Charatan: Difference between revisions

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'''Note:''' ''Memories of Charatan Pipes and Notes on their Dating'', an article that appeared in The Pipe Collector written by Ivy Ryan has been removed from Pipedia. Charatan experts and enthusiasts indicate that this article contains miss-information as to the dating of Charatan pipes. You are welcome to present arguments to the contrary to the SYSOP by sending an E-mail to [mailto:sethile.pipes@gmail.com sethile.pipes@gmail.com].
'''Note:''' ''Memories of Charatan Pipes and Notes on their Dating'', an article that appeared in The Pipe Collector written by Ivy Ryan has been removed from Pipedia. Charatan experts and enthusiasts indicate that this article contains miss-information as to the dating of Charatan pipes. You are welcome to present arguments to the contrary to the SYSOP by sending an E-mail to [mailto:sethile.pipes@gmail.com sethile.pipes@gmail.com].
== Off Site Links ==
== Off Site Links ==
The following '''[http://digilander.libero.it/tempioedonismo/CHARATAN.htm Charatan Article in Italian]''' is reported to be excellent. It is a study by '''[[Fabio Ferrara]]''' (Monterubbiano - Italy) based on more than 2000 old charatan pipes he studied from the "Basciano stock" purchased by Mario Lubinski - Fermo). '''Note:''' ''If anyone would like to translate this article into English, it would make a fanatastic contribution to the Charatan knowledge base her on Pipedia''.
The following '''[http://digilander.libero.it/tempioedonismo/CHARATAN.htm Charatan Article in Italian]''' is reported to be excellent. It is a study by '''[[Fabio Ferrara]]''' (Monterubbiano - Italy) based on more than 2000 old Charatan pipes he studied from the "Basciano stock" purchased by Mario Lubinski - Fermo). '''Note:''' ''If anyone would like to translate this article into English, it would make a fantastic contribution to the Charatan knowledge base here on Pipedia''.


'''[http://pipepages.com/charatan.htm Charatan related documents on Chris' Pipe Pages]'''
'''[http://pipepages.com/charatan.htm Charatan related documents on Chris' Pipe Pages]'''

Revision as of 12:33, 10 January 2009

Early Lane period, courtesy SmokersHaven

Charatan collectors, please consider contributing to this article

Brief History

In 1863 Frederick Charatan, a Russian / Jewish immigrant, opened a shop in Mansell Street, located in the borough of Tower Hamlets, London E1, where he began to carve Meerschaum pipes. These pipes got very popular soon, and thus Charatan moved to a bigger workshop in Prescot Street, just around the corner. Here he began to make briar pipes which should make the name famous the world over. Charatan was the first brand to make entirely hand-made briars from the rough block to the finished pipe including the stems. The nomenclature "Charatan's make" refers to this method of production and was meant to differ Charatan from other brands who "assembled" pipes from pre-drilled bowls and delivered mouthpieces.

Being the undisputed No. 1 in English pipemaking, Charatan was approached by Alfred Dunhill who was unsatisfied with the quality of the pipes he imported from France. During 1908 - 1910 Dunhill bought pipes from Charatan paying exorbitant prices to ensure he had some of the very best pipes for sale in England. In 1910 he lured away Joel Sasieni, one of Charatan's best carvers, and opened his own small pipe workshop on 28 Duke Street.

Charatan Underbore; ca. 1930's

On the retirement of his father in 1910 Reuben Charatan took over the family business.

Around 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”.

From Charatan Flyer, ca. 1964

Thanks to Herman G. Lane's dedicative labour 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 - of all things! 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 and

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 after Charatan - the more recent history

In 1988 Dunhill sold the rights to the Charatan name, trademark and shape chart - there was hardly more left over to sell - to James B. Russell Inc. (Upper Saddle River, NJ). Russell had made his Charatan pipes in Saint-Claude, France. Butz-Choquin is said to be the manufacturer. Now, Saint-Claude made pipes are surely not bad per axiom, but these Charatans were woefully poor counterfeits of the "real" ones and quite a flop in sale.

