Barling
This article is only a stub and needs extensive work. Our hope is that Barling experts will contribute and oversee the development of this important article. Barlings collectors, PLEASE HELP! This is terribly inadequate, but one must start someplace. Please dive in, or E-mail me if you have expertise and simply need help getting it in here: mailto:sethilepipes@gmail.com
The Company
Barling is a great name in pipes among smokers and collectors alike. The original Barlings were silversmiths in England during the latter part of the 1700's and their slver mountings first appeared on pipes in 1812. A very famous old English classic, making mostly traditional English shapes. The company entered a "modern" phase in 1851 when they began carving pipes out of briar. Over the next 109 years the company gained an enviable reputation for the unique shapes and smokability of their pipes. The company was sold by the Barling family in 1960 to the Imperial Tobacco Company, and after a brief transition period, the quality and identity went down hill rapidly.
The periods
Barling has gone through three distinct periods, which dramatically effect collectability of the pipes. These are referred to as the Pre-transition, Transition, and Post Transition periods. The "pre-transition" pipes are highly sought after by collectors and have excellent smoking and aesthetic qualities. These pipes are famous for the "old wood" from which they were made. Many of the "transition" pipes were made from pre-transition bowls, and by the same craftsman. Therefore, many of the early transition pieces possess the same excellent qualities as the pre-transition pieces, yet they are not easily identified from later transition and post transition pieces, which were plagued by inferior materials and craftsmanship. While the transition pieces are not prized by collectors, some consider the early transition pieces an excellent value. The late transition, and post transition pipes have had a rocky road at best.
The literature is inconclusive on the exact dates of these periods. But the following is an attempt at reconciling the data:
Pre-Transition
The Pre-Transition period extends to 1960. The Barling family controlled production up till this point. Quality was excellent. Some sources indicate that the transition started as early as 1952 others as late as 1962. Others indicate a marked inconstancy in quality starting as early as 1950.
Pre- Trans Nomenclature
Pre-transition nomenclature includes BARLINGS MAKE in block lettering, and three digit shape numbers, and sizes were noted with M, L, EL, EXEL, EXEXEL, and G. According to Tad Gage, the only four-digit number that denotes a Pre-Transition piece begins with "1," which was used for pipes sold in England. Any other four-digit Barling pipe is a transitional piece-- (Tad Gage in P & T magazine). Note: Pre-transition Guinea Grain pipes had BARLING'S MAKE in script, but experts indicate all other BARLING'S MAKE script pieces would be transition or post transition. [this needs to be expanded with other relevant markings-- Pipedia SYSOP]
Transition
The early transitional Phase is generally considered 1960-1962, the first two years after the Barling family sold the company. However, some sources classify early transition as 1952-1962, apparently to include the last eight years of Barling family ownership, noting what they observe a "lessoning" of the standards that pre-dates the actual change of ownership. Others indicate that the only significant changes in the early transition pipes (1960 to 1962) were to the nomenclature. The changes in nomenclature are difficult to follow, however, and regardless, while perhaps excellent smokers, even early transition pipes are far less valuable to collectors than pre-transition.
Initially, the transition company used the remaining stock of bowls that were turned by the original family run company, and then proceeded to turn more bowls with old wood remaining in inventory, and at least initially, this work was performed by many of the same craftsman. Some consider the transition pipes to be an excellent value, while later transition pieces are nearly valueless, making it an exciting gamble for those so inclined!
The late Transitional Phase is 1962-1967. Speculation being that very little if any older wood remained in the factory after 1964. Most, if not all of the craftsman working under the Barling family had also have left by this time.
Transition Nomenclature
Right after the sale a new numbering system was put in place using four digits instead of the previous three digits. The first digit indicates size, and the next three represent the shape number. So for example 3374, 4374, and 5374 were all the same shape, just three different sizes. Sizes started at "2" and went up to "6" followed by King. This loosely followed the old M, L, EL, EXEL, EXEXEL, G sizing system.
