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Dating: This is stamped in a circle with “MADE” at the top, “IN” in the middle, and “ENGLAND” forming the bottom of the circle. This can be seen on a Cecil as early as 1910 and on an Old Bruyere of 1921 and more frequent from the 1930s. It can also appear as “MADE” arched, “IN” below, and “ENGLAND” arched the other way. These stamps are in an oval rugby-ball shape rather than a circle round shape.
Dating: This is stamped in a circle with “MADE” at the top, “IN” in the middle, and “ENGLAND” forming the bottom of the circle. This can be seen on a Cecil as early as 1910 and on an Old Bruyere of 1921 and more frequent from the 1930s. It can also appear as “MADE” arched, “IN” below, and “ENGLAND” arched the other way. These stamps are in an oval rugby-ball shape rather than a circle round shape.


<gallery widths=250 heights=185 caption="Special Straight Grain examples and details, courtesy Doug Valitchka">
SpecialStrGrn01.jpg
SpecialStrGrn07.jpg
SpecialStrGrn08.jpg
SpecialSG01.jpg
SpecialSG07.jpg
SpecialSG08.jpg
</gallery>
<gallery widths=250 heights=185 caption="And here is a similar issue on pipes branded as Selected Straight Grain, courtesy Doug Valitchka">
SelectStrGrn01.jpg
SelectStrGrn07.jpg
SelectStrGrn08.jpg
SelectStrGrn09.jpg
SelectedSG01.jpg
SelectedSG07.jpg
SelectedSG08.jpg
</gallery>


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Greg Pease has a nice collection of Comoys, some excellent examples and photos of which can be seen on his [http://glpease.com/Pipes/Collection/comoy.html website].
'''*Greg Pease has a nice collection of Comoys, some excellent examples and photos of which can be seen on his [http://glpease.com/Pipes/Collection/comoy.html website].'''
[[File:2283-001.jpg|thumb|left|COMOY’S LONDON MADE 235 ''Courtesy of [http://blaik-pipes.ru/ Blaik-Pipes]'']]
 
[[File:COMOY'S 61XL.png|thumb|right|COMOY’S EXTRAORDINAIRE 61 XL ''Courtesy of [http://blaik-pipes.ru/ Blaik-Pipes]'']]
<gallery widths=250 heights=250 caption="Examples and details, couresy Blaik-Pipes">
[[File:287.png|thumb|left|COMOY’S EXTRAORDINAIRE 805 1920 ''Courtesy of [http://blaik-pipes.ru/ Blaik-Pipes]'']]
File:2283-001.jpg|COMOY’S LONDON MADE 235 Courtesy of [http://blaik-pipes.ru/ Blaik-Pipes]
[[File:286-1.png|thumb|right|COMOY’S OLD BRUYERE 1919 ''Courtesy of [http://blaik-pipes.ru/ Blaik-Pipes]'']]
File:COMOY'S 61XL.png|COMOY’S EXTRAORDINAIRE 61 XL ''Courtesy of [http://blaik-pipes.ru/ Blaik-Pipes]
[[File:Comoy's Old Bruyere.png|thumb|left|COMOY’S OLD BRUYERE A.MARTIN FRIBOURG 47 ''Courtesy of [http://blaik-pipes.ru/ Blaik-Pipes]'']]
File:287.png||COMOY’S EXTRAORDINAIRE 805 1920 Courtesy of [http://blaik-pipes.ru/ Blaik-Pipes]
File:286-1.png|COMOY’S OLD BRUYERE 1919 Courtesy of [http://blaik-pipes.ru/ Blaik-Pipes]
File:Comoy's Old Bruyere.png|COMOY’S OLD BRUYERE A.MARTIN FRIBOURG 47 Courtesy of [http://blaik-pipes.ru/ Blaik-Pipes]
</gallery>


