5,741
edits
Dunhill: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
→Alfred Henry Dunhill
| (10 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) | |||
| Line 423: | Line 423: | ||
In 1912 Alfred H. Dunhill joined the business and began his journey in the company as an apprentice (then at the age of 16) but, in 1914 the First World War began and Alfred Henry Dunhill leaves the business and joins the war effort. in 1918 Alfred Henry Dunhill won the Military Cross (MC at Frégicourt 1 Sep 1918 - 31158/1 Feb 1919<ref name=ahd>Fold3. World War I (1919). British Recipients of the Military Cross - Alfred Henry Dunhill Record[https://www.fold3.com/record/643036829-alfred-henry-dunhill].</ref>) during the Battle of the Somme. He entered as a private and was discharged at the end of the war with the rank of captain. He was decorated with Military Cross, a third-level military award awarded to officers and squares of the British armed forces. He resumes its position in the company in 1919. | In 1912 Alfred H. Dunhill joined the business and began his journey in the company as an apprentice (then at the age of 16) but, in 1914 the First World War began and Alfred Henry Dunhill leaves the business and joins the war effort. in 1918 Alfred Henry Dunhill won the Military Cross (MC at Frégicourt 1 Sep 1918 - 31158/1 Feb 1919<ref name=ahd>Fold3. World War I (1919). British Recipients of the Military Cross - Alfred Henry Dunhill Record[https://www.fold3.com/record/643036829-alfred-henry-dunhill].</ref>) during the Battle of the Somme. He entered as a private and was discharged at the end of the war with the rank of captain. He was decorated with Military Cross, a third-level military award awarded to officers and squares of the British armed forces. He resumes its position in the company in 1919. | ||
<blockquote> | <blockquote>"Alfred Henry, who was just over eighteen when war was declared, came home one day in the summer of 1914 in the uniform of a Private in the Queen's Royal Regiment. I remember that the tunic was much too short for his lanky body and that, before he kissed me goodbye, he showed me how he wound on his puttees. We didn’t see him again until he returned on leave after several weeks in the front-line trenches without once having the chance of taking his boots off. I screamed when he showed us the lice wriggling in the seams of that tunic with its short sleeves. Mother, I remember, made him strip in the garden, taking the uniform into the kitchen where she baked it in the oven.<br> | ||
The telegram from the War Office Mother had been dreading for four years arrived on Armistice Day. Alfred Henry had been wounded and was being brought back to Bethnal Green where a workhouse had been converted into an emergency hospital. Mother and I dashed off in silent terror, but we found him in reasonable spirits, surrounded by soldiers in their hospital blue, pale and tired and obviously glad to be home. He had nothing worse than a burst of shrapnel in one of his legs, though they failed to get all of it out and the wound was to trouble him for the rest of his life. Then, as soon as he was fit enough to limp about on a stick, Father, with his customary thoroughness, organized a festive dance to welcome my brother home. | The telegram from the War Office Mother had been dreading for four years arrived on Armistice Day. Alfred Henry had been wounded and was being brought back to Bethnal Green where a workhouse had been converted into an emergency hospital. Mother and I dashed off in silent terror, but we found him in reasonable spirits, surrounded by soldiers in their hospital blue, pale and tired and obviously glad to be home. He had nothing worse than a burst of shrapnel in one of his legs, though they failed to get all of it out and the wound was to trouble him for the rest of his life. Then, as soon as he was fit enough to limp about on a stick, Father, with his customary thoroughness, organized a festive dance to welcome my brother home. | ||
