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<q>Alfred opened a small factory of his own in 1910. He set down two principles that would guide the production of Dunhill Pipes. First, pipes would be made of only the finest quality briar, with exacting care by expert craftsmen. Secondly, the pipes would be priced accordingly; the customer would recognize the value of a superior product. This ran counter to the current trend of inexpensive pipes of lessor quality that one simply discarded after a short while. The Dunhill pipe was made to last a lifetime and always with an eye to the utility. It must smoke well and continue to do so with age. To this end, Alfred invented the aluminium‘ inner tube’ to keep the innards of the pipe clean (see more about it [https://pipedia.org/wiki/Dunhill#About_the_Inner_Tube '''here''']). When the pipe became dirty the tube could simply and easily be replaced. Note, of course, that this innovation predated the widespread use of pipe cleaners.  
Alfred opened a small factory of his own in 1910 (up to this year the business had been a purely retail one, but in 1910 the Dunhill commenced to manufacture pipes, which were stamped "Dunhill, Duke Street, S. W."). He set down two principles that would guide the production of Dunhill Pipes. First, pipes would be made of only the finest quality briar, with exacting care by expert craftsmen. Secondly, the pipes would be priced accordingly; the customer would recognize the value of a superior product. This ran counter to the current trend of inexpensive pipes of lessor quality that one simply discarded after a short while. The Dunhill pipe was made to last a lifetime and always with an eye to the utility. It must smoke well and continue to do so with age. To this end, Alfred invented the aluminum‘ inner tube’ to keep the innards of the pipe clean (see more about it [https://pipedia.org/wiki/Dunhill#About_the_Inner_Tube '''here''']). When the pipe became dirty the tube could simply and easily be replaced. Note, of course, that this innovation predated the widespread use of pipe cleaners.  


In 1912, the famous white spot was introduced for very practical concerns (see more about it [https://pipedia.org/wiki/Dunhill#About_the_Spot '''here''']). With straight pipes, customers had trouble knowing which way to insert the handmade vulcanite mouthpieces. So Alfred Dunhill ordered white spots to be placed on the upper side of the stem. This very practical solution would become a definitive trademark of Dunhill pipes. The “white spot” soon became known as a symbol of quality.</q> Smokingpipes<ref name=sp>Smokingpipes (November 2006). A History of the Dunhill Brand. Retrieved 07:52, 27 February 2020 (CST) from [https://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/dunhill/history.cfm smokingpipes.com]</ref>.
In 1912, the famous white spot was introduced for very practical concerns (see more about it [https://pipedia.org/wiki/Dunhill#About_the_Spot '''here''']). With straight pipes, customers had trouble knowing which way to insert the handmade vulcanite mouthpieces. So Alfred Dunhill ordered white spots to be placed on the upper side of the stem. This very practical solution would become a definitive trademark of Dunhill pipes. The “white spot” soon became known as a symbol of quality.<ref name=sp>Smokingpipes (November 2006). A History of the Dunhill Brand. Retrieved 07:52, 27 February 2020 (CST) from [https://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/dunhill/history.cfm smokingpipes.com]</ref>
[[File:Billcarter.jpg|thumb|right|210px|Bill Carter © Alfred Dunhill Ltd]]
[[File:Billcarter.jpg|thumb|right|210px|Bill Carter © Alfred Dunhill Ltd]]
[[File:Image 406.jpg|thumb|right|210px|“Skullcap” Pipe for Motorists]]
[[File:Image 406.jpg|thumb|right|210px|“Skullcap” Pipe for Motorists]]
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With the advent of the First Great War in July 1914, many of its customers ended up in the trenches of northern France, where Dunhill sent boxes of tobacco<ref name=jcl1>Loring, J. C. (1998) The Dunhill Briar Pipe - The Patent Years and After, The Beginnings (pp. 5-6). Chicago: self-published.</ref>, pipes and hygiene items<ref name=balfour13>Balfour, Michael. (1992). Alfred Dunhill, One Hundred Years and More (p.66). London, Weidenfield and Nicolson.</ref>. Alfred sent the sealed boxes, declared and labelled "castor oil", which smelled strong and penetrating, to avoid miscarriage and ensure that it reached the front<ref name=balfour13>Balfour, Michael. (1992). Alfred Dunhill, One Hundred Years and More (p.66). London, Weidenfield and Nicolson.</ref>. Inside the box, in addition to the courtesies, Alfred suggested in a letter that some items would be shared with other officers. Invariably, these items were part of the parallel trade that existed in the theatre of war. In addition to French – obviously, there were Americans, Canadians, and Belgians (among others) in the region. The confluence of these factors favoured the diffusion of the brand around the globe.
