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"Ben
Wade" Made in London, England |
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| "Ben
Wade" one of the great names in English pipe making. The company
started in the 1860's in Leeds, Yorkshire, where it was located for over
a century. The pipes were considered high grade and a major competitor
to Charatan. Like many British pipe companies it has had a checkered history.
In 1965 the company was sold to Charatan and was used to market their
seconds. At one time it was used to market some of the more traditional
Preben Holm pipes. In 1978 Charatan was absorbed by Dunhill group and
the brand was allowed to languish and discontinued in 1988. In 1998 it was resurrected and taken over by Duncan Briars, another great British pipe family. They have been making pipes since 1899. John Duncan, the grandson of the founder John Louis Duncan, turned over the company to his brother-in-law Peter Wilson, and so it remains , very much a family business. The drilling and finishing of these hand made pipes would put many far more expensive pipes to shame. The bowls are carved at the world famous 32 St. Andrews Road, Walthamstowe pipe factory, in London, England. The same factory where Dunhills are made. Every pipe is drilled spot on and exhibits a good blast and all have high quality German Vulcanite mouthpieces. Every pipe is stamped "Ben Wade, Made in London, England". "The craftsmanship and smokability have always been superb". Richard Carleton Hacker. Before I decided to offer these pipe I took a sample at random and smoked it hard for a week. 1-2 bowls every day. From the 1st pipe full it smoked well and continued to improve with every subsequent pipe full. It is now part of my regular rotation. I have no hesitation in recommending these pipes to discriminating smokers. |
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