Brigham Pipes – A Closer Look at Dots, Dates and Markings: Difference between revisions

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[[File:DadsPipesBanner.JPG|link=https://dadspipes.com/|thumb|500px|Many thanks to Charles Lemon of [https://dadspipes.com/ DadsPipes.com] for permission to re-publish this wonderful article.]]
[[File:DadsPipesBanner.JPG|link=https://dadspipes.com/|thumb|500px|Many thanks to Charles Lemon of [https://dadspipes.com/ DadsPipes.com] for permission to re-publish this wonderful article.]]
== Introduction ==
== Introduction ==
Last updated 8 Feb 2018
As both a Canadian and a pipe lover, it is perhaps inevitable that I hold a special place in my heart for Canadian-made pipes, especially those produced by Brigham Pipes, one of the country’s oldest pipe-makers, and one that has survived two World Wars, the Great Depression, countless lesser economic upheavals, and the more recent and radical cultural shift away from tobacco use.
As both a Canadian and a pipe lover, it is perhaps inevitable that I hold a special place in my heart for Canadian-made pipes, especially those produced by Brigham Pipes, one of the country’s oldest pipe-makers, and one that has survived two World Wars, the Great Depression, countless lesser economic upheavals, and the more recent and radical cultural shift away from tobacco use.


I have several dozen vintage Brigham pipes in my personal collection, and over time I have developed some fluency for identifying and dating the various examples of briarwork, both pedestrian and remarkable, with which I have been fortunate to become acquainted. My goal here is to present, as clearly as possible, a concise guide to decoding the stamps, markings and other features of Brigham pipes over seven distinct periods of production.
I have dozens of vintage Brigham pipes in my personal collection, and over time I have developed some fluency for identifying and dating the various examples of briarwork, both pedestrian and remarkable, with which I have been fortunate to become acquainted. My goal here is to present, as clearly as possible, a concise guide to decoding the stamps, markings and other features of Brigham pipes over seven distinct periods of production.


Data for this project has been gleaned from many sources, including, but not limited to, the “official” (if scant and sometimes confused) Brigham history published on the company’s website, other online resources such as pipe logo and markings site Pipephil.eu and forum posts by other Brigham enthusiasts, and, where available, vintage catalogs and firsthand examination. If there are flaws or faults in the information presented below, I assume all responsibility and would be thrilled to receive expert correction from confirmed and documented sources.
Data for this project has been gleaned from many sources, including, but not limited to, the “official” (if scant and sometimes confusing) Brigham history published on the company’s website, other online resources such as pipe logo and markings site [http://www.pipephil.eu/ Pipephil.eu], forum posts by other Brigham enthusiasts, and, where available, vintage catalogs and firsthand examination. If there are flaws or faults in the information presented below, I assume all responsibility and would be thrilled to receive expert correction from confirmed and documented sources.


EDIT: In April of 2017, I received an email from Daniel More, President of Brigham Enterprises Inc, with his input on this paper, which I have incorporated into the information presented below.
'''EDIT:''' In April of 2017, I received an email from Daniel More, President of Brigham Enterprises Inc, with his input on this paper, which I have incorporated into the information presented below. '''Pipedia Editors note''': And these edits were subsequently added to the Pipedia article --[[User:Sethile|sethile]] ([[User talk:Sethile|talk]]) 15:52, 12 April 2017 (CDT)


=== Brigham Production Eras ===
=== Brigham Production Eras ===
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=== Other Pinning Patterns to 1980 ===
=== Other Pinning Patterns to 1980 ===
In the late 1960’s and 1970’s, Brigham was working on revising its grading system to simplify pin configurations and reduce consumer confusion around the multiple 3-Dot configurations. During this transitional time, the product line was reduced, dropping several of the original grades.


In the late 1960s and 1970s, the Brigham Norsemen and Valhalla series of larger, Scandinavian-inspired pipe shapes carried their own configuration of Dots. These two series shared the same 6 shapes.
The progression, found below in the 1975 Brigham catalog, shows 1 through 4-Dot grades, followed by Special Grain (stamped with the old VIP Horizontal 3-Dot pins) and Select Grain (pinned as a 5-Dot).


