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'''William DeMuth'''. (Wilhelm C. DeMuth, 1835-1911), a native of Germany, entered the United States at the age of 16 as a penniless immigrant. After a series of odd jobs he found work as a clerk in the import business of a tobacco tradesman in New York City. In 1862 William established his own company. The '''William Demuth Company''' specialized in pipes, smoker's requisites, cigar-store Indians, canes and other carved objects.
'''William Demuth'''. (Wilhelm C. Demuth, 1835-1911), a native of Germany, entered the United States at the age of 16 as a penniless immigrant. After a series of odd jobs he found work as a clerk in the import business of a tobacco tradesman in New York City. In 1862 William established his own company. The '''William Demuth Company''' specialized in pipes, smoker's requisites, cigar-store figures, canes and other carved objects.


The DeMuth Company is probably well known for the famous trademark, WDC in an inverted equilateral triangle. William commissioned the figurative meerschaum Presidential series, 2? precision-carved likenesses of John Adams, the second president of the United States. (1797-1801) to Herbert Hoover, the 30th president (1929-1933), and "Columbus Landing in America," a 32-inch long centennial meerschaum masterpiece made in America that took two years to complete.
[[File:WDCMeer.jpg|thumb|Circa 1900 WDC Meerschaum w/Amber Stem, couresty [http://www.racineandlaramie.com/ Racine & Laramie Tobacconist]]][[File:WDC Hesson Guard-1940.jpg|thumb|1940 Hesson Guard Ad, courtesy Doug Valitchka]][[File:WDCBakelite16.jpg|thumb|left|Bakelite Ad, Courtesy Doug Valitchka]][[File:WDCMilano14.jpg|thumb|Hesson Guard Milano Ad, courtesy Doug Valitchka]][[File:WDC Hesson.jpg|thumb|WEDC Hesson 1932 Patent, courtesy Doug Valitchka]][[File:WDC DEMUTH.JPG|thumb]][[File:WDCLaddie08.jpg|thumb|Catalog page, courtesy Doug Vaclitchka]]The Demuth Company is probably well known for the famous trademark, WDC in an inverted equilateral triangle. William commissioned the figurative meerschaum Presidential series, 29 precision-carved likenesses of John Adams, the second president of the United States (1797-1801) to Herbert Hoover, the 30th president (1929-1933), and "Columbus Landing in America," a 32-inch-long centennial meerschaum masterpiece that took two years to complete and was exhibited at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893.


The Presidential series was the result of DeMuth's friendship with President James A. Garfield, a connoisseur of meerschaum pipes. DeMuth presented two pipes to Garfield at his inauguration in 1881, one in his likeness, the other in the likeness of the President's wife. Later, DeMuth arranged for another figurative matching the others to be added to the collection as each new president acceded to the White House, terminating with President Hoover.  
[[File:Hesson Jr18.jpg|thumb|Hesson Patent granted Dec. 22, 1925, courtesy Doug Valitchka]][[File:WDC Sterling.jpg|thumb|WDC Sterling Ad, courtesy Doug Valitchka]]The Presidential series was the result of Demuth's friendship with President James A. Garfield, a connoisseur of meerschaum pipes. Demuth presented two pipes to Garfield at his inauguration in 1881, one in his likeness, the other in the likeness of the President's wife. Later, Demuth arranged for another figurative matching the others to be added to the collection as each new president acceded to the White House, terminating with President Hoover.  
 
''Note: This information originally appeared on pages 22-23 of ''Collecting Antique Meerschaums'' (Schiffer Publishing Ltd.,1999), by Ben Rapaport. It was used without permission in the article written by Maureen Timm, As seen in The Antique Shoppe Newspaper, July, 2005, [http://antiqueshoppefl.com/archives/mtimm/meerschaum.htm] but is used here by permission of the original author.''