When J.B. Russell went out of business in 2002 Dunhill re-purchased Charatan and called on Colin Fromm of Invicta Briars and Castleford fame to produce Charatan freehands now. Since Colin Fromm and his foreman Colin Leeson, both belonging to the small number of English pipe artisans skilled in making high-end freehand shapes, had already been making exquisite freehands for Dunhill for a couple of years in Chatham, Kent.

To say the least, these Colin Fromm made Dunhill Charatans show impeccable craftsmanship and feature great smoking characteristics at very reasonable prices. But eventhough someone might say that a today's Charatan by Dunhill is as original as a today's Bugatti by Volkswagen is. (BTW a Colin Fromm made Dunhill Dunhill asks 3 - 4 times the pice. At least.)

Miscellaneous Notes

Charatan records indicate the DC (Double Comfort) bit was introduced in the 50’s, but some report seeing them in earlier production. Still others indicate they were introduced by Lane in 1960. Regardless, the DC bit is not an accurate way to date a pipe because many Charatan’s were made with regular and saddle type bits throughout the “Lane Era”.

Notes on Supremes: Supremes made before 1950 were mostly traditional shapes and smaller than after Lane started influencing Charatan.

Nomenclature

The Lane Trademark serif and circled L indicates the pipe is from the “Lane Era” (approx. 1955 to 1979 -1984?), however the lack of it could simply mean the pipe missed receiving the stamp from the factory. The lack of the trademark could also mean the pipe was a European issue Charatan, which did not receive the Lane Trademark because Lane only owned distribution rights for the United States.

Generally, when the pipe is stamped with the BLOCK letters “MADE BY HAND” it means the pipe was probably made between 1958 and 1965”

Generally, block letters “MADE BY HAND” and some of the other nomenclature in script (i.e. City of London or Extra Large next to the MADE BY HAND) means the pipe was made sometime between 1965 and the mid 1970’s. The total script nomenclature “Made by Hand in City of London” evolved over this period of time, so many pipes had variants, such as Made By Hand in block letters and City of London in script, or some other variation of the terms or stampings.

It is believed the FH was used on Charatan pipes between 1957 and 1967-68. Three different sizes were used. The Charatan Logo (CP) on the pipe bit was changed over the years.

Charatans, courtesy of the Derek Green Collection
Charatan "Smokers" from the Derek Green Collection
From the top counter-clockwise
1. Freehand Relief 4 with Lane stamp.
2. Selected F.H. Lane stamp.
3. Supreme "S" F.H. Lane stamp.
4. Rarity Extra Large, Made by Hand. 
   Lane stamp.
5. Special.30120 DC.Reg.No.203573
6. Special. 317 DC
7. Special. 61
8. Nomenclature worn. Bought in London 
   in the 1960,s and travelled everywhere 
   with me in my motorcycle leathers!
9. Freehand Relief.
10.56 Lane stamp







Note: Memories of Charatan Pipes and Notes on their Dating, an article that appeared in The Pipe Collector written by Ivy Ryan has been removed from Pipedia. Charatan experts and enthusiasts indicate that this article contains miss-information as to the dating of Charatan pipes. You are welcome to present arguments to the contrary to the SYSOP by sending an E-mail to sethile.pipes@gmail.com.

Off Site Links

The following Charatan Article in Italian is reported to be excellent. It is a study by Fabio Ferrara (Monterubbiano - Italy) based on more than 2000 old Charatan pipes he studied from the "Basciano stock" purchased by Mario Lubinski - Fermo). Note: If anyone would like to translate this article into English, it would make a fantastic contribution to the Charatan knowledge base here on Pipedia.

Charatan related documents on Chris' Pipe Pages

C.R.O.W.N. (Charatan Rules Over Whitespot Newera)