On his next leave, Alfred Henry returned with a Sam Browne belt and the shoulder badges of a Captain who, apparently, for such was the death toll, had already had to act as Colonel. According to the hilarious story he made of it, he had had to parade on a spritely horse during a marchpast of his battalion after spending no more than a couple of hours in the saddle. Never a word about the mud, the rats, the deprivations, the terrifying bombardments and the unimaginable butchery of the Western Front. Like thousands of other boys who had gone to the front, Alfred Henry was one of those who returned with the face of a man who never spoke of what he had seen and felt.< | On his next leave, Alfred Henry returned with a Sam Browne belt and the shoulder badges of a Captain who, apparently, for such was the death toll, had already had to act as Colonel. According to the hilarious story he made of it, he had had to parade on a spritely horse during a marchpast of his battalion after spending no more than a couple of hours in the saddle. Never a word about the mud, the rats, the deprivations, the terrifying bombardments and the unimaginable butchery of the Western Front. Like thousands of other boys who had gone to the front, Alfred Henry was one of those who returned with the face of a man who never spoke of what he had seen and felt." Mary Dunhill. <ref name=mary4> Dunhill, Mary (1979). Our Family Business (p. 35). Great Britain, The Bodley Head.</ref></blockquote> | ||
His bravery was mentioned in a column of The London Gazette<ref name=ahd1>London Gazette (1 February 1919). "2nd Lt. Alfred Henry Dunhill, R*. W. Surr. R. (Spec. Res.), attd. 7th Bn [PDF version].[https://pipedia.org/images/7/7d/London_Gazette%2C_1_February%2C_1919..pdf]</ref>: | His bravery was mentioned in a column of The London Gazette<ref name=ahd1>London Gazette (1 February 1919). "2nd Lt. Alfred Henry Dunhill, R*. W. Surr. R. (Spec. Res.), attd. 7th Bn [PDF version].[https://pipedia.org/images/7/7d/London_Gazette%2C_1_February%2C_1919..pdf]</ref>: | ||
<blockquote>"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to ' duty on 1st September 1918, in the attack on Fregicourt. After encountering considerable opposition, he manoeuvred his company skilfully in a flank attack, which, | <blockquote>"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to ' duty on 1st September 1918, in the attack on Fregicourt. After encountering considerable opposition, he manoeuvred his company skilfully in a flank attack, which, | ||
though harassed by heavy machine-gun fire resulted in the capture of over 200 prisoners. This success was largely the outcome of his coolness and daring." | though harassed by heavy machine-gun fire resulted in the capture of over 200 prisoners. This success was largely the outcome of his coolness and daring."</blockquote> | ||
Once, in the Second World War when a bomb wrecked the company's offices in 1941, the chairman sat among the debris selling the remnants of the pipe stock to passers‐by.</q> The Times<ref name=ahd3>The Times - (July 9, 1971). Obituary - Mr Alfred Dunhill, Pipes, tobacco and cigars. (P. 34). London [https://pipedia.org/images/b/b9/The_Times_1971-07-09.jpg]</ref>. See more about it here [[WWII Phase]]. | |||
Alfred Henry took over as president after his father's retirement, but as we can see in Mary's accounts, he had little autonomy - his uncle Bertie centralized everything in his hand with strict control. the business was run by Herbert until his death in 1950. | Alfred Henry took over as president after his father's retirement, but as we can see in Mary's accounts, he had little autonomy - his uncle Bertie centralized everything in his hand with strict control. the business was run by Herbert until his death in 1950. | ||
<blockquote><q>Soon after Father’s retirement in 1928 when Alfred Henry took over the chairmanship and became managing director in little more than name, a record of just about everything that happened in Duke Street and Notting Hill Gate had to be sent out to Uncle Bertie so that he could run the business by remote control. And control it he certainly did. Turnover figures were sent to him by daily telegram. Two male members of the staff took turns to travel to Merano, their bags stuffed with reports, accounts, proposed salary increases and requests that required his signature before they could be implemented, the most absurd example being the row over the tea-lady’s wages that had been increased by half-a-crown without Uncle Bertie’s authority. He was furious.