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Caminetto: Difference between revisions
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Ironically enough, the increasing demand soon drove Ascorti and Radice to the limits of their production abilities. The brand had been introduced successfully in Germany, and in Italy to some extent. By the end of 1970 more hands were needed. Even Ascorti's elder son, '''Roberto Ascorti''' (born 1958; and the current owner) helped with stamping and shipping the pipes when he was just a schoolboy. The most important employee is '''Cesare Vigano''', who has worked for Caminetto / Ascorti for more than thirty years. To bring about more stability and higher production, Davoli invested a considerable amount of money in modern pipemaking machinery, and in doing so went from distributor to co-owner of Caminetto. By 1973 he held the vast majority of the company's capital. | Ironically enough, the increasing demand soon drove Ascorti and Radice to the limits of their production abilities. The brand had been introduced successfully in Germany, and in Italy to some extent. By the end of 1970 more hands were needed. Even Ascorti's elder son, '''Roberto Ascorti''' (born 1958; and the current owner) helped with stamping and shipping the pipes when he was just a schoolboy. The most important employee is '''Cesare Vigano''', who has worked for Caminetto / Ascorti for more than thirty years. To bring about more stability and higher production, Davoli invested a considerable amount of money in modern pipemaking machinery, and in doing so went from distributor to co-owner of Caminetto. By 1973 he held the vast majority of the company's capital. | ||
The boom continued strongly - especially in the US. Production increased steadily, from 3,000 to 5,000 and then 7,000 pipes being made per year, placing Caminetto at the top of US sales in their market segment. The 1974 | The boom continued strongly - especially in the US. Production increased steadily, from 3,000 to 5,000 and then 7,000 pipes being made per year, placing Caminetto at the top of US sales in their market segment. The 1974 [[Tinder Box]] catalog celebrated Gianni Davoli as "master pipe maker and designer" and "sole creator of Caminetto" without a single mention of Ascorti or Radice! | ||
[[Image:Gianni_1.jpg|left|thumb]][[Image:Gianni_2.jpg|right|thumb]] | [[Image:Gianni_1.jpg|left|thumb]][[Image:Gianni_2.jpg|right|thumb]] | ||
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First, Luigi Radice became increasingly discontent with the factory-like production. Pipes were made by standard shape numbers, and there was no longer room for his own creative pipemaking and personal development. He was also afraid that the increased production would eventually lead to a reduction in quality. Radice started quarreling with Ascorti about the future course of Caminetto, and they were unable to find a solution. Radice, being an employed pipemaker, rather than a partner, could not assert himself. | First, Luigi Radice became increasingly discontent with the factory-like production. Pipes were made by standard shape numbers, and there was no longer room for his own creative pipemaking and personal development. He was also afraid that the increased production would eventually lead to a reduction in quality. Radice started quarreling with Ascorti about the future course of Caminetto, and they were unable to find a solution. Radice, being an employed pipemaker, rather than a partner, could not assert himself. | ||
[[Image:Caminetto_11.jpg|left|thumb|Old production Business 149 KS]] | [[Image:Caminetto_11.jpg|left|thumb|Old production Business 149 KS]][[File:Canminetto1979.jpg|thumb|1979 Catalog page featuring Caminetto pipes, courtesy Doug Valitchka]] | ||
Ascorti shared Radice's concerns about maintaining quality in the face of the higher production, but Davoli had gained almost total control by this time, and insisted on the higher production numbers. | Ascorti shared Radice's concerns about maintaining quality in the face of the higher production, but Davoli had gained almost total control by this time, and insisted on the higher production numbers. | ||
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Gianni Davoli, last chimney standing, stayed behind, now owning a pipe workshop without any pipemakers. Strangely enough, the old Caminetto workshop caught fire shortly afterward and burned down to ashes. | Gianni Davoli, last chimney standing, stayed behind, now owning a pipe workshop without any pipemakers. Strangely enough, the old Caminetto workshop caught fire shortly afterward and burned down to ashes. | ||
<gallery widths=250px heights=185 caption="Examples and details, courtesy Doug Valitchka"> | |||
File:Caminetto196Business05.jpg|Business | |||
File:Caminetto196Business07.jpg|Business detail | |||
File:Caminetto196Business08.jpg|Business detail | |||
File:CaminettoNewDear01.jpg | File:CaminettoNewDear01.jpg | ||
File:CaminettoNewDear08.jpg | File:CaminettoNewDear08.jpg | ||
File:CaminettoNewDear09.jpg | File:CaminettoNewDear09.jpg | ||
File:CaminettoNewDear14.jpg | File:CaminettoNewDear14.jpg | ||
</gallery | Caminetto01.jpg | ||
Caminetto07.jpg | |||
Caminetto08.jpg | |||
Caminetto09.jpg | |||
Caminetto10.jpg | |||
Caminetto15.jpg | |||
</gallery> | |||
<gallery widths=250px heights=185 caption="Caminettos from new production after 1986, courtesy Frank"> | |||
Image:Caminetto Pipe01.jpg| | Image:Caminetto Pipe01.jpg| | ||
Image:Caminetto Pipe02.jpg| | Image:Caminetto Pipe02.jpg| | ||
Image:Caminetto Pipe03.jpg | Image:Caminetto Pipe03.jpg | ||
Image:Caminetto Pipe04.jpg | Image:Caminetto Pipe04.jpg | ||
</gallery | </gallery> | ||
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<revive zone="18" align="right" caption="A selection of Caminetto pipes is available at CIGARWORLD, a new Pipedia Underwriter" /> | |||
<revive zone="7" align="left" caption="An excellent selection of Caminetto pipes is available at Pipedia Underwriter, lepipe.it" /> | |||
=== Contact Information: === | |||
Caminetto c/o Ascorti Fap (S.N.C.) | Caminetto c/o Ascorti Fap (S.N.C.) | ||
- Roberto Ascorti - | - Roberto Ascorti - | ||