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James Upshall: Difference between revisions
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''Attention Upshall Collectors: Please contribute!'' | ''Attention Upshall Collectors: Please contribute!'' | ||
[[File:KenBarnes&BarryJones(JamesUpshall's)clipping.jpg|thumb|Ken Barns and Barry Jones, courtesy Doug Valitchka]] | |||
'''From the Upshall [http://www. | === Introduction === | ||
'''From the Upshall [http://www.upshallusa.com/index.htm Website]:''' | |||
All our pipes are individually created by a team of highly skilled artisans, headed by Mr. Barry Jones, who is widely regarded as one of the best pipe carvers in the world, with more than 50 years experience in pipe making. | All our pipes are individually created by a team of highly skilled artisans, headed by Mr. Barry Jones, who is widely regarded as one of the best pipe carvers in the world, with more than 50 years experience in pipe making. | ||
[[File:James Upshall.jpg|thumb|left|Barry Jones in the photo, and an interesting article | [[File:James Upshall.jpg|thumb|left|Barry Jones in the photo, and an interesting article, courtesy Doug Valitchka]]Mr. Jones learned his skill from the age of 15 in London and was personally guided by Mr. Charatan of Charatan Pipe Co., pipe makers to royalty since 1863. For years he was responsible for creating the majority of the famous Charatan shapes and the high standard of quality. | ||
[[Image:ref27.jpg|thumb|Upshall Lovatt, Grade X]][[Image:ref 26.jpg|thumb|left|Upshall Freehand, Grade E]][[Image:DUBLIN 62.jpg|thumb|Upshall Dublin, Grade A]][[Image:GIANT BILLIARD 43.jpg|thumb|Upshall Unique, Giant Billiard]] In 1978, Barry Jones joined Major Kenneth Barnes, then Charatans' managing director,and his son Kennedy Barnes who started his own pipe company in Tilshead, Wiltshire, making the Tilshead and James Upshall premium class pipe, which took it's name from the Major's ancestry, one James Archelaus Upshall, an ardent pipe smoker, who loved quality and perfection. | [[Image:ref27.jpg|thumb|Upshall Lovatt, Grade X]][[Image:ref 26.jpg|thumb|left|Upshall Freehand, Grade E]][[Image:DUBLIN 62.jpg|thumb|Upshall Dublin, Grade A]][[Image:GIANT BILLIARD 43.jpg|thumb|Upshall Unique, Giant Billiard]] In 1978, Barry Jones joined Major Kenneth Barnes, then Charatans' managing director,and his son Kennedy Barnes who started his own pipe company in Tilshead, Wiltshire, making the Tilshead and James Upshall premium class pipe, which took it's name from the Major's ancestry, one James Archelaus Upshall, an ardent pipe smoker, who loved quality and perfection. | ||
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As always the James Upshall pipe has been sold in the most prestigious outlets around the world and has been greatly appreciated by royalty, lords and celebrities alike. King Hussein of Jordan, Anwar Sadat, Bing Crosby, Yul Brynner and more recently Arnold Schwarzenegger, Robert Wagner and Tom Selleck to name but a few of the famous names who have helped to cement James Upshalls' reputation as the Rolls Royce of Pipes. | As always the James Upshall pipe has been sold in the most prestigious outlets around the world and has been greatly appreciated by royalty, lords and celebrities alike. King Hussein of Jordan, Anwar Sadat, Bing Crosby, Yul Brynner and more recently Arnold Schwarzenegger, Robert Wagner and Tom Selleck to name but a few of the famous names who have helped to cement James Upshalls' reputation as the Rolls Royce of Pipes. | ||
=== Grading & Sizing Information === | |||
James Upshall pipes are graded by various finishes, i.e. bark, sandblast, black dress and smooth etc. Then by cross grain, flame grain, straight grain and, last but not least, the perfect high grade, which consists of dense straight grain to the bowl and shank. The latter being extremely rare. In addition, the price varies according to group size, i.e. from 3-4-5-6 cm high approximately Extra Large. We also have the Empire Series which are basically the giant size, individually hand crafted pipes which come in all finishes and categories of grain. All our pipes are individually hand carved from the highest quality, naturally dried Greek briar. | |||
