Jobey
English - American - Danish - French... Informations about the brand Jobey are only to be found in form of smithereens...
Probably established in England around 1920(?) the brand hiked into the USA later. In the course of time owner, distributor and manufacturer changed repeatedly. As far as known:
- George Yale Pipes & Tobacco, New York (1942)
- Norwalk Pipe Co., New York (1949)
- Arlington Briar Pipes Corporation, Brooklyn (when?)
- Hollco International, New York (1969).
- Weber Pipe Co., Jersey City, NJ (1970's)
- The Tinderbox, (1970's - 80's).
Throughout decades Jobey pipes were mainly sold in the USA, Canada and England but remained almost unknown in continental Europe. The bulk of Jobeys was predominantly made according to classical patterns and mainly in the lower to middle price range. The predominant judgment of the pipe smokers reads: "A well made pipe for the price." So there is hardly anything very special or exciting about Jobey pipes although a flyer from ca. 1970 assures: "The briar root Jobey insists upon for its peer of pipes is left untouched to grow, harden and sweeten for 100 years. [...] Jobey uses only the heart of this century old briar and only one out of 500 bowls turned measures up to the rigid Jobey specifications." 99.80% of cull... that makes the layman marveling!
Yet then there are partially really exciting Freehands mainly in the seventies, that Jobey - Weber owned back then - bought from Danish pipe genius Karl Erik (Ottendahl). These pipes were offered as Jobey Dansk - '70's pure! (BTW waning sales caused Ottendahl to discontinue exports to the United States in 1987.)
In the very same year - obviously only as a ghost brand - Jobey was transferred to Saint-Claude, France to be manufactured by Butz-Choquin.
There must have been an abandonment of the fabrication, because in 2002 the message was spread, the current proprietor of the brand F&K Cigar Co. from St. Louis, MO had recently re-introduced the Jobey very successfully again...
Visit F&K Cigar Co. for an overview of the current offer!
Visit Chris' pipe pages for a fine selection of Jobey related documents!