</q> Dunhill, Mary. Our Family Business ( | <blockquote><q>Soon after Father’s retirement in 1928 when Alfred Henry took over the chairmanship and became managing director in little more than name, a record of just about everything that happened in Duke Street and Notting Hill Gate had to be sent out to Uncle Bertie so that he could run the business by remote control. And control it he certainly did. Turnover figures were sent to him by daily telegram. Two male members of the staff took turns to travel to Merano, their bags stuffed with reports, accounts, proposed salary increases and requests that required his signature before they could be implemented, the most absurd example being the row over the tea-lady’s wages that had been increased by half-a-crown without Uncle Bertie’s authority. He was furious.</q> Mary Dunhill. <ref name=mary5> Dunhill, Mary (1979). Our Family Business (pp. 86-87). Great Britain, The Bodley Head.</ref></blockquote> | ||
In | In the early '41, in one edition of Tobacco, Arthur E. Todd wrote a bit about Mr Alfred H. Dunhill and his Family, on his column named "Tobacco Notables"<ref name=ahd4>Todd, Arthur E. Tobacco, (1st. February 1941). Tobacco Notables Interview No. 6 - The Story of the Dunhill Family.</ref>: | ||
<blockquote><q>'''Business That Grew from a Chance Idea in the Days of Draughty Motoring - Alfred Henry Dunhill in the Shop That is Their pride - 400 Prisoners Won Him the M.C. - Lamentable Case of Madame Le Brun.''' | <blockquote><q>'''Business That Grew from a Chance Idea in the Days of Draughty Motoring - Alfred Henry Dunhill in the Shop That is Their pride - 400 Prisoners Won Him the M.C. - Lamentable Case of Madame Le Brun.''' | ||
| Line 455: | Line 455: | ||
The company's growing exponentially as an international tobacco and pipe‐making under his administration. In recognition of its export achievements, his sister, Mary Dunhill won the Queen's Award to Industry in 1966 and 1969. Alfred Henry was a scholar and sequenced his father's work, as we can see here: | The company's growing exponentially as an international tobacco and pipe‐making under his administration. In recognition of its export achievements, his sister, Mary Dunhill won the Queen's Award to Industry in 1966 and 1969. Alfred Henry was a scholar and sequenced his father's work, as we can see here: | ||
Mr. Dunhill maintained that tobacco was as rich and rewarding as wine or food, and he published several books on the subject. They included “The Gentle Art of Smoking” (1954) and “The Pipe Book,” a revised survey of the pipes of the world, first published by his father in 1926.<ref name=ahd5>The Times - (July 9, 1971). Obituary - Mr Alfred Dunhill, Pipes, tobacco and cigars. (P. 34). London [https://pipedia.org/images/b/b9/The_Times_1971-07-09.jpg]</ref> | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
<center>'''The Pipe Book - Foreword by Alfred H. Dunhill'''</center> | <center>'''The Pipe Book - Foreword by Alfred H. Dunhill.'''</center> | ||
<blockquote><q>For over forty years The Pipe Book seems to have appealed to both pipe smokers and the general reader interested in smoking as an aspect of social history. As a study of the pipe from earliest times, I believe it still has no rival.<br> | <blockquote><q>For over forty years The Pipe Book seems to have appealed to both pipe smokers and the general reader interested in smoking as an aspect of social history. As a study of the pipe from earliest times, I believe it still has no rival.<br> | ||
I am therefore glad to introduce a revised edition with new illustrations based mainly on pipes in the Dunhill collection. Apart from minor changes, the text is as my father wrote it in 1924 | I am therefore glad to introduce a revised edition with new illustrations based mainly on pipes in the Dunhill collection. Apart from minor changes, the text is as my father wrote it in 1924<ref name=ahd6>Dunhill, Alfred. (1969, later reprints). The Pipe Book - Foreword Alfred H. Dunhill. London. Arthur Barker Limited.</ref></q></blockquote> | ||
The book “The Gentle Art of Smoking” looks at the history of Tobacco (growing, preparation, etc) and moves on to Pipes and Cigars. | The book “The Gentle Art of Smoking” looks at the history of Tobacco (growing, preparation, etc) and moves on to Pipes and Cigars. | ||
<center>'''The Gentle Art of Smoking - Introduction'''</center> | <center>'''The Gentle Art of Smoking - Introduction.'''</center> | ||
