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Charatan: Difference between revisions
→Brief History
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On the retirement of his father in 1910 '''Reuben Charatan''' took over the family business. | On the retirement of his father in 1910 '''Reuben Charatan''' took over the family business. | ||
In 1950 '''Herman G. Lane''', striving to expand his business in Great Britain, made contacts with the Charatan family. Apparently Lane got a certain influence soon, but it was not until 1955 that Lane Ltd. became the sole distributor for Charatan’s in the United States superseding '''[[Wally Frank]]'''. This can be documented in a “biography” written for Herman G. Lane titled “Leaves from a Tobaccoman’s Log”. | |||
[[Image:char_41.jpg|thumb|left|From Charatan Flyer, ca. 1964]] | [[Image:char_41.jpg|thumb|left|From Charatan Flyer, ca. 1964]] | ||
Thanks to Herman G. Lane's | Thanks to Herman G. Lane's dedicated labor Charatan became hugely popular in the States. In 1960 he bought the firm from Reuben Charatan's widow. In the early 1960's Charatan pipes were the first to overstep the $100 Dollar line in US pipe sales. In 1978 Lane's heirs sold the Charatan company to Dunhill. The Prescot Street factory was closed in March 1982. Thereafter the fame and quality of the make declined. | ||
The pre-Lane period (prior to 1955) and the Lane era pipes (1955 to until sometime between 1979 - 1984) are of primary interest the collector. The Lane era is often quoted as beginning about 1950 | The pre-Lane period (prior to 1955) and the Lane era pipes (1955 to until sometime between 1979 - 1984) are of primary interest the collector. The Lane era is often quoted as beginning about 1950. | ||
Charatan records are almost non-existent before Lane due to a factory fire, making it difficult to date pre-Lane pipes. Charatan used 4 basic grades prior to 1950: Supreme, Selected, Executive, and Belvedere. After 1950 Herman Lane's influence began, and the grades started to expand. In 1955 Lane took over sole distributorship of Charatan in the US. In 1957 he introduced the Supreme S. Most of his other introductions were from the 60's and early 70's. | Charatan records are almost non-existent before Lane due to a factory fire, making it difficult to date pre-Lane pipes. Charatan used 4 basic grades prior to 1950: Supreme, Selected, Executive, and Belvedere. After 1950 Herman Lane's influence began, and the grades started to expand. In 1955 Lane took over sole distributorship of Charatan in the US. In 1957 he introduced the Supreme S. Most of his other introductions were from the 60's and early 70's. | ||
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Image:Chara_n4.jpg| | Image:Chara_n4.jpg| | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
To say the least, these Colin Fromm made Dunhill Charatans show impeccable craftsmanship and feature great smoking characteristics at very reasonable prices. | To say the least, these Colin Fromm made Dunhill Charatans show impeccable craftsmanship and feature great smoking characteristics at very reasonable prices. | ||
== Miscellaneous Notes == | == Miscellaneous Notes == | ||