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[[File:Comoy's Prima 1920.jpg|thumb|400px|A beautiful Circa 1920 Prima, courtesy Doug Valitchka]]<center><gallery widths=200px caption="Examples, details, and nomenclature, courtesy Doug Valitchka">
[[File:Comoy's Prima 1920.jpg|thumb|400px|A beautiful Circa 1920 Prima, courtesy Doug Valitchka]]
<gallery widths=250px heights=185 caption="Examples, details, and nomenclature, courtesy Doug Valitchka">
File:BlueRiband BlueColored C01.jpg|Blue Riband
File:BlueRiband BlueColored C01.jpg|Blue Riband
File:BlueRiband BlueColored C03.jpg|Blue Riband Nomenclature
File:BlueRiband BlueColored C03.jpg|Blue Riband Nomenclature
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File:ComoyVanguard01.jpg|Vanguard
File:ComoyVanguard01.jpg|Vanguard
File:ComoyVanguard09.jpg|Vanguard Nomenclature
File:ComoyVanguard09.jpg|Vanguard Nomenclature
</gallery></center>
Comoy's_1920's01.jpg|1920s example w/box
Comoy's_1920's_02.jpg|Box
Comoy's_1920's_03.jpg|1920s Example
File:ComoysOB01.jpg|Old Bruyere with H. Sutliff San Francisco (Tobacconist) stamp
File:ComoysOB07.jpg|Old Bruyere detail
File:ComoysOB08.jpg|Old Bruyere detail
</gallery>




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Ace of spades, Ancestor, Astor, Ayres, Britannia, Carlyle, Charles Cross, Claridge, Cromwell, Dorchester, Dunbar, Drury Lane, Emerson, Everyman, Festival of Britain, Golden Arrow, Grand Master, Gresham, Guildhall, Hamilton (according to Who Made That Pipe), Kingsway, Lion's Head, Lord Clive, Lumberman, Hyde Park, Lloyds, Mc Gahey, Moorgate, Newcastle, Oxford, O'Gorman, Rosebery Extra, Royal Falcon, Royal Guard, Royal Lane, Scotland Yard, St James, Sunrise, Super Sports, Sussex, The Academy Award, The Golden Arrow, The Mansion House, The Exmoor Pipe, Throgmorton, Tinder Box Royal Coachman, Townhall, Trident, Trocadero, Westminster, Wilshire
Ace of spades, Ancestor, Astor, Ayres, Britannia, Carlyle, Charles Cross, Claridge, [[Coronet]]?, Cromwell, Dorchester, Dunbar, Drury Lane, Emerson, Everyman, Festival of Britain, Golden Arrow, Grand Master, Gresham, Guildhall, Hamilton (according to Who Made That Pipe), Kingsway, Lion's Head, Lord Clive, Lumberman, Hyde Park, Lloyds, Mc Gahey, Moorgate, Newcastle, Oxford, O'Gorman, Rosebery Extra, Royal Falcon, Royal Guard, Royal Lane, Scotland Yard, St James, Sunrise, Super Sports, Sussex, The Academy Award, The Golden Arrow, The Mansion House, The Exmoor Pipe, Throgmorton, Tinder Box Royal Coachman, Townhall, Trident, Trocadero, Westminster, Wilshire