'''''Note: This information originally appeared in Collecting Antique Pipes, by Ben Rappaport. It was used without permission in the article written by Maureen Timm, As seen in The Antique -Shoppe Newspaper, July, 2005, [http://antiqueshoppefl.com/archives/mtimm/meerschaum.htm] but is used here by permission of the original author.'''''


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In 1897 '''Ferdinand Feuerbach''' joined the DeMuth company and by 1903 had become the production manager. Feuerbach is credited with developing DeMuth's popular ''Royal DeMuth'' and ''Hesson Guard Milano'' pipelines. He left in 1919, when Sam Frank Sr. needed an experienced pipe man to run his pipe factory, located at 168 Southern Blvd., in the Bronx. Feuerbach and Frank had been close friends  since Frank started his own business in 1900 and was closely associated with the sales staff of WDC, selling their line of pipes.


[[Image:WDC Left.jpg|right|thumb|Typical WDC "Wellington"]]
[[File:Hesson-Guard-1943.jpg|thumb|1943 Hessen Guard Ad, courtesy Doug Valitchka]][[File:WDCStratford13.jpg|thumb]]
In early 1937, the City of New York notified S.M. Frank & Co. of their intent to take by eminent domain, part of the land on which the companies pipe factory was located. This was being done to widen two of the adjacent streets. As a result of this, Frank entered into negotiations to purchase the Wm. DeMuth Co.'s pipe factory in the Richmond Hill section of Queens. It was agreed upon that DeMuth would become a subsidiary of S.M. Frank and all pipe production of the two companies would be moved to DeMuth factory. New Corporate offices were located at 133 Fifth Avenue, NYC.
[[File:WDC Milano14.jpg|thumb|]]In 1897 '''Ferdinand Feuerbach''' joined the Demuth company and by 1903 had become the production manager. Feuerbach is credited with developing Demuth's popular ''Royal Demuth'' and ''Hesson Guard Milano'' pipelines. He left in 1919, when Sam Frank Sr. needed an experienced pipe man to run his pipe factory, located at 168 Southern Blvd., in the Bronx. Feuerbach and Frank had been close friends  since Frank started his own business in 1900 and was closely associated with the sales staff of WDC, selling their line of pipes.
 
<gallery widths=250px heights=185px caption="WDC Milano with 1925 Patent date, courtesy Doug Valitchka">
File:WDC 1925Milano01.jpg
File:WDC 1925Milano05.jpg
File:WDC 1925Milano07.jpg
File:WDC 1925Milano08.jpg
File:WDC 1925Milano09.jpg
</gallery>
 
[[File:Stratford16.jpg|thumb|WDC Stratford, Brighton, Wellington Ad, courtesy Doug Valitchka]]
<gallery widths=250px heights=185px caption="WDC Stratford with Patent, courtesy Doug Valitchka">
File:Stratford01.jpg
File:Stratford05.jpg
File:Stratford07.jpg
File:Stratford08.jpg
File:Stratford10.jpg
</gallery>
 
 
<gallery widths=250px heights=185px caption="WDC Hesson JR and details, courtesy Doug Valitchka">
File:Hesson Jr01.jpg
File:Hesson Jr07.jpg
File:Hesson Jr08.jpg
File:Hesson Jr09.jpg
File:Hesson Jr10.jpg
</gallery>
 
 
<gallery widths=250px heights=185px caption="Hesson and details, courtesy Doug Valitchka">
Hesson01.jpg
Hesson07.jpg
Hesson08.jpg
Hesson09.jpg
Hesson10.jpg
Hesson11.jpg
</gallery>
 
 
<gallery widths=250px heights=185px caption="WDC Simplex and details, including a SEPT 3 1907 NOV 21 1911 Patent Dates, courtesy Doug Valitchka">
File:WDCSimplex01.jpg
File:WDCSimplex07.jpg
File:WDCSimplex08.jpg
File:WDCSimplex09.jpg
</gallery>
 
