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Dunhill: Difference between revisions
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The conception of sandblasting is reported in the book "About Smoke", released in mid-1920. Algeria had become an important source of briar, and Alfred Dunhill bought his first shipment in early 1914. Impressed with the beauty and richness of the grain of his new briar stock, he tried to put it into production, but soon found that the results were not satisfactory on account of the softness of the material. Unused briar blocks were subsequently put aside and forgotten for months near the furnace. At random, sometime the next summer, he decided to re-examine these blocks and realized that some of the grains had shrunk, highlighting the grain and leaving a pattern of relief similar to that of a seashell--clearly the result of its prolonged exposure to Heat. The once voluminous wood was reduced to a mere shell of its former self, assuming a new and fascinating appearance while also becoming much lighter. These two factors combined created the perfect quality for both beautiful unique pieces and excellent smoking properties. The classic and iconic "Dunhill Shell Briar" is born! | The conception of sandblasting is reported in the book "About Smoke", released in mid-1920. Algeria had become an important source of briar, and Alfred Dunhill bought his first shipment in early 1914. Impressed with the beauty and richness of the grain of his new briar stock, he tried to put it into production, but soon found that the results were not satisfactory on account of the softness of the material. Unused briar blocks were subsequently put aside and forgotten for months near the furnace. At random, sometime the next summer, he decided to re-examine these blocks and realized that some of the grains had shrunk, highlighting the grain and leaving a pattern of relief similar to that of a seashell--clearly the result of its prolonged exposure to Heat. The once voluminous wood was reduced to a mere shell of its former self, assuming a new and fascinating appearance while also becoming much lighter. These two factors combined created the perfect quality for both beautiful unique pieces and excellent smoking properties. The classic and iconic "Dunhill Shell Briar" is born! | ||
<gallery mode="packed-hover" widths= | <gallery mode="packed-hover" widths=180px heights=180px> | ||
File:assb1.jpg|© About Smoke | File:assb1.jpg|© About Smoke | ||
File:assb2.jpg|© About Smoke | File:assb2.jpg|© About Smoke | ||
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File:Tmr3.png|© Intellectual Property Office | File:Tmr3.png|© Intellectual Property Office | ||
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Dunhill did not fully develop the sandblasting techniques until the mid-1920. The first specimens were deeply marked, drastically altering the shape by double blasting. By the end of the 1920's the technique was perfected, allowing the execution of blasting with more personality and beauty, while retaining the shape of pipe. The pieces of this era are the highest regarded by collectors. This blasting style was practiced until the beginning of the 1960's. | Dunhill did not fully develop the sandblasting techniques until the mid-1920's. The first specimens were deeply marked, drastically altering the shape by double blasting. By the end of the 1920's the technique was perfected, allowing the execution of blasting with more personality and beauty, while retaining the shape of pipe. The pieces of this era are the highest regarded by collectors. This blasting style was practiced until the beginning of the 1960's. | ||
In the 1960's, the Italian government restricted the use of the Briar to Italian manufacturers and the Algerian briar became scarce (consequence of the Algerian War of Independence. 1954-1962), which forced Dunhill to use the somewhat harder Greek briar. This compromised the sandblasted finish and explains why the blast is superficial in the models from this time period. Between the end of the 1960's and the beginning of the 1970's, it was possible to perform a deeper blast on this briar, but the market did not embrace it. Dunhill responded by preserving the smoother blasting. It is said that Richard Dunhill took one of the Shells that were rejected and asked: | In the 1960's, the Italian government restricted the use of the Briar to Italian manufacturers and the Algerian briar became scarce (consequence of the Algerian War of Independence. 1954-1962), which forced Dunhill to use the somewhat harder Greek briar. This compromised the sandblasted finish and explains why the blast is superficial in the models from this time period. Between the end of the 1960's and the beginning of the 1970's, it was possible to perform a deeper blast on this briar, but the market did not embrace it. Dunhill responded by preserving the smoother blasting. It is said that Richard Dunhill took one of the Shells that were rejected and asked: | ||