In order to simplify our grading system, let me divide our pipes into 4 basic categories. | |||
# It begins with the Tilshead pipe, which smokes every bit as good as the James Upshall but has a slight imperfection in the briar. In the same category price wise you will find the James Upshall Bark and Sandblast finish pipes, which fill and smoke as well as the high grades. | |||
# In this category we have the best "root quality" which means that the grain is either cross, flame or straight, which is very much apparent through the transparent differing color finishes. This group will qualify as the "S"- Mahogany Red, "A" - Chestnut Tan and "P" - Walnut. The latter having the straighter grain. | |||
#. Here you have only straight grain, high grade pipes, which run from the "B", "G", "E", "X" and "XX". The latter will be the supreme high grade. Considering the straightness of the grain the latter category is also the rarest. Usually no more than 1% of the production will qualify. | |||
# Lastly, we have the Empire Series. These are basically Limited Edition gigantic individually hand crafted pieces, which again are extremely rare due to the scarcity of large, superior briar blocks. | |||
We also offer a selection of finely engineered silver and gold banding for pipes. Bands are available in silver, 9ct and 18ct gold, the width can be 6mm or 10mm and they can be fitted flush or on the surface. Bands are finished in plain, engine turned with barley or line patterns and also in gold with large hallmarks. Army mounts and spigot mounts can only be applied to round stemmed pipes. | |||
Please see the shape chart which shows the different shapes available in all group sizes and finishes. Also please look at the size chart to assist in your selection of the right pipe for you. | |||
<gallery widths=250px heights=200px caption="Example and details, courtesy Doug Valitchka"> | |||
File:JamesUpshall01.jpg | |||
File:JamesUpshall08.jpg | |||
File:JamesUpshall10.jpg | |||
</gallery> | |||
=== On Site Links === | |||
*A wonderful scan (PDF) of the '''[https://pipedia.org/images/a/a6/James_Upshall_1984Catalog.pdf 1984 James Upshall Catalog]''': (Ken Barnes sent this to SSJones, who then posted it on [http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/1984-james-upshall-pamphlet PipesMagazine.com] | |||
=== Off Site Links === | |||
*You may also enjoy listening to Brian Levine's interview of Ken Barnes on the [http://pipesmagazine.com/blog/radio-talk-show/the-pipes-magazine-radio-show-episode-178/ PipesMagazine Radio Show]. Kennedy worked for Charatan starting at the age of 15,working for his father, who was managing director before the company was sold to Dunhill, and he then moved on to start James Upshall with Barry Jones. | *You may also enjoy listening to Brian Levine's interview of Ken Barnes on the [http://pipesmagazine.com/blog/radio-talk-show/the-pipes-magazine-radio-show-episode-178/ PipesMagazine Radio Show]. Kennedy worked for Charatan starting at the age of 15,working for his father, who was managing director before the company was sold to Dunhill, and he then moved on to start James Upshall with Barry Jones. | ||
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*Interesting article by Rick Newcombe that includes his visit with Ken Barnes: [http://pipesmagazine.com/blog/pipe-manufacturer-retailer-spotlight/charatan-upshall-and-ken-barnes/ '''Charatan, Upshall and Ken Barnes'''] | *Interesting article by Rick Newcombe that includes his visit with Ken Barnes: [http://pipesmagazine.com/blog/pipe-manufacturer-retailer-spotlight/charatan-upshall-and-ken-barnes/ '''Charatan, Upshall and Ken Barnes'''] | ||
=== Contact information: === | |||
[http://www. | [http://www.upshallusa.com/index.htm Website] | ||
Mordechai Ezrati | Mordechai Ezrati | ||
James Upshall | James Upshall | ||