 
<gallery widths=200 caption="Examples and details, courtesy Doug Valitchka">
File:WDCLaddie01.jpg|Laddie
File:WDCLaddie07.jpg|Laddie Detail
File:WDC Milano01.jpg|Milano
File:WDC Milano08.jpg|Milan Nomenclature
File:WDC Thorobred10.jpg|Thorobred
File:WDC ThorobredRedskin08.jpg|Thorobred Nomenclature
File:WDCKerly01.jpg|Thorobred Kerly
File:WDCKerly07.jpg|Thorobred Kerly Nomenclature
File:WDC1898SAmber01.jpg|1898s with Amber
File:WDC1898SAmber05.jpg|1898s with Amber Nomenclature
File:WDCBakelite01.jpg|Bakelite
File:WDCBakelite09.jpg|Bakelite Nomenclature
File:WDCBakelite15.jpg|Detail
File:WDCBradshaw01.jpg|Bradshaw
File:WDCBradshaw07.jpg|Bradshaw Nomenclature
File:WDCDurobit01.jpg|Durobite
File:WDCDurobit07.jpg|Durobite Nomenclature
File:WDCJubilee01.jpg|Jubilee
File:WDCJubilee07.jpg|Jubilee Nomenclature
File:WDCJubilee08.jpg|Jubilee Detail
File:WDCMarlboro09.jpg|Marlboro
File:WDCMarlboro07.jpg|Marlboro Nomenclature
File:WDCMilano09.jpg|Milano
File:WDCPrince01.jpg|The Prince
File:WDCPrince05.jpg|The Prince Detail
File:WDCPrince06.jpg|The Prince Nomenclature
File:WDCTurin01.jpg|Turnin
File:WDCTurin07.jpg|Turnin Nomenclature
File:WDCWinton01.jpg
File:WDCWinton05.jpg
WDC_Yo_Ho01.jpg|Yo Ho
WDC_Yo_Ho03.jpg|Yo Ho details
WDC_Yo_Ho04.jpg|Yo Ho details
WDC_Campaign01.jpg|Campaign Display
WDC_Campaign02.jpg|Campaign Pipe
</gallery>
 
In early 1937, the City of New York notified S.M. Frank & Co. of their intent to take by eminent domain, part of the land on which the companies pipe factory was located. This was being done to widen two of the adjacent streets. As a result of this, Frank entered into negotiations to purchase the Wm. Demuth Co.'s pipe factory in the Richmond Hill section of Queens. It was agreed upon that Demuth would become a subsidiary of S.M. Frank and all pipe production of the two companies would be moved to DeMuth factory. New Corporate offices were located at 133 Fifth Avenue, NYC.
 
Demuth pipes continued to be made at the Richmond Hill plant till December 31. 1972. Then the Wm. Demuth Company met its official end as a subsidiary company by liquidation. Demuth's mainstay pipe, the ''Wellington'' continued to be offered in the S.M. Frank catalog until 1976. In the mid-80's, the Wellington even made a brief return as a direct to the consumer offer.
 
<gallery perrow=3 widths=185px heights=200px caption="Wellington ads, examples, and details, courtesy Doug Valitchka">
File:Wellington1919.jpg
File:Wdc1.jpg
File:Wellington.jpg
File:WDCWellington01.jpg
File:WDCWellington07.jpg
File:WDCWellingtonBlast01.jpg
File:WDCWellingtonBlast09.jpg
</gallery>


DeMuth pipes continued to be made at the Richmond Hill plant till December 31. 1972. Then the Wm. DeMuth Company met its official end as a subsidiary company by liquidation. DeMuth's mainstay pipe, the ''Wellington'' continued to be offered in the S.M. Frank catalog until 1976. In the mid-80's, the Wellington even made a brief return as a direct to the consumer offer.
*You may also enjoying listening to Brian Levine's interview of S. M. Frank president, Bill Feuerbach, on the [http://pipesmagazine.com/blog/radio-talk-show/the-pipes-magazine-radio-show-episode-174/ Pipes Magazine Radio Show]
[[Category: Pipe makers by nationality]]
[[Category: United States]]

Revision as of 23:31, 10 February 2020

William Demuth. (Wilhelm C. Demuth, 1835-1911), a native of Germany, entered the United States at the age of 16 as a penniless immigrant. After a series of odd jobs he found work as a clerk in the import business of a tobacco tradesman in New York City. In 1862 William established his own company. The William Demuth Company specialized in pipes, smoker's requisites, cigar-store figures, canes and other carved objects.

