Castello Dating and Information Guide
This guide originally appeared on Briar Blues. Now that Briar Blues and owner Mike Glukler have stepped away from pipe sales, Mike has generously given permission for the guide to be