With the advent of the First Great War in July 1914, many of its customers ended up in the trenches of northern France, where Dunhill sent boxes of tobacco<ref name=jcl1>Loring, J. C. (1998) The Dunhill Briar Pipe - The Patent Years and After, The Beginnings (pp. 5-6). Chicago: self-published.</ref>, pipes and hygiene items<ref name=balfour13>Balfour, Michael. (1992). Alfred Dunhill, One Hundred Years and More (p.66). London, Weidenfield and Nicolson.</ref>. Alfred sent the sealed boxes, declared and labelled "castor oil", which smelled strong and penetrating, to avoid miscarriage and ensure that it reached the front<ref name=balfour13>Balfour, Michael. (1992). Alfred Dunhill, One Hundred Years and More (p.66). London, Weidenfield and Nicolson.</ref>. Inside the box, in addition to the courtesies, Alfred suggested in a letter that some items would be shared with other officers. Invariably, these items were part of the parallel trade that existed in the theatre of war. In addition to French – obviously, there were Americans, Canadians, and Belgians (among others) in the region. The confluence of these factors favoured the diffusion of the brand around the globe.


The company grew exponentially over the course of the First World War(Dunhill’s production increased by a factor of more than 15 times). It is estimated that in 1914 Dunhill had sold 10,000 pipes, jumping to 30,000 in 1916, 134,000 in 1918 and 276,000 in 1921<ref name=sdt>Sheffield Daily Telegraph (March 11 1922). Mr Dunhill's Action Against Wolf Brothers. England: Johnston Press[https://pipedia.org/images/d/db/Sheffield_Daily_Telegraph_%28March_11_1922%29.jpg]</ref>. In the 1920s the international demand was gigantic, resulting in the creation of an exclusive export department. Dunhill also initiated numerous partnerships with Cuban cigar manufacturers ([[Dunhill Cigars]]), selling exclusive brands<ref name=cigars>Cigarfan (2015). Cigar Reviews - Dunhill Heritage Robusto. Retrieved 2 March 2020 from [https://cigarfan.net/2015/11/14/dunhill-heritage-robusto/ Cigarfan]</ref>. With the success of his store in London, he expanded to New York in 1921 and Paris three years later.
The company grew exponentially over the course of the First World War(Dunhill’s production increased by a factor of more than 15 times). It is estimated that in 1914 Dunhill had sold 10,000 pipes, jumping to 30,000 in 1916, 134,000 in 1918 and 276,000 in 1921<ref name=sdt>Sheffield Daily Telegraph (March 11 1920). Mr Dunhill's Action Against Wolf Brothers. England: Johnston Press[https://pipedia.org/images/d/db/Sheffield_Daily_Telegraph_%28March_11_1922%29.jpg]</ref>. In the 1920s the international demand was gigantic, resulting in the creation of an exclusive export department. Dunhill also initiated numerous partnerships with Cuban cigar manufacturers ([[Dunhill Cigars]]), selling exclusive brands<ref name=cigars>Cigarfan (2015). Cigar Reviews - Dunhill Heritage Robusto. Retrieved 2 March 2020 from [https://cigarfan.net/2015/11/14/dunhill-heritage-robusto/ Cigarfan]</ref>. With the success of his store in London, he expanded to New York in 1921 and Paris three years later.