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<center><gallery widths=200px caption="Second examples, details, and nomenclature, courtesy Doug Valitchka">
<center><gallery widths=200px caption="Second examples, details, and nomenclature, courtesy Doug Valitchka">
File:Ancestor01.jpg|Ancestor
File:Ancestor07.jpg|Ancestor Detail
File:Ancestor08.jpg|Ancestor Detail
File:AstorB01.jpg|Astor
File:AstorB01.jpg|Astor
File:AstorB07.jpg|Astor Detail (Straight Made in London England)
File:AstorB07.jpg|Astor Detail (Straight Made in London England)
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File:AstorBulldog07.jpg|Astor Detail (Circle Stamp)
File:AstorBulldog07.jpg|Astor Detail (Circle Stamp)
File:AstorBulldog08.jpg|Astor Detail (Circle Stamp)
File:AstorBulldog08.jpg|Astor Detail (Circle Stamp)
Astor01.jpg|Astor Apple
Astor07.jpg|Astor Apple detail
Carlyle01.jpg|Carlyle (1930s)
Carlyle08.jpg|Carlyle detail
Carlyle09.jpg|Carlyle detail
Carlyle10.jpg|Carlyle detail
File:GoldenArrow.jpg|Golden Arrow box and sock
File:GoldenArrow.jpg|Golden Arrow box and sock
File:Guildhall02.jpg|Guildhall and original box
File:Guildhall02.jpg|Guildhall and original box
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File:Lumberman09.jpg|Lumberman Nomenclature
File:Lumberman09.jpg|Lumberman Nomenclature
File:Lumberman10.jpg|Lumberman Nomenclature
File:Lumberman10.jpg|Lumberman Nomenclature
RoyalCoach01.jpg|Royal Coachman
RoyalCoach07.jpg|Royal Coachman Detail
File:RoyalFalcon01.jpg|Royal Falcon
File:RoyalFalcon01.jpg|Royal Falcon
File:RoyalFalcon07.jpg|Royal Falcon Nomenclature
File:RoyalFalcon07.jpg|Royal Falcon Nomenclature
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File:RoyalFalconBent07.jpg|Royal Falcon Nomenclature
File:RoyalFalconBent07.jpg|Royal Falcon Nomenclature
File:RoyalFalconBent08.jpg|Royal Falcon Nomenclature
File:RoyalFalconBent08.jpg|Royal Falcon Nomenclature
RoyalFalcon2-01.jpg|Early Comoy's Royal Falcon with circular Made in England stamp. Thin pencil shank pipe. 1930's?
RoyalFalcon2-07.jpg|Royal Falcon detail
RoyalFalcon2-08.jpg|Royal Falcon detail
RoyalFalcon2-09.jpg|Royal Falcon detail
RoyalFalcon2-10.jpg|Royal Falcon detail
RoyalFalcon2-17.jpg|Royal Falcon detail
File:RoyalL01.jpg|Royal Lane
File:RoyalL01.jpg|Royal Lane
File:RoyalL07.jpg|Royal Lane Nomenclature
File:RoyalL07.jpg|Royal Lane Nomenclature
File:RoyalL08.jpg|Royal Lane Detail
File:RoyalL08.jpg|Royal Lane Detail
File:RoyalLane01.jpg|Royal Lane
File:RoyalLane05.jpg|Royal Lane Detail
File:RoyalLane07.jpg|Royal Lane Detail
File:RoyalLane08.jpg|Royal Lane Detail
File:Kingsway01.jpg|Kingsway
File:Kingsway01.jpg|Kingsway
File:Kingsway07.jpg|Kingsway Nomenclature
File:Kingsway07.jpg|Kingsway Nomenclature
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File:Gresham Giant.jpg|Gresham Giant with box and sock
File:Gresham Giant.jpg|Gresham Giant with box and sock
File:Gresham Giant 2.jpg|Gresham Giant detail
File:Gresham Giant 2.jpg|Gresham Giant detail
Gresham01.jpg|Gresham, smooth bent billiard Magnum
Gresham07.jpg|Gresham Magnum detail
Gresham08.jpg|Gresham Magnum detail
Gresham09.jpg|Gresham Magnum detail
Gresham10.jpg|Gresham Magnum detail
Gresham2-01.jpg|Gresham
Gresham2-07.jpg|Gresham detail
Gresham2-box&sleeve.jpg|Gresham Box and Sleeve
Kingsway01.jpg|Kingsway, an early Compy'ssecond
Kingsway07.jpg|Kingsway Detail
Kingsway09.jpg|Kingsway Detail
Kingsway10.jpg|Kingsway Detail
File:Rosebery01.jpg|Rosebery Extra (Circa 1920's 30's)
File:Rosebery01.jpg|Rosebery Extra (Circa 1920's 30's)
File:Rosebery07.jpg|Rosebery Extra Detail
File:Rosebery07.jpg|Rosebery Extra Detail
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File:Rosebery2-07.jpg
File:Rosebery2-07.jpg
File:Rosebery14.jpg|Comoy's factory on Rosebery Ave
File:Rosebery14.jpg|Comoy's factory on Rosebery Ave
Rose302Bill01.jpg|Another Rosebery Extra
Rose302Bill08.jpg|Rosebery Extra Detail
Rose302Bill09.jpg|Rosebery Extra Detail
Rose302Bill10.jpg|Rosebery Extra Detail
Rose302Bill07.jpg|Rosebery Extra Detail
TownHall01.jpg|Town Hall
TownHall07.jpg|Town Hall detail
TownHall15.jpg|Town Hall box
File:Trocadero01.jpg|Trocadero (logo identical to Guildhall and others)
File:Trocadero01.jpg|Trocadero (logo identical to Guildhall and others)
File:Trocadero07.jpg|Trocadero Detail
File:Trocadero07.jpg|Trocadero Detail
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File:Trocadero11.jpg|Trocadero Unusual stinger
File:Trocadero11.jpg|Trocadero Unusual stinger
File:Trocadero15.jpg|Trocadero Reinforcement ring
File:Trocadero15.jpg|Trocadero Reinforcement ring
TrocaderoBent01.jpg|Trocadero Bent
TrocaderoBent07.jpg|Trocadero Bent Detail
TrocaderoBent08.jpg|Trocadero Bent Detail
TrocaderoBent09.jpg|Trocadero Bent Detail
Trocadero10.jpg|Trocadero Bent Detail
</gallery></center>
<center><gallery widths=200 caption="Townhall (Comoy's second), Shape #25 w/silver ferrule, courtesy Radzievsky Vladimir Zeev">
Comoy-Townhall-1.jpg
Comoy-Townhall-2.jpg
Comoy-Townhall-3.jpg
</gallery></center>
</gallery></center>



