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Barling: Difference between revisions
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''' | '''''Many thanks to Jesse Silver for extensive work editing and contributing to this article. Thanks to Jesse we have made excellent progress on this last revision, but we are always looking for additional information and documentation on the fascinating history of Barling. --[[User:Sethile|sethile]] ([[User talk:Sethile|talk]]) 19:33, 10 May 2013 (UTC) | ||
''Many thanks to Jesse Silver for extensive work editing and contributing to this article. | |||
[[Image:Barling_cased_pair.gif|thumb|400px|Cased Pair, Pre-trans, Derek Green Collection[http://www.derek-green.com/Others.htm]]] | [[Image:Barling_cased_pair.gif|thumb|400px|Cased Pair, Pre-trans, Derek Green Collection[http://www.derek-green.com/Others.htm]]] | ||
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</gallery></center> | </gallery></center> | ||
[[Image:1909SilverSpigot.jpg|thumb|200px|Barling 1909 Silver Spigot Billiard, Courtesy [http://www.finepipes.com/english.php?pipemakerID=25 Finepipes.com]]][[Image:BalringBent.jpg|thumb|200px|Barling c. 1930 EXEXEL-Sized Classic Bent Billiard, courtesy, [http://www.finepipes.com/english.php?pipemakerID=25 FinePipes.com]]][[Image:Barling_pre_lovat.jpg|thumb|200px|Pre-trans Lovat, [http://smokershaven.com Smokershaven.com]]]Richard Carleton Hacker is the author of numerous books on collectible and historic pipes including Rare Smoke - The Ultimate Guide To Pipe Collecting. According to Hacker, the Barling family sold the company to the Imperial Tobacco Company in 1960. However, Tad Gage states that the year was 1962. Peter Macnab, writing about the history of the company for Tobacco Magazine in 1982 gives the year as 1961 when B. Barling & Sons was sold to Finlay’s, their largest customer and a part of the Imperial Tobacco group. | |||
[[Image:1909SilverSpigot.jpg|thumb|200px|Barling 1909 Silver Spigot Billiard, Courtesy [http://www.finepipes.com/english.php?pipemakerID=25 Finepipes.com]]][[Image:BalringBent.jpg|thumb|200px|Barling c. 1930 EXEXEL-Sized Classic Bent Billiard, courtesy, [http://www.finepipes.com/english.php?pipemakerID=25 FinePipes.com]]][[Image:Barling_pre_lovat.jpg|thumb|200px|Pre-trans Lovat, [http://smokershaven.com Smokershaven.com]]][[Image:BarlingBent.jpg|thumb|200px|A pre-transition Barling bent exhibiting better than average grain, Courtesy of Mike Ahmadi ]][[Image:BarlingBentFossil.jpg|thumb|200px|Pre-Transition Barling Bent Fossil, which are very rare. Note the wonderful sandblast, Courtesy of Mike Ahmadi]][[Image:BarlingSpecial.jpg|thumb|200px|Pre-Transition Barling Special, Courtesy of Mike Ahmadi]]Richard Carleton Hacker is the author of numerous books on collectible and historic pipes including Rare Smoke - The Ultimate Guide To Pipe Collecting. According to Hacker, the Barling family sold the company to the Imperial Tobacco Company in 1960. However, Tad Gage states that the year was 1962. Peter Macnab, writing about the history of the company for Tobacco Magazine in 1982 gives the year as 1961 when B. Barling & Sons was sold to Finlay’s, their largest customer and a part of the Imperial Tobacco group. | |||
Regardless of the year of the sale, the Barling family was running the company in 1962. Montague Barling was still the president of the company and Williamson Barling was still the general manager, a position in which he would continue to1967. | Regardless of the year of the sale, the Barling family was running the company in 1962. Montague Barling was still the president of the company and Williamson Barling was still the general manager, a position in which he would continue to1967. | ||
