Dunhill

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Alfred Dunhill Pipes Website

A brief Timeline

1893: At the age of 21 Alfred Dunhill inherited a harness business and soon saw that the age of the automobile was coming and converted his father’s factory from horse-drawn carriage accessories to motor accessories. “Dunhill Motorities” was born.

1904: Alfred Dunhill invented the “Windshield Pipe”.

1906: First Dunhill tobacco shop opened on Duke St.

1910: Alfred Dunhill opened a small pipe factory of his own. The focus was to use the finest quality briar, and expert craftsmanship to make pipes that would provide a superior smoke, and last a lifetime. The cost would reflect these principals, which was against the current trend of inexpensive pipes of poor quality.

1910: The Bruyere finish is first introduced

1915: The famous white spot was introduced so customers would know which way to insert the handmade vulcanite mouthpieces on straight pipes (the spots face up).

1917: Alfred Dunhill invented the sandblasted pipe, and first introduced the "Shell" Finish. Dunhill also developed the oil curing process at this time, which many feel contributes significantly to Dunhill's excellent smoking qualities.

1920: Dunhill stopped buying bowls turned in France in favor of those turned in London at the newly opened Dunhill bowl-turning facility.

1921: Alfred Dunhill open international stores in NYC and Paris.

1924: 260,000 pipes were sold in the Duke St. Shop.

1928: Alfred Dunhill retires

1930: The Root finish is introduced. D.R. "dead root". Denotes Dunhill straight grain pipes. The bruyere finish was used on these pipes through 1929; root finish was used thereafter. "D.R." stamped on shank.

1953: The Tanshell finish is introduced

1959: Bill Taylor start working for Dunhill as a boy

1973: The Redbark finish is introduced

1977: Bill Taylor works as administrator and overseer in the Dunhill Factory

1980: The Cumberland finish is introduced

1984: Bill Taylor leaves Dunhill to become Bill Ashton-Taylor

1987: Redbark finish officially retired

Dunhill Articles

A Tail of Two Briars

A Dunhill Pipe Dating Guide

Contact information:

Alfred Dunhill Manufacturing Limited, 32 St Andrews Road, London E17 6BQ; Telephone: +44 (0)20 8498 4000; Fax: +44 (020) 8498 4077; Email: mailto:adpl@dunhill.com