You will occasionally find a pipe that has two shape numbers, an obvious pre-transition number (and corresponding pre-transition nomenclature, such as block BARLINGS MAKE lettering) as well as a post-trans 4-digit shape number. These are likely pre-transition pieces that were completed and in the inventory of Barling when the company was sold to the transition company and re-stamped by them.
For a short while, the transition company apparently used a very small BARLING'S MAKE stamp (from before the war), along with their new four digit shape numbers. So one might mistake this for a pre-transition piece, and they were likely made from the same old stock of briar. It's difficult to know if a pipe marked this way was made by the pre-transition company and finished by the transition company, or if they are transition made pipes.
In addition to the four digit shape numbers, the transition company switched over to a "Barlings" in script for the shank nomenclature (instead of the block "BARLING'S arched over "MAKE".) These pipes are all either transition, or post transition pipes.
To further complicate matters, Barling used to sell their pipes to various shops, and would stamp the shop's name on the pipe. These were older pieces, from the 1950's or earlier. One shop in particular, JJ Fox is believed to have stamped their own shape numbers on the pipe.
Other changes in nomenclature made by the transition company include dropping the "EXEL" size indication (as this was redundant now), and the period in "MADE IN ENGLAND." was also dropped. "YE OLDE WOOD" was also removed (at least for a time).
A complicating factor is that over the next few years, nomenclature changed back and forth. T.V.F. was removed and put back as well as YE OLDE WOOD. At some point either the transition or post-transition company also returned to using the EXEL, EL, size stamps, along with the new numbering system.
Conclusion: The early transition pipes are considered good pipes. Most were made from old-stock briar. They are also good values on the estate market, although the early transitions, marked with the small "BARLING'S MAKE", are starting to get more expensive. The difficulty is determining in which part of the transition period any given pipe was made.
Post Transition
Some sources indicate the Post Transition is from 1967 onward, but as far as most collectors are concerned, the transition period was complete in 1962. Most if not all of the older wood was used up by this time. Post-transition pipes are not considered to be of near the quality of the transition pipes, let alone the pre-transition pipes.
Post Transition Nomenclature
Unfortunately there are many similarities between transition and so-called "Post-transition" nomenclature, so the question becomes, how to tell the difference?
Most transition pieces will have "Barlings" in script, and the 4 digit shape number. However, so will most post-transition pieces. In light of this, most collectors work from a process of elimination. Here are some factors to be considered:
- Anything that is "a line", such as "Regency", "Vintage", "Londoner", etc.. are post transition.
- Molded stems are post-transition.
- Handcut stems are transition.
- Poor grain and fills are post trans.
- Made In Denmark stamps are post transition.
- Small "BARLING'S MAKE" in block lettering that is arched, with a 4 digit number is likely transition, or possibly a pre-transition if other factors are in place.
- The "Barling"-style saddle stem and button are transition.
- Pipes stampled MADE IN ENGLAND are transition.
If a non-pre-transition Barling has the Barlings in a script, a 4-digit shape number, good grain with some pitting and good workmanship, and a typically-styled handcut Barling saddle bit, you can be reasonably certain is a transition pipe.
Sources
- Rare Smoke, Volume 1, by Richard Carleton Hacker
- Pipe.org discussion [3]
- Several A.S.P posts Micheal Lindner[4], Mel Feldman[5], and others.
- Mel Feldman's site: http://thesmoker.com/ generally has a lot of Barlings, with good indications of the nomenclature as it relates to period of manufacture. It was also mentioned that Mel is writing a book on Barlings. Mel's contact information is: The Smoker, P.O. Box # 3036, Albany, NY 12203; Phone:(518) 462-1302 (Mon-Fri. 9:00am - 5:00pm). E-mail: mailto:pipes@thesmoker.com
Sources to check (please help if you have these. I'm trying to get them)
- "A smoker's guide to Barling" by Tad Gage in "Pipe Friendly" vol. 1, # 3 pp. 7, 1995.
- "Tad Gage article on Barling in the "Spring" 2000 edition of Pipes & Tobacco Magazine.
It is our hope we can secure permission to re-publish one of Tad's articles here, and perhaps get his expertise to further develop this article. We also hope to interest Mel Feldman in contributing some of his excellent materials and expertise.