[[File:Cigars.jpg|thumb|right|210px| Selected Cigars ([[Dunhill Cigars]])]]
[[File:Cigars.jpg|thumb|right|210px| Selected Cigars ([[Dunhill Cigars]])]]
[[File:Cigars2.jpg|thumb|right|210px| La Flor de Lorenz ([[Dunhill Cigars]])]]
[[File:Cigars2.jpg|thumb|right|210px| La Flor de Lorenz ([[Dunhill Cigars]])]]
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In 1921, only fourteen years after Alfred Dunhill opened his doors, the firm developed ties with the royalty, supplying George VI with tobacco through the thirties and received its first Royal Warrant, as Tobacconist to Edward, Prince of Wales<ref name=mary14>Dunhill, Mary (1979). Our Family Business (p. 67). Great Britain, The Bodley Head.</ref><ref name=jcl3>Loring, J. C. (1998) The Dunhill Briar Pipe - The Patent Years and After (p. 47). Chicago: self-published.</ref><ref name=balfour14>Balfour, Michael. (1992). Alfred Dunhill, One Hundred Years and More (p.68). London, Weidenfield and Nicolson.</ref>. In the same year, 276,000 pipes were sold in the Duke St<ref name=sdt>Sheffield Daily Telegraph (March 11 1922). Mr Dunhill's Action Against Wolf Brothers. England: Johnston Press[https://pipedia.org/images/d/db/Sheffield_Daily_Telegraph_%28March_11_1922%29.jpg]</ref>. Shop. Dunhill formally instituted a one-year pipe guarantee (the "White Dot Guarantee") and in conjunction with that guarantee a date code system to date the year a pipe was offered for sale and Alfred Dunhill of London Inc. formed in New York (the store was opened one year later, in 1922 - same year of Alfred Dunhill of London Inc. was formed in Toronto and The Parker Pipe Company Limited also formed to become a subsidiary of Alfred Dunhill Limited.<ref name=balfour15>Balfour, Michael. (1992). Alfred Dunhill, One Hundred Years and More (pp.76-77). London, Weidenfield and Nicolson.</ref>
In 1921, only fourteen years after Alfred Dunhill opened his doors, the firm developed ties with the royalty, supplying George VI with tobacco through the thirties and received its first Royal Warrant, as Tobacconist to Edward, Prince of Wales<ref name=mary14>Dunhill, Mary (1979). Our Family Business (p. 67). Great Britain, The Bodley Head.</ref><ref name=jcl3>Loring, J. C. (1998) The Dunhill Briar Pipe - The Patent Years and After (p. 47). Chicago: self-published.</ref><ref name=balfour14>Balfour, Michael. (1992). Alfred Dunhill, One Hundred Years and More (p.68). London, Weidenfield and Nicolson.</ref>. In the same year, 276,000 pipes were sold in the Duke St<ref name=sdt>Sheffield Daily Telegraph (March 11 1920). Mr Dunhill's Action Against Wolf Brothers. England: Johnston Press[https://pipedia.org/images/d/db/Sheffield_Daily_Telegraph_%28March_11_1922%29.jpg]</ref>. Shop. Dunhill formally instituted a one-year pipe guarantee (the "White Dot Guarantee") and in conjunction with that guarantee a date code system to date the year a pipe was offered for sale and Alfred Dunhill of London Inc. formed in New York (the store was opened one year later, in 1922 - same year of Alfred Dunhill of London Inc. was formed in Toronto and The Parker Pipe Company Limited also formed to become a subsidiary of Alfred Dunhill Limited.<ref name=balfour15>Balfour, Michael. (1992). Alfred Dunhill, One Hundred Years and More (pp.76-77). London, Weidenfield and Nicolson.</ref>
<blockquote><q>It is intriguing to me how very late Dunhill came to the pricing strategies we now take for granted with luxury products—with steeply ascending price for reasonably minor incremental differences in quality. I mean imagine going to Duke Street in the 1920s and ‘30s and having your choice of a shape 53, a 56, or an LLC at exactly the same price.</q> Guy Lesser. </blockquote>  
<blockquote><q>It is intriguing to me how very late Dunhill came to the pricing strategies we now take for granted with luxury products—with steeply ascending price for reasonably minor incremental differences in quality. I mean imagine going to Duke Street in the 1920s and ‘30s and having your choice of a shape 53, a 56, or an LLC at exactly the same price.</q> Guy Lesser. </blockquote>  
In 1923, a remarkable year, the company opened its capital in the stock exchange authorizing an initial capital injection of 300,000 pounds sterling (Alfred Dunhill Limited formed, with an initial authorized share capital. Alfred and his brother Herbert served as directors). Dunhill has done its first registration of "Alfred Dunhill" signature as a trademark. Later during WWII, the company kept Winston Churchill constantly supplied with the cigars ([[Dunhill Cigars]]) that would become such an essential part of the famous British icon. The '20s and '40s were successful years.