<blockquote><q>It is not necessary to be a member of the Tobacco Trade to realize that the world-wide practice of smoking is rapidly becoming, except for a small minority, a lost art and a limited pleasure. Indeed, many smokers in the furious tempo of modern life have freely admitted that it is only an essential narcotic for frayed nerves. For them choice Havana cigars, hand-made cigarettes and lustrous meerschaum pipes, which graced the smoking-rooms of fifty years ago, must seem almost as remote as the elaborate smoking paraphernalia which brought such excitement to Elizabethan England. Today the ubiquitous cigarette has robbed most of us of these former glories and gripped us by the throat. Smoking has become habit, and habit, proverbially, blunts the edge of pleasure.<br> | <blockquote><q>It is not necessary to be a member of the Tobacco Trade to realize that the world-wide practice of smoking is rapidly becoming, except for a small minority, a lost art and a limited pleasure. Indeed, many smokers in the furious tempo of modern life have freely admitted that it is only an essential narcotic for frayed nerves. For them choice Havana cigars, hand-made cigarettes and lustrous meerschaum pipes, which graced the smoking-rooms of fifty years ago, must seem almost as remote as the elaborate smoking paraphernalia which brought such excitement to Elizabethan England. Today the ubiquitous cigarette has robbed most of us of these former glories and gripped us by the throat. Smoking has become habit, and habit, proverbially, blunts the edge of pleasure.<br> | ||
To one whose business it is to interest the public in the whole realm of smoking, all this is a very great pity. Yet it is not wholly explained by the economic problems of the day. He who smokes at all can afford to vary the way in which he smokes and to learn a little more about the pleasure which, to say the least of it, is expensive enough. But having tried to cater for the whims and caprices of smokers for many years, I am sure that a little sound knowledge of tobacco and some spirit of adventure are the very qualities that the majority of smokers lack. Deeply conservative, so many are prepared to pay large annual sums without considering how they may get the most enjoyment in return. Smoking is held to be something that you learn about instinctively, or a habit that requires little investigation. People with such an attitude shut their eyes to what they spend and what they smoke. As a result, cigars are bought, mishandled and sometimes wasted. Pipes which are the product of many years of skill and craftsmanship are bought by people who have little more than fancy to guide their choice, and smoked in ways that make it impossible for them to give satisfaction. Some brands of tobacco give delight to a few, but are never sampled by the majority. Cigarettes are sometimes selected as though the only distinguishing feature was the color and shape of the box.</q> Dunhill, A. H. The Gentle Art of Smoking ( | To one whose business it is to interest the public in the whole realm of smoking, all this is a very great pity. Yet it is not wholly explained by the economic problems of the day. He who smokes at all can afford to vary the way in which he smokes and to learn a little more about the pleasure which, to say the least of it, is expensive enough. But having tried to cater for the whims and caprices of smokers for many years, I am sure that a little sound knowledge of tobacco and some spirit of adventure are the very qualities that the majority of smokers lack. Deeply conservative, so many are prepared to pay large annual sums without considering how they may get the most enjoyment in return. Smoking is held to be something that you learn about instinctively, or a habit that requires little investigation. People with such an attitude shut their eyes to what they spend and what they smoke. As a result, cigars are bought, mishandled and sometimes wasted. Pipes which are the product of many years of skill and craftsmanship are bought by people who have little more than fancy to guide their choice, and smoked in ways that make it impossible for them to give satisfaction. Some brands of tobacco give delight to a few, but are never sampled by the majority. Cigarettes are sometimes selected as though the only distinguishing feature was the color and shape of the box.</q> Alfred H. Dunhill.<ref name=ahd7>Dunhill, A. H. (1954). The Gentle Art of Smoking., Introduction (p. xi). London: Max Reinhardt.</ref></blockquote> | ||
<gallery mode="packed-hover" widths=123px heights=123px> | <gallery mode="packed-hover" widths=123px heights=123px> | ||