Willmer: Difference between revisions

Sometimes one finds that Willmer was a high-ranking [[Charatan]] pipemaker who stepped out on his own after Charatan was bought up by [[Dunhill]]. This is contradicted by Willmer's self-definition: "'''H. Willmer & Son''' have been making fine pipes for two generations. All our pipes are totally hand made, in house, from the finest materials. The workmanship, from the economy models, right up to the hand made freehands, receive the same care and attention throughout all the stages of production."

[[Image:Wilmer_18a.jpg|right|thumb|Elder AA]]

Willmer was founded in London. According to the website, which doesn't exist anymore because the Willmer factory has been closed in 2006/07, the firm was in business "for more than 60 years" by 2003. Willmer was homed then in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, so not far from the Cadogan plant.

[[Image:Wilmer.jpg|left|thumb|Presentation AAAA]]

Sometime in the 1980's, Willmer went through some major changes. The move to Essex was already mentioned above. They continued making highly respectable freehands - often copying some of the stunning Charatan shapes of days gone by. The grading was altered. What used to be an AAA now became the additional name "Presentation" and was stamped with AAAA. Funny enough, the forth A was often larger than the three before. The other grades were changed accordingly.

Willmer also concentrated on lower grade serial pipes ("economy models") which were machine-made to a large extent. These pipes didn't really contribute to the brand's fame... Often finishes and the fitting of the stem to the shank were executed rather shoddy.