astor Detail (Circle Stamp)
File:AstorBulldog08.jpg|Astor Detail (Circle Stamp)
Astor01.jpg|Astor Apple
Astor07.jpg|Astor Apple detail
Astor309-01.jpg|Astor 309 Billiard
Astor309-11.jpg|Astor 309 detail
File:Brompton01.jpg|Brompton
File:Brompton07.jpg|Brompton detail
CanadianClub01.jpg|Canadian Club
CanadianClub07.jpg|Canadian Club detail
CanadianClub08.jpg|Canadian Club detail
Carlyle01.jpg|Carlyle (1930s)
Carlyle08.jpg|Carlyle detail
Carlyle09.jpg|Carlyle detail
Carlyle10.jpg|Carlyle detail
File:DruryLane01.jpg|Drury Lane
File:DruryLane07.jpg|Drury Lane details
File:Dunbar01.jpg|Dunbar
File:Dunbar07.jpg|Dunbar details
File:Everyman01.jpg|A new Everyman w/Original Box
File:Everyman436B-01.jpg|Everyman shape 436B
File:Everyman436B-07.jpg|46B Detail
File:Everyman56-01.jpg|Everyman Shape 56
File:Everyman56-07.jpg|56 details
File:GoldenArrow.jpg|Golden Arrow box and sock
File:Guildhall02.jpg|Guildhall and original box
File:Guildhall07.jpg|Guildhall Nomenclature
File:Guildhall11.jpg|Guildhall details
Guildhall-Halmark01.jpg|Guildhall with 1980 Hallmark
Guildhall-Halmark07.jpg|1980 Details
Guildhall-Halmark08.jpg|1980 Details
File:Guildhall-332b-01.jpg|Guildhall 332B
File:Guildhall-332b-07.jpg|Guildhall 332B Details
File:Lumberman01.jpg|Lumberman
File:Lumberman09.jpg|Lumberman Nomenclature
File:Lumberman10.jpg|Lumberman Nomenclature
RoyalCoach01.jpg|Royal Coachman
RoyalCoach07.jpg|Royal Coachman Detail
File:RoyalFalcon01.jpg|Royal Falcon
File:RoyalFalcon07.jpg|Royal Falcon Nomenclature
File:RoyalFalconBent01.jpg|Royal Falcon
File:RoyalFalconBent07.jpg|Royal Falcon Nomenclature
File:RoyalFalconBent08.jpg|Royal Falcon Nomenclature
RoyalFalcon2-01.jpg|Early Comoy's Royal Falcon with circular Made in England stamp. Thin pencil shank pipe. 1930's?
RoyalFalcon2-07.jpg|Royal Falcon detail
RoyalFalcon2-08.jpg|Royal Falcon detail
RoyalFalcon2-09.jpg|Royal Falcon detail
RoyalFalcon2-10.jpg|Royal Falcon detail
RoyalFalcon2-17.jpg|Royal Falcon detail
RoyalFalcon3-01.jpg|Another Royal Falcon
RoyalFalcon3-07.jpg|Royal Falcon detail
RoyalFalcon3-13.jpg|The Maltese Falcon showing Royal Falcon brand stamp
RoyalLane2-01.jpg|Royal Lane
RoyalLane2-07.jpg|Royal Lane Nomenclature
File:RoyalL01.jpg|Royal Lane
File:RoyalL07.jpg|Royal Lane Nomenclature
File:RoyalL08.jpg|Royal Lane Detail
File:RoyalLane01.jpg|Royal Lane
File:RoyalLane05.jpg|Royal Lane Detail
File:RoyalLane07.jpg|Royal Lane Detail
File:RoyalLane08.jpg|Royal Lane Detail
File:Rugby01.jpg|Comoy's made RUGBY, with Made in France Rugby shaped stamp
File:Rugby07.jpg|Comoy's made RUGBY, with Made in France Rugby shaped stamp
File:StJames01.jpg|ST James
File:StJames07.jpg|ST James Nomenclature
File:Kingsway01.jpg|Kingsway
File:Kingsway07.jpg|Kingsway Nomenclature
File:Kingsway10.jpg|Kingsway Stem Insignia
File:Bearluck01.jpg|Bearluck, likely Comoy second
File:Bearluck07.jpg|Bearluck Detail
File:Bearluck08.jpg|Bearluck Detail, looks like an early Comoy "London Made" stamp
File:Gresham Giant.jpg|Gresham Giant with box and sock
File:Gresham Giant 2.jpg|Gresham Giant detail
Gresham01.jpg|Gresham, smooth bent billiard Magnum
Gresham07.jpg|Gresham Magnum detail
Gresham08.jpg|Gresham Magnum detail
Gresham09.jpg|Gresham Magnum detail
Gresham10.jpg|Gresham Magnum detail
Gresham2-01.jpg|Gresham
Gresham2-07.jpg|Gresham detail
Gresham2-box&sleeve.jpg|Gresham Box and Sleeve
Kingsway01.jpg|Kingsway, an early Compy'ssecond
Kingsway07.jpg|Kingsway Detail
Kingsway09.jpg|Kingsway Detail
Kingsway10.jpg|Kingsway Detail
File:Rosebery01.jpg|Rosebery Extra (Circa 1920's 30's)
File:Rosebery07.jpg|Rosebery Extra Detail
File:Rosebery08.jpg|Rosebery Extra Detail
File:Rosebery2-01.jpg|Rosebery Extra
File:Rosebery2-07.jpg
File:Rosebery14.jpg|Comoy's factory on Rosebery Ave
Rose302Bill01.jpg|Another Rosebery Extra
Rose302Bill08.jpg|Rosebery Extra Detail
Rose302Bill09.jpg|Rosebery Extra Detail
Rose302Bill10.jpg|Rosebery Extra Detail
Rose302Bill07.jpg|Rosebery Extra Detail
File:SuperSports01.jpg|Super Sports
File:SuperSports07.jpg|Super Sports detail
File:SuperSports08.jpg|Super Sports detail
SuperSports2-01.jpg|Super Sports
SuperSports2-07.jpg|Super Sports detail
TownHall01.jpg|Town Hall
TownHall07.jpg|Town Hall detail
TownHall15.jpg|Town Hall box
File:Trident01.jpg|Trident
File:Trident07.jpg|Trident details
File:Trocadero01.jpg|Trocadero (logo identical to Guildhall and others)
File:Trocadero07.jpg|Trocadero Detail
File:Trocadero08.jpg|Trocadero Detail
File:Trocadero11.jpg|Trocadero Unusual stinger
File:Trocadero15.jpg|Trocadero Reinforcement ring
TrocaderoBent01.jpg|Trocadero Bent
TrocaderoBent07.jpg|Trocadero Bent Detail
TrocaderoBent08.jpg|Trocadero Bent Detail
TrocaderoBent09.jpg|Trocadero Bent Detail
Trocadero10.jpg|Trocadero Bent Detail
SaracusseUniversityComoyRoyalFalconClassPipe2.jpg
SaracusseUniversityComoyRoyalFalconClassPipe3.jpg
1936SaracusseUniversityCo-opAD.jpg|Syracuse University Student Newspaper Class Pipe Ad
Comoy-Townhall-1.jpg
Comoy-Townhall-2.jpg
Comoy-Townhall-3.jpg
== Links == 
* Comoy's Dating Guide
* Comoy's Shape Number Chart
* A PDF copy of Comoy's Pipe Compendium, courtesy Michael DiCuccio
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Category: Pipe makers by nationality
Category: Great Britain
Category: Comoy's