Revision as of 20:40, 14 October 2020

Other languages:

The basis for this article is an excerpt from A History Of Comoy's and A Guide Toward Dating the Pipes written by Derek Green [1]. This article was published in the June 2006 issue of The Pipe Collector. The official newsletter of the North American Society of Pipe Collectors (NASPC), and is used here by permission. It's a great organization--consider joining.

1904 Comoy's
1902 Comoy's

Francois Comoy and his brothers started making pipes (probably clays, boxwood and beech) in 1825 in the small monastic town of Saint-Claude in eastern France. Claude and his son Louis discovered that briar had vastly superior qualities and from 1848 made pipes only in this wood. In 1879 Francois’s son Henri, who was born in 1850, moved to London with a small bag of tools, but a great deal of experience. Henri set up a small factory in Seven Dials which is today known as Cambridge Circus. He was one of the prime movers in the establishment of the briar pipe trade in London and is credited with being the author of the appellation “London Made”.

He was helped at first by some of his brothers and around 1891 was joined by his two nephews, Louis and Charles Chapuis. Louis took the name of his adoptive parents. By 1895 the business had outgrown the Seven Sisters site and a new factory was built in Newcastle Place, Clerkenwell. By 1905 markets were being sought in America and the extra business required a new factory to be built in 1913 at 72 Rosebury Avenue.

Comoy's Extraordinaire
Comoy's Straight Grain
Circa 1920's - 1930's DE LUXE Straight Grain, courtesy Doug Valitchka

In 1914 the partners, Henri Comoy and his nephews Louis and Charles, incorporated the business as H.Comoy & Co. Ltd. Before the 1914/18 war Henri was also joined by his sons, Adrien and Paul who were born after his nephews arrived in London. In 1921 Sam Zinberg was appointed Director of Sales for the USA and the House of Comoy was established. Henri Comoy died in 1924 at the age of 74 leaving the company in the hands of Louis and Charles.

In 1929 the company was invited to join Cadogan Investments Ltd. This was known as “The Merger” which consisted of the Civic Company and Oppenheimer Pipes with their associated companies. This merger was formed in order to create co-operation between the various companies.

In 1937 a new, model and splendidly-equipped factory was opened in Pentonville Road to accommodate additional staff of several hundred. The next generation had joined the firm by the time the Second World War broke out. Louis Chapuis Senior joined in 1938 and Pierre Comoy in 1947 after service in the Royal Armoured Corps.

The Second World War was a difficult period for the company, because the whole of industry in Great Britain was turned over to the production of armaments and the war effort, consequently the manufacture of pipes ceased, except for a small workshop. After the war ended in 1945, it was an uphill struggle for all British companies to once again get established, and it was not until 1950, and the opening of a new purpose built factory in Aldershot, that production nearly met demand.

