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GBD: Difference between revisions
→A history of GBD
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[[Image:GBD9242NS.jpg|thumb|right|New Standard, bent Rhodesian (#9242) shape, courtesy G.L.Pease Collection]] | [[Image:GBD9242NS.jpg|thumb|right|New Standard, bent Rhodesian (#9242) shape, courtesy G.L.Pease Collection]] | ||
Early GBDs were made only in one single grade concerning the wood’s quality, later supplemented by a second one, and there was only a very limited number of finishes. But toward the end of the 19th century, the demand changed. For example the Britons preferred darker stainings. More differentiated customer’s wishes made the introduction of additional markings necessary. GBD Xtra and GBD Special were very early models who’s names indicated special final treatments and / or fitments. The standard quality was stamped simply with GBD. | |||
At the end of the 19th century GBD offered 1,500 models(!). (Please note however, that the same shape offered with three different materials for the stems was counted thrice!) In the first decade of the 20th century stems made of amber and synthetic amber were still widely used, but Vulcanite and horn had become the most popular materials. A further sign of the times were army mount pipes which were available meanwhile in 30 different shapes of inceasing popularity. The winner of the day was the Billiard (36 shapes now), along with 36 Bents and 32 Dublins / Zulus. Best newcomer was the Bulldog (15). The hoofs were almost out of fashion. | At the end of the 19th century GBD offered 1,500 models(!). (Please note however, that the same shape offered with three different materials for the stems was counted thrice!) In the first decade of the 20th century stems made of amber and synthetic amber were still widely used, but Vulcanite and horn had become the most popular materials. A further sign of the times were army mount pipes which were available meanwhile in 30 different shapes of inceasing popularity. The winner of the day was the Billiard (36 shapes now), along with 36 Bents and 32 Dublins / Zulus. Best newcomer was the Bulldog (15). The hoofs were almost out of fashion. | ||
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At the same time when the negotiatios with GBD started Oppenheimer also acquired two pipe factories in Saint-Claude: '''Sina & Cie.''' and '''C.J. Verguet Freres'''. Merging them a huge plant came into being that was thoroughly reconstructed and reorganized. The management was headed by Lucien Verguet. This new Saint-Claude factory was ready to operate in 1906. Beside it's very own commercial activities in pipe production it's main task was to supply prefabricated bowls. | At the same time when the negotiatios with GBD started Oppenheimer also acquired two pipe factories in Saint-Claude: '''Sina & Cie.''' and '''C.J. Verguet Freres'''. Merging them a huge plant came into being that was thoroughly reconstructed and reorganized. The management was headed by Lucien Verguet. This new Saint-Claude factory was ready to operate in 1906. Beside it's very own commercial activities in pipe production it's main task was to supply prefabricated bowls. | ||
Simultaneously Oppenheimer started to build a pipe factory in London. It was opened in 1903, but the forecasts had been over-optimistic for it's capacity could not be utilized to the full until World War I. Things changed as the French pipe factories lacked more and more workers who were called to the front. In 1916 the ledgers registered that 18,000 of 27,000 dozens bowls manufactured in Saint-Claude were determined via GBD Paris for GBD London. Wherewith London had become the more important location. | Simultaneously Oppenheimer started to build a pipe factory in London. It was opened in 1903, but the forecasts had been over-optimistic for it's capacity could not be utilized to the full until World War I. Things changed as the French pipe factories lacked more and more workers who were called to the front. In 1916 the ledgers registered that 18,000 of 27,000 dozens bowls manufactured in Saint-Claude were determined via GBD Paris for GBD London. Wherewith London had become the more important location. | ||
After the war, GBD continued production both in London and in Paris. London GBDs mainly went into the national trade and as well into the British Empire and the USA. Paris on the other hand served the French and the other European markets. The location of the factories influenced the GBD history furthermore in the future although later on the products of both countries occasionally were marketed side to side to match special market requests. | After the war, GBD continued production both in London and in Paris. London GBDs mainly went into the national trade and as well into the British Empire and the USA. Paris on the other hand served the French and the other European markets. The location of the factories influenced the GBD history furthermore in the future although later on the products of both countries occasionally were marketed side to side to match special market requests. | ||