The Norsemen were fully rusticated and pinned with the old Brigham VIP 3 Dot horizontally aligned pattern, with the middle Dot larger than the other two. They were stamped with “9Wx”, where “x” indicated the shape number (3 through 7).
[[File:Brigham-dots-1975.jpg]]


The Valhalla series of smooth or partially rusticated pipes were available in three grades, A, B and C, with C being the highest grade. A Valhalla pipe in Shape 6 could therefore be stamped “AW6”, “BW6” or “CW6” depending on grade. Dot patterns on the stem ranged from 3 dots (A grade) to 6 Dots (C grade).
=== Norseman and Valhalla Series ===
 
[[File:2nvdxxi.jpg|thumb|right]] the late 1960s and 1970s, the Brigham Norsemen and Valhalla series of larger, Scandinavian-inspired pipe shapes carried their own configuration of Dots. These two series shared the same 6 shapes.
 
The Norsemen were fully rusticated and pinned with the old Brigham VIP 3 Dot horizontally aligned pattern, with the middle Dot larger than the other two. They were stamped with “9Wx”, where “x” indicated the shape number (2 through 7).
 
The Valhalla series of smooth or partially rusticated pipes were available in three grades, A, B and C, with C being the highest grade. A Valhalla pipe in Shape 6 could therefore be stamped “AV6”, “BV6” or “CV6” depending on grade. Dot patterns on the stem ranged from 4 dots (A grade) to 6 Dots (C grade).


[[File:BrighamArticle OtherPinningPatterns(to1980).jpg]]
[[File:BrighamArticle OtherPinningPatterns(to1980).jpg]]
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''"Until the mid-70’s Brigham would, from time to time, manufacture non-filtered pipes. That said, this was infrequent and in limited quantities. Principally the motive was to use small bowls with thin shanks that could not accommodate the Brigham System.” – Daniel More, President, Brigham Enterprises''
''"Until the mid-70’s Brigham would, from time to time, manufacture non-filtered pipes. That said, this was infrequent and in limited quantities. Principally the motive was to use small bowls with thin shanks that could not accommodate the Brigham System.” – Daniel More, President, Brigham Enterprises''


The latest pipes to be offered without a filter belonged to Brigham’s Platinum Series, introduced in the 1990’s:
[[File:Platinum-series-354-bent-apple.jpg|thumb|left|Platinum Series 354]]The latest pipes to be offered without a filter belonged to Brigham’s Platinum Series, introduced in the 1990’s:


'''“This initiative was in response to our expanding sales into the USA. Being met with resistance against filtered pipes in the USA (even though the Brigham System is not, in fact, a filter) we countered this opposition with non-filtered pipes. Interesting to note that when offered the option, the Brigham System was favoured.” – Daniel More, President, Brigham Enterprises''
'''“This initiative was in response to our expanding sales into the USA. Being met with resistance against filtered pipes in the USA (even though the Brigham System is not, in fact, a filter) we countered this opposition with non-filtered pipes. Interesting to note that when offered the option, the Brigham System was favoured.” – Daniel More, President, Brigham Enterprises''
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=== Modern Brigham Pipes ===
=== Modern Brigham Pipes ===


Except for the lowest three grades, pipes in the current (2007) Brigham series cannot be identified by brass pins or shape availability. All grades are available in 12 shapes, but are distinguished by their unique finishes and markings.
Except for the lowest three grades, pipes in the current (2007) Brigham series cannot be identified by brass pins or shape availability. All grades are available in 12 standard shapes, but are distinguished by their unique finishes and markings. As noted above, the Voyageur, Algonquin and Mountaineer pipes are made in Italy, while the remaining pipes in this series (Chinook, Heritage, Klondike and Acadian) are produced in France.


[[File:BrighamArticle 2007BrighamSeries.jpg]]
[[File:BrighamArticle 2007BrighamSeries.jpg]]
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[[File:Brigham Giant.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Brigham Giante Semi-Bent Sandblast]]Not content to rest on their laurels, Brigham has recently introduced a new range of pipes, the Giante Series. As the name implies, these pipes are larger, designed to provide a longer smoke from a single bowl. They are available in three traditional shapes (Bent (Egg), Semi-Bent (Brandy) and Straight (Billiard)) and in either a reddish-brown smooth or black sandblast finish. All of them come with the Brigham Rock Maple filter system.
[[File:Brigham Giant.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Brigham Giante Semi-Bent Sandblast]]Not content to rest on their laurels, Brigham has recently introduced a new range of pipes, the Giante Series. As the name implies, these pipes are larger, designed to provide a longer smoke from a single bowl. They are available in three traditional shapes (Bent (Egg), Semi-Bent (Brandy) and Straight (Billiard)) and in either a reddish-brown smooth or black sandblast finish. All of them come with the Brigham Rock Maple filter system.


== Conclusion ==
== Conclusion ==
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