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Barling: Difference between revisions
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[[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. | [[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 | 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 until 1967. | ||
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. | ||
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[[File:brochure02_03.jpg|thumb|200px|Plate from 1957 Brochure]][[File:brochure02_01.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. | |||
The Pipet line of pipes had a script "Barling" logo, no apostrophe and no "s", presaging the later transition period logo.<br> | The Pipet line of pipes had a script "Barling" logo, no apostrophe and no "s", presaging the later transition period logo.<br> | ||
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Following the granting of the patent in 1935, Barling stems featured the following patent numbers: | Following the granting of the patent in 1935, Barling stems featured the following patent numbers: | ||
<u>REG'D</u> 98 046 - US patent number - 1935 - 1949 | *<u>REG'D</u> 98 046 - US patent number - 1935 - 1949 | ||
*<u>REG'D</u> 42/8968 - WW2 production - 1942 - 1949 | |||
<u>REG'D</u> 42/8968 - WW2 production - 1942 - 1949 | *<u>REG'D</u> 754 068 - UK patent number(?) - 1935-1949 | ||
*Barling Design - 1950 - 1962 | |||
<u>REG'D</u> 754 068 - UK patent number(?) - 1935-1949 | |||
Barling Design - 1950 - 1962 | |||
Not all pipes have this stamping on the underside of the stem, but its presence is a good indicator for the period of manufacture. | Not all pipes have this stamping on the underside of the stem, but its presence is a good indicator for the period of manufacture. | ||
====Pre- Trans Grades==== | ====Pre- Trans Grades==== | ||
Pre-Transition pipes come in a number of grades: | Pre-Transition pipes come in a number of grades: | ||
Standard | *Standard | ||
Standard Ye Olde Wood - sometimes referred to by collectors as YOW, which may have a dark or plum stain | *Standard Ye Olde Wood - sometimes referred to by collectors as YOW, which may have a dark or plum stain | ||
Ye Olde Wood Special - pipes with a nicer grain figure and which are left natural rather than stained dark | *TVF may be a slightly higher grade of YOW | ||
Birdseye - pipes with particularly nice Birdseye grain - one of the rarest of Barling stampings | *Ye Olde Wood Special - pipes with a nicer grain figure and which are left natural rather than stained dark | ||
Guinea Grain - something between a flame grain and a straight grain - these pipes have a script “Barling’s” logo. They were also oil treated to bring out the contrast in the grain. | *Birdseye - pipes with particularly nice Birdseye grain - one of the rarest of Barling stampings | ||
Straight Grain - Barling’s highest grade - these don’t have model numbers. | *Guinea Grain - something between a flame grain and a straight grain - these pipes have a script “Barling’s” logo. They were also oil treated to bring out the contrast in the grain. | ||
Presentation Straight Grain - the rarest of the rare - an EXEXEL size would have sold for $7500.00 in today’s dollars! | *Straight Grain - Barling’s highest grade - these don’t have model numbers. | ||
*Presentation Straight Grain - the rarest of the rare - an EXEXEL size would have sold for $7500.00 in today’s dollars! | |||
In addition, in a category all by themselves, are the Quaints. | In addition, in a category all by themselves, are the Quaints. | ||
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====Early Transition==== | ====Early Transition==== | ||
Occasionally one sees a Barling pipe for sale whose owner claims it to be an “early transition” piece. The stampings look exactly the same as any other transition piece, with a script Barling logo and London England in block lettering underneath. So, how to tell? | [[Image:GuineaGrainBent.jpg|thumb|left|250px|A Transition period "Barling's Guinea Grain". Note the wonderful straight grain, as well as a Pre-transition Guinea Grain logo with a so called Transition model number stamp - Courtesy of Mike Ahmadi]]Occasionally one sees a Barling pipe for sale whose owner claims it to be an “early transition” piece. The stampings look exactly the same as any other transition piece, with a script Barling logo and London England in block lettering underneath. So, how to tell? | ||
Some very experienced collectors claim to be able to recognize the wood as being of Pre-Transition origin, while others claim that it’s the feel of the para-vulcanite stems. But for the vast majority there is no obvious method of identification. | Some very experienced collectors claim to be able to recognize the wood as being of Pre-Transition origin, while others claim that it’s the feel of the para-vulcanite stems. But for the vast majority there is no obvious method of identification. | ||