In 1923, a remarkable year, the company opened its capital in the stock exchange authorizing an initial capital injection of 300,000 pounds sterling (Alfred Dunhill Limited formed, with an initial authorized share capital. Alfred and his brother Herbert served as directors). Dunhill has done its first registration of "Alfred Dunhill" signature as a trademark. Later during WWII, the company kept Winston Churchill constantly supplied with the cigars ([[Dunhill Cigars]]) that would become such an essential part of the famous British icon. The '20s and '40s were successful years.
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[[file:Thespot.jpg|thumb||right|The White Spot]]
[[file:Thespot.jpg|thumb||right|The White Spot]]
Although Alfred Dunhill was brilliant, he certainly did not imagine that this indicative dot would become his trademark. In 1922, Dunhill had to go to the courts to defend his creation (the litigation was between Dunhill and Wolf Brothers and concerned the white spot. It took place in March of 1922)<ref name=sdt>Sheffield Daily Telegraph (March 11 1922). Mr Dunhill's Action Against Wolf Brothers. England: Johnston Press[https://pipedia.org/images/d/db/Sheffield_Daily_Telegraph_%28March_11_1922%29.jpg]</ref>, which was being replicated by [[VAUEN]]. There are (unproven) theories that the invention was — in fact, made by Vauen, but Dunhill was successful, while Vauen had to restrict its use to the German and Austrian borders. The White Spot trademark was first registered in 1923, eleven years after its introduction.
Although Alfred Dunhill was brilliant, he certainly did not imagine that this indicative spot would become his trademark. In March 1920, Dunhill had to go to the courts to defend his spot, the litigation was between Dunhill and Wolf Brothers and concerned the white spot<ref name=sdt>Sheffield Daily Telegraph (March 11 1920). Mr Dunhill's Action Against Wolf Brothers. England: Johnston Press[https://pipedia.org/images/d/db/Sheffield_Daily_Telegraph_%28March_11_1922%29.jpg]</ref>, which was being replicated by [[VAUEN]] (before that, In 1917, Dunhill had conflicts with Barling for using a spot, but that didn't go far. The action was formally discontinued in 1918<ref name=caselaw>In The High Court of Justice - Chancery Division. REPORTS OF PATENT, DESIGN, AND TRADE MARK CASES [VOL. XXXIX. Dunhill v. Bartlett & Bickley (June and July, 1922) PP 426-443.[https://pipedia.org/images/d/d5/39-15-426-3.pdf]</ref>). In their advertisements in the trade papers, they drew attention to the spot in such terms as "our brightest spot" (it was a silver spot).  Dunhill was successful, while Vauen had to restrict its use to the German and Austrian borders. The White Spot trademark was first registered in 1923, eleven years after its introduction.