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It has recently come to light that letters exist, which were written by Montague Barling from the period of April thru June of 1962, during which time the Barling Company presented pipes to celebrity pipe smokers to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the company. We have included a sample of that correspondence in the form of an exchange of letters between Mr. Barling and Bing Crosby. Montague Barling’s stationery clearly bears the imprint of “President”. On the basis of this evidence we can set aside the 1960 sale date in favor of either late 1961 or 1962. | It has recently come to light that letters exist, which were written by Montague Barling from the period of April thru June of 1962, during which time the Barling Company presented pipes to celebrity pipe smokers to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the company. We have included a sample of that correspondence in the form of an exchange of letters between Mr. Barling and Bing Crosby. Montague Barling’s stationery clearly bears the imprint of “President”. On the basis of this evidence we can set aside the 1960 sale date in favor of either late 1961 or 1962. | ||
<center><gallery widths= | <center><gallery widths=175 heights=275> | ||
File:Bing Barling1.jpg|1962 Letter, From Montague Barling to Bing, Courtesy Peter Ashton | File:Bing Barling1.jpg|1962 Letter, From Montague Barling to Bing, Courtesy Peter Ashton | ||
File:Bing Barling3.jpg|1962 Letter, From Bing to Montague Barling, Courtesy Peter Ashton | File:Bing Barling3.jpg|1962 Letter, From Bing to Montague Barling, Courtesy Peter Ashton | ||
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<center>'''''Yours sincerely,'''''<br> | <center>'''''Yours sincerely,'''''<br> | ||
''''' B. Barling & Sons, LTD.'''''</center> | ''''' B. Barling & Sons, LTD.'''''</center> | ||
Not being stupid, Bing happily accepted the presentation gift. | Not being stupid, Bing happily accepted the presentation gift. | ||
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===Pre-Transition 1812 - 1962=== | ===Pre-Transition 1812 - 1962=== | ||
The Barling family controlled production up till this point. Quality was excellent, however some sources indicate a marked inconsistency in quality starting as early as 1954.<br> | |||
These pipes were made from old growth “extra extra” grade Algerian briar, of a quality no longer available. Barling conducted their own harvesting operations, looking for roots that ranged from 80 - 150 years of age. While many find the grain to be beautiful, this was not the aim of the Barling Company, and many of their pipes have rather unremarkable grain. The Barling Company’s intent was simple, to create the finest smoking instruments in the history of the world. Many connoisseurs believe that they achieved that goal admirably. | These pipes were made from old growth “extra extra” grade Algerian briar, of a quality no longer available. Barling conducted their own harvesting operations, looking for roots that ranged from 80 - 150 years of age. While many find the grain to be beautiful, this was not the aim of the Barling Company, and many of their pipes have rather unremarkable grain. The Barling Company’s intent was simple, to create the finest smoking instruments in the history of the world. Many connoisseurs believe that they achieved that goal admirably. | ||
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</gallery></center> | </gallery></center> | ||
[[Image:GuineaGrainBent.jpg|thumb| | |||
[[Image:GuineaGrainBent.jpg|thumb|left|A "Barling's Guinea Grain" bent pipe. Note the wonderful straight grain - Courtesy of Mike Ahmadi]][[File:brochure02_03.jpg|thumb|200px|Plate from 1957 Brochure]][[File:brochure02_01.jpg|thumb|left|Plate from 1957 Brochure]][[File:brochure02_08.jpg|thumb|200px|Plate from 1957 Brochure]]A script “Barling’s” logo is used for the Pre-Transition Guinea Grain grade. In addition to the script “Barling’s” logo the pipes hare an “EB” and “Regd” stampings. | |||
And, horror of horrors, there are a few Pre-Transition pipes that have a script “Barling” logo. | And, horror of horrors, there are a few Pre-Transition pipes that have a script “Barling” logo. | ||
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</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
<Gallery caption="These appear to be transition and post transition pipes"> | |||
<Gallery caption=" | |||
File:Barling 5589.jpg | File:Barling 5589.jpg | ||
File:Barling 5589(2).jpg | File:Barling 5589(2).jpg | ||