Comoy's Tradition
Comoy's Virgin Briar

The main manufacturing companies in the merger known as Cadogan Investments Ltd were Civic, Comoy’s and Marechal Ruchon & Co Ltd, and in the early 1960’s manufacture came under one management, but the marketing departments continued working independently for a number of years. My 1965 catalogue makes the following statement “And now, we the Comoys of the fourth generation, together with those of the fifth, Pierre Comoy and Louis Chapuis, continue to follow the course set by our forefathers, who would be gratified to see our latest ultra modern plant in Aldershot Hampshire.” Comoy’s remained a family owned company until it was finally taken over by Cadogan Investments during the early 1980’s. Cadogan have continued to manufacture Comoy pipes to the present day and, under Michael Adler, the Comoy brand is their flagship and efforts are being made to once more re-instate the well known quality of the brand.

The collector of Comoy pipes is really only interested in those pipes made before Comoy was finally taken over by Cadogan in the early 1980’s and I have therefore concentrated on that period. I have also, for the purpose of this article only briefly mentioned some of the other brands made by Comoy’s such as Cecil, Every Man, Town Hall, Guildhall etc, where they can contribute some evidence to help in dating.



The basis for this article is an excerpt from A History Of Comoy's and A Guide Toward Dating the Pipes written by Derek Green , published in the June 2006 issue of The Pipe Collector. The official newsletter of the North American Society of Pipe Collectors (NASPC), and is used here by permission. It's a great organization--consider joining.

In addition to seeing the complete article A History Of Comoy's and A Guide Toward Dating the Pipes here on Pipedia, more detailed information on Names, Grades, etc., as well as photo examples can be found at Derek Green's Website.

Special STRAIGHT GRAIN

Special STRAIGHT GRAIN Example from Tony Soderman, via Doug Valitchka
Comoy Special STRAIGHT GRAIN, courtesy Doug Valitchka

Here's a brief explanation from "MrCan" Tony Soderman: The History of the "Special STRAIGHT GRAIN" (like all early Comoy's) is murky at best! Special STRAIGHT GRAINS were rarely available and were offered with the same frequency of Specimen Straight Grains (generally regarded as the "rarest pipe in pipe-collecting" as only one in every 10,000 Comoy's became a Specimen). Also, much like the fabled Specimen, Special STRAIGHT GRAINS were NOT included on Comoy's Price Lists! (They were not distributed with other Comoys but were held at the factory and were available upon special request to retailers.

Dating: This is stamped in a circle with “MADE” at the top, “IN” in the middle, and “ENGLAND” forming the bottom of the circle. This can be seen on a Cecil as early as 1910 and on an Old Bruyere of 1921 and more frequent from the 1930s. It can also appear as “MADE” arched, “IN” below, and “ENGLAND” arched the other way. These stamps are in an oval rugby-ball shape rather than a circle round shape.


*Greg Pease has a nice collection of Comoys, some excellent examples and photos of which can be seen on his website.

A beautiful Circa 1920 Prima, courtesy Doug Valitchka


1930's Comoy's 804 Extraordinaire shown with a 1965 Group 4 sized Dunhill 120 (which is the equivalent of a Group 5 size today) for size comparison - Courtesy of Mike Ahmadi

Seconds made by Comoy's

Ace of spades, Ancestor, Astor, Ayres, Britannia, Carlyle, Charles Cross, Claridge, Coronet?, Cromwell, Dorchester, Dunbar, Drury Lane, Emerson, Everyman, Festival of Britain, Golden Arrow, Grand Master, Gresham, Guildhall, Hamilton (according to Who Made That Pipe), Kingsway, Lion's Head, Lord Clive, Lumberman, Hyde Park, Lloyds, Mc Gahey, Moorgate, Newcastle, Oxford, O'Gorman, Rosebery Extra, Royal Falcon, Royal Guard, Royal Lane, Scotland Yard, St James, Sunrise, Super Sports, Sussex, The Academy Award, The Golden Arrow, The Mansion House, The Exmoor Pipe, Throgmorton, Tinder Box Royal Coachman, Townhall, Trident, Trocadero, Westminster, Wilshire

Links

Comoy's Dating Guide

Comoy's Shape Number Chart