1923 Dunhill shape "24" Bulldog (restore & restem)
Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2020 6:10 pm
A Dunhill collector doesn't need to see this pipe's date stamp to know it's an early one. When Alfred & Co. were getting their blasting process dialed in they often "morphed" the shape of the stummel. Presumably they were tossed if the distortion went too far, but "too far" was subjective. I suppose the final graders had a say as well as the company's cost accountants.
Anyway, while a modest and lovely little pipe in every way, it was particularly difficult to re-stem because the shank both trumpeted/flared and had a twist in it. Extending the line(s) became an exercise in sleight-of-hand (eye?) and splitting differences, pretty much, meaning instead of simply following absolutes I had to be subjective.
The original stem was lost, so I've no idea how that situation was dealt with. (The rest of the particulars were just taken from an existing 24).
.
Anyway, while a modest and lovely little pipe in every way, it was particularly difficult to re-stem because the shank both trumpeted/flared and had a twist in it. Extending the line(s) became an exercise in sleight-of-hand (eye?) and splitting differences, pretty much, meaning instead of simply following absolutes I had to be subjective.
The original stem was lost, so I've no idea how that situation was dealt with. (The rest of the particulars were just taken from an existing 24).
.