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The Ashton-Talor [http://www.ashton-taylor.com/ website] | The Ashton-Talor [http://www.ashton-taylor.com/ website] | ||
[[File:Ashton2.jpg|thumb|Bill "Ashton" Taylor at the lathe, courtesy Doug Valitchka]] | |||
=== The Ashton Pipe Story === | === The Ashton Pipe Story === | ||
==== A man makes his mark ==== | ==== A man makes his mark ==== | ||
In 1959 a lad of 15 signed on with Alfred Dunhill Ltd as a capstan-lathe operator. Thus began the career in pipe making of one '''"William Ashton-Taylor"''', maker of the ASHTON smoking pipe. | In 1959 a lad of 15 signed on with Alfred Dunhill Ltd as a capstan-lathe operator. Thus began the career in pipe making of one '''"William Ashton-Taylor"''', maker of the ASHTON smoking pipe. | ||
Now at age 15 one didn't immediately begin to fashion pipes at Dunhill's. There was a long apprenticeship which involved much sweeping up of pieces of briar and vulcanite, and being "tea boy" to the pipe makers. But Bill showed keen interest in learning the craft. Even before he was permitted to attempt to make pipes at the factory he would bring home rejected bowls and mouthpieces in order to experiment. | [[Image:Ashton01.jpg|left]][[File:Ashton.jpg|thumb|Bill "Ashton" Taylor, courtesy Doug Valitchka]]Now at age 15 one didn't immediately begin to fashion pipes at Dunhill's. There was a long apprenticeship which involved much sweeping up of pieces of briar and vulcanite, and being "tea boy" to the pipe makers. But Bill showed keen interest in learning the craft. Even before he was permitted to attempt to make pipes at the factory he would bring home rejected bowls and mouthpieces in order to experiment. | ||
Several of the "masters of the bench" noticed Bill's interest, but these were very serious craftsmen, and each had developed processes over the years which they were loathe to share with each other, let alone the newcomer. Finally Harry Saigrott, having recognized Bill's exceptional raw talent, began to share his expertise which was in the art of making the mouthpiece and mating it to the bowl. In time the others came round and Bill was able to learn all the jealously guarded processes that had made the Dunhill pipe the world's finest. | Several of the "masters of the bench" noticed Bill's interest, but these were very serious craftsmen, and each had developed processes over the years which they were loathe to share with each other, let alone the newcomer. Finally Harry Saigrott, having recognized Bill's exceptional raw talent, began to share his expertise which was in the art of making the mouthpiece and mating it to the bowl. In time the others came round and Bill was able to learn all the jealously guarded processes that had made the Dunhill pipe the world's finest. | ||
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[[Image:FirstYearAshtonPanels.jpg|right|thumb|A Pair Of 1983 Ashton Sandblasts (Pre-Pebble Grain - Image Courtesy of Mike Ahmadi]] | [[Image:FirstYearAshtonPanels.jpg|right|thumb|A Pair Of 1983 Ashton Sandblasts (Pre-Pebble Grain - Image Courtesy of Mike Ahmadi]] | ||
[[Image:FirstYearPanelsTopView.jpg|center|thumb|A Pair Of 1983 Ashtons (Note The Fantastic Sandblasting) - Image Courtesy of Mike Ahmadi]] | [[Image:FirstYearPanelsTopView.jpg|center|thumb|A Pair Of 1983 Ashtons (Note The Fantastic Sandblasting) - Image Courtesy of Mike Ahmadi]] | ||
The first pipe was made in 1983. From this year and at least up to 2002 pipes were stamped with a suffix number after the origin "Made in England". It starts with no. 3 in 1983 and continues counting up to no. | The first pipe was made in 1983. From this year and at least up to 2002 pipes were stamped with a suffix number after the origin "Made in England". It starts with no. 3 in 1983 and continues counting up to no. 25 in 2005. First year pipes were stamped with simple block lettering and did not include a finish stamping. The origin on first year pipes was stamped "MADE IN LONDON ENGLAND". There were only 31 pipes made in total in 1983, which means they are quite rare and sought by Ashton collectors. | ||
---- | ---- | ||
<gallery widths=215px caption="Circa 1998 EXL Sovereign, courtesy Doug Valitchka"> | |||
File:Ashton Billiard01.jpg | |||
File:Ashton Billiard08.jpg | |||
File:Ashton Billiard09.jpg | |||
File:Ashton Billiard13.jpg | |||
</gallery> | |||
=== Finishes & Grading === | |||
'''Ashton Pipe Finishes & Grading:''' | |||
*1: Sandblast - | |||
**a. Pebble Grain (Pebble Grain) - dark | |||
**b. Old Church - Natural (OC) | |||
*2: Claret & Gilt Edge - smooth with a burgundy to gold burgundy color | |||
*3: Oak - dark smooth | |||
*4: Sovereign - smooth natural | |||
*5: Sovereign SG - smooth natural straight grain, # 1- 5 | |||
*6: Achievement - pipes that have some unusual work on them, spiraling, bamboo etc. | |||
*SIZING: X, XX, XXX, LX, ELX, Magnum | |||
<center><gallery widths=250 heights=185 caption="Various examples and details, courtesy Doug Valtichka"> | |||
File:AshtonOldChurch01.jpg|Old Church | |||
File:AshtonOldChurch07.jpg|Old Church Detail | |||
File:AshtonOldChurch09.jpg|Old Church Detail | |||
File:AshtonPebble Grain01.jpg|Pebble Grain | |||
File:AshtonPebble Grain07.jpg|Pebble Grain Detail | |||
File:AshtonPebble Grain08.jpg|Pebble Grain Detail | |||
File:AshtonPebble Grain11.jpg|Pebble Grain Detail | |||
File:AshtonSovereignB01.jpg|Sovereign | |||
File:AshtonSovereignB07.jpg|Sovereign Detail | |||
File:AshtonSovereignB08.jpg|Sovereign Detail | |||
File:AshtonSovereignB10.jpg|Sovereign Detail | |||
</gallery> | |||
<br> | |||
<gallery heights=300 widths=280 caption="Ashton Old Church 215 XXX by Jimmy Craig, courtesy Dennis Dreyer Collection"> | |||
File:AshtonOldChurchJade01.jpg | |||
File:AshtonOldChurchJade03.jpg | |||
File:AshtonOldChurchJade04.jpg | |||
File:AshtonOldChurchJade06.jpg | |||
</gallery> | |||
<font size="1">Photos by Chance Whittamore</font> | |||
</center> | |||
=== Off site links === | === Off site links === | ||
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=== Ashton pipes are available from === | === Ashton pipes are available from === | ||
<revive zone="6" align="right" caption="An excellent selection of Ashton pipes is available at Pipedia Underwriter, Pipes2Smoke.com" /> | |||
<revive zone="7" align="right" caption="An excellent selection of Ashton pipes is available at Pipedia Underwriter, lepipe.it" /> | |||
[http://www.lepipe.it/en/pipedia.asp?utm_source=pipedia&=utm_medium=pipedia&=utm_campaign=pipedia lepipe.it] | |||
Pipes2smoke.com: [http://www.pipes2smoke.com/Ashton.htm pipes2smoke.com] | Pipes2smoke.com: [http://www.pipes2smoke.com/Ashton.htm pipes2smoke.com] | ||