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S. Bang: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Bang Ulf Noltensmeier.jpg|right|thumb|Ulf Noltensmeier - Image courtesy Lars Kiel]] | [[Image:Bang Ulf Noltensmeier.jpg|right|thumb|Ulf Noltensmeier - Image courtesy Lars Kiel]] | ||
A few pipe manufacturers have made the conscious decision to search out and purchase the best briar available and to invest whatever time is necessary to provide the highest quality. | A few pipe manufacturers have made the conscious decision to search out and purchase the best briar available and to invest whatever time is necessary to provide the highest quality. | ||
Among the most famous of these high-grade makers is '''S. Bang | Among the most famous of these high-grade makers is '''S. Bang of Copenhagen'''. | ||
'''Svend Bang''', the founder and namesake of S. Bang pipes, made his | '''Svend Bang''', the founder and namesake of S. Bang pipes, made his entry to the world of pipes and tobacco trade in 1941 managing to get a job at a small importer and wholesaler of tobacco. A real bad time to get started: Europe was at war and Denmark occupied by the German Wehrmacht. The supply of tobacco was extremely poor. If contemporary witnesses are to be believed, the Danes packed their pipes - increasingly made off homeland woods - with everything BUT tobacco. But evidently this wholesaler must have known a way to bring some tobacco leaves to the little kingdom for Svend Bang learnt so much about tobacco that he was employed by '''[[W.Ø. Larsen]]''' after the war. | ||
Working for this old and well-reputed tobacconist in central Copenhagen he learnt even more about tobacco and tobacco-blending. Furthermore '''Ole Larsen''', the proprietor, made him responsible for starting a new workshop for pipes situated in connection to the shop. Svend Bang managed to do this with flying colours and W.Ø. Larsen pipes became a bedrock of the Danish freehand fame! | |||
No wonder - like many other businessmen Svend Bang, meanwhile a highly respected expert, wanted to have a business of his own. The opportunity occurred when he got the Danish distribution agency for '''[[Astley's]]''' tobaccos and in 1968 Svend Bang's pipe-shop was opened! It soon became a meeting-place for those citizens of Copenhagen interested in pipes and tobacco and the sale of the Astley tobaccos was great. Copying Larsen's conception he furnished a pipe workshop behind the salesrooms. At first only repairs were offered but Bang wanted more: pipes to bear his name! | |||
Bang himself made only a few pipes, and was businessman enough to know that his talents did not lie in pipe carving. | |||
In the 70’s Danish pipes were enjoying growing popularity around the world, and Bang wanted a share of the market with a Danish pipe of his own. He therefore hired '''Per Hansen''' away from the famous pipe maker, [[Preben Holm]]. About a year later another pipe maker was added to the staff: '''Ulf Noltensmeier'''. | In the 70’s Danish pipes were enjoying growing popularity around the world, and Bang wanted a share of the market with a Danish pipe of his own. He therefore hired '''Per Hansen''' away from the famous pipe maker, [[Preben Holm]]. About a year later another pipe maker was added to the staff: '''Ulf Noltensmeier'''. | ||