[[Image:GBD1.jpg|thumb|left|GBD Estate Pipe Virgin Bent Billiard 508 from [http://www.smokershaven.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=310 Smoker's Haven]]] | |||
[[Image:GBD4.jpg|thumb|left|[http://www.smokershaven.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=310 Courtesy Smoker's Haven]]] | [[Image:GBD4.jpg|thumb|left|[http://www.smokershaven.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=310 Courtesy Smoker's Haven]]] | ||
In 1920 Oppenheimer had purchased '''[[BBB]]''' (Blumfeld’s Best Briar, formerly A. Frankau) and little later '''[[Loewe & Co.]]''' and large shares of '''[[Comoy's]] of London'''. The economic crisis in the early 1920s induced the foundation of '''Cadogan Investments Ltd.''', named for it’s seat at Cadogan Square in London. The Cadogan group was a superordinated holding company, in order to tune all activities of Oppenheimer’s brands in the pipe industry. Whereby an extensive independence of the single brands was preserved. Remember, the Oppenheimers and Adlers weren’t pipe specialists, but rather sales people who depended on their experts in the British and French plants. | In 1920 Oppenheimer had purchased '''[[BBB]]''' (Blumfeld’s Best Briar, formerly A. Frankau) and little later '''[[Loewe & Co.]]''' and large shares of '''[[Comoy's]] of London'''. The economic crisis in the early 1920s induced the foundation of '''Cadogan Investments Ltd.''', named for it’s seat at Cadogan Square in London. The Cadogan group was a superordinated holding company, in order to tune all activities of Oppenheimer’s brands in the pipe industry. Whereby an extensive independence of the single brands was preserved. Remember, the Oppenheimers and Adlers weren’t pipe specialists, but rather sales people who depended on their experts in the British and French plants. | ||
The claims after the 1st World War demanded further distinctions. First of all was the ''London Made'', which became the ''Standard London Made'', followed by the ''New Era''-- in 1931 the top model asking 12½ Shilling. The ''Pedigree'', although sketched around 1926, was not produced until the later 1930s. The ''New Standard'' was introduced in order to give the popular Standard of the 20s a higher rank in value. The ''Prehistoric'', a deeply sandblasted black pipe, that still carried the small GBD Xtra stamp, was entirely new and unusual. | |||
The French GBDs more or less followed the same developments, although Xtra and Speciale very longly used there. In the late 1920s a GBD with a metal filter system was introduced under the name ''Extra Dry''. Also from Paris came another important new feature: the introduction of the inserted metal plate with the GBD initials on the stems. That insert added a further "touch of class" to the pipes and in London it was attached immediately. | |||
The solid demand for GBD pipes also encouraged the management to introduce a number of sub brands designed to win new buyers. We can list such sub brands as follows: | |||
* The '''City de Luxe''' (1921) had an inserted star on the stem as trademark and were marketed in England and in France. These pipes were the bestseller of the 5½ Shilling class in the 1930s in Great Britain. | |||
* Reserved for the French market remained the even more favorable GBD brand '''Marcee''', a derivative of Marechal Ruchon & Co. Ltd. that was offered until the 2nd World War and for another one or two years afterwards. | |||
* The '''Camelia''' - made in London as a 2½ Shilling line - was only around for a few years. | |||
* Important to mention is also the '''Riseagle'''—completely produced in Paris before the wartime for England’s smokers who wanted “a cheap but dependable British made pipe”… one of the most successful 1 Shilling pipes until 1939! The introduction of the luxury impact on the excise tax for pipes after the war put an end to this cheap brand. | |||
Other brands of this time were marketed with even larger independence. The '''Dr. Plumb’s''' had been developed by the Parisian sales manager J.B. Rubinovich in 1925 when GBD France needed “a cheap line of pipes" especially for the Canadian market. In fact, the new brand was nicknamed for Mr. Rubinovich’s secretary Leslie W. Plumb, whose most important business was "to doctor figure" the ledgers. Dr. Plumb’s made their way not only in Canada. - The '''Peter Piper''', as well as the Dr. Plumb’s produced in Saint-Claude, is another great example that stampings like "London made" or "London England" are not always totally trustworthy also on older pipes! Not only today numberless brands are made in Saint Claude and stamped with whatever the buyer wants to be stamped... | |||
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