<blockquote>"(...)One small problem emerged, however, as customers could not tell which way up to insert the hand-cut vulcanite mouthpiece of straight pipes into the stems of the pipes. Alfred Dunhill, therefore, ordered white spots to be placed on the true upper sides of the mouthpieces, and thus a world-famous trademark was created.<br>
<blockquote>"(...)One small problem emerged, however, as customers could not tell which way up to insert the hand-cut vulcanite mouthpiece of straight pipes into the stems of the pipes. Alfred Dunhill, therefore, ordered white spots to be placed on the true upper sides of the mouthpieces, and thus a world-famous trademark was created.<br>
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<blockquote><q>By the early 1920's the White Spot had become identified with Dunhill and a trademark for the same was obtained in 1922. In 1923 the company prevailed in enforcing the mark against the white dot of another pipe manufacture (Wolf), and about the same time in America (but not in Europe) against the blue dot of the then new Sassini pipe. On some bits however, mainly amber and ivory, the Dunhill White Spot is really a small black circle that effects the appearance of a White Spot.</q> The Dunhill Briar Pipe.<ref name=jcl12>Loring, J. C. (1998) The Dunhill Briar Pipe - The Patent Years and After (p. 43). Chicago: self-published.</ref>.</blockquote>  
<blockquote><q>By the early 1920's the White Spot had become identified with Dunhill and a trademark for the same was obtained in 1922. In 1923 the company prevailed in enforcing the mark against the white dot of another pipe manufacture (Wolf), and about the same time in America (but not in Europe) against the blue dot of the then new Sassini pipe. On some bits however, mainly amber and ivory, the Dunhill White Spot is really a small black circle that effects the appearance of a White Spot.</q> The Dunhill Briar Pipe.<ref name=jcl12>Loring, J. C. (1998) The Dunhill Briar Pipe - The Patent Years and After (p. 43). Chicago: self-published.</ref>.</blockquote>  


At first, this rounded marking was thinner and made in celluloid, a species of an acrylic predecessor, which was used until the mid-40s, when it was replaced by high-quality acrylic. Because of its appearance, it was defended for years and by many, that the point was made in ivory. However, that is a widespread legend that lasted for years, as evidenced by the information and tests executed in the Pipes Magazine Forum, in a post called "Dunhill White Spot Drama". See the full article [http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/threads/dunhill-white-spot-drama.62596/ here].
At first, this rounded marking was thinner and made in celluloid, a species of an acrylic predecessor, which was used until the mid-40s, when it was replaced by high-quality acrylic. Because of its appearance, it was defended for years and by many, that the point was made in ivory. However, that is a widespread legend that lasted for years. We have as evidence, the description of The White Spot in an action that Dunhill advocated the exclusive use of the Spot in 1922.
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<blockquote><q>As evidence we can see the white spot (which consists of imitation ivory inserted in the vulcanite) was placed on the pipe with a twofold object, namely, to indicate which was the upper side of the mouthpiece and to distinguish readily the whole pipe<ref name=caselaw>In The High Court of Justice - Chancery Division. REPORTS OF PATENT, DESIGN, AND TRADE MARK CASES [VOL. XXXIX. Dunhill v. Bartlett & Bickley (June and July, 1922) PP 426-443.[https://pipedia.org/images/d/d5/39-15-426-3.pdf]</ref>.</q></blockquote>  
 
  '''Note:''' All pipes come with a costly fitted black ebonite (is generically known as hard rubber and is obtained by vulcanizing natural rubber for prolonged periods. Ebonite may contain from 25% to 80% sulfur and linseed oil. The material has also been called vulcanite, although that name formally refers to the mineral vulcanite).  
  '''Note:''' All pipes come with a costly fitted black ebonite (is generically known as hard rubber and is obtained by vulcanizing natural rubber for prolonged periods. Ebonite may contain from 25% to 80% sulfur and linseed oil. The material has also been called vulcanite, although that name formally refers to the mineral vulcanite).  
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