Circa 1900 WDC Meerschaum w/Amber Stem, couresty Racine & Laramie Tobacconist
1940 Hesson Guard Ad, courtesy Doug Valitchka
Bakelite Ad, Courtesy Doug Valitchka
Hesson Guard Milano Ad, courtesy Doug Valitchka
WEDC Hesson 1932 Patent, courtesy Doug Valitchka
WDC DEMUTH.JPG
Catalog page, courtesy Doug Vaclitchka

The Demuth Company is probably well known for the famous trademark, WDC in an inverted equilateral triangle. William commissioned the figurative meerschaum Presidential series, 29 precision-carved likenesses of John Adams, the second president of the United States (1797-1801) to Herbert Hoover, the 30th president (1929-1933), and "Columbus Landing in America," a 32-inch-long centennial meerschaum masterpiece that took two years to complete and was exhibited at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893.

Hesson Patent granted Dec. 22, 1925, courtesy Doug Valitchka
WDC Sterling Ad, courtesy Doug Valitchka

The Presidential series was the result of Demuth's friendship with President James A. Garfield, a connoisseur of meerschaum pipes. Demuth presented two pipes to Garfield at his inauguration in 1881, one in his likeness, the other in the likeness of the President's wife. Later, Demuth arranged for another figurative matching the others to be added to the collection as each new president acceded to the White House, terminating with President Hoover.

Note: This information originally appeared on pages 22-23 of Collecting Antique Meerschaums (Schiffer Publishing Ltd.,1999), by Ben Rapaport. It was used without permission in the article written by Maureen Timm, As seen in The Antique Shoppe Newspaper, July, 2005, [1] but is used here by permission of the original author.




1943 Hessen Guard Ad, courtesy Doug Valitchka
WDCStratford13.jpg
WDC Milano14.jpg

In 1897 Ferdinand Feuerbach joined the Demuth company and by 1903 had become the production manager. Feuerbach is credited with developing Demuth's popular Royal Demuth and Hesson Guard Milano pipelines. He left in 1919, when Sam Frank Sr. needed an experienced pipe man to run his pipe factory, located at 168 Southern Blvd., in the Bronx. Feuerbach and Frank had been close friends since Frank started his own business in 1900 and was closely associated with the sales staff of WDC, selling their line of pipes.

WDC Stratford, Brighton, Wellington Ad, courtesy Doug Valitchka





In early 1937, the City of New York notified S.M. Frank & Co. of their intent to take by eminent domain, part of the land on which the companies pipe factory was located. This was being done to widen two of the adjacent streets. As a result of this, Frank entered into negotiations to purchase the Wm. Demuth Co.'s pipe factory in the Richmond Hill section of Queens. It was agreed upon that Demuth would become a subsidiary of S.M. Frank and all pipe production of the two companies would be moved to DeMuth factory. New Corporate offices were located at 133 Fifth Avenue, NYC.

Demuth pipes continued to be made at the Richmond Hill plant till December 31. 1972. Then the Wm. Demuth Company met its official end as a subsidiary company by liquidation. Demuth's mainstay pipe, the Wellington continued to be offered in the S.M. Frank catalog until 1976. In the mid-80's, the Wellington even made a brief return as a direct to the consumer offer.

  • You may also enjoying listening to Brian Levine's interview of S. M. Frank president, Bill Feuerbach, on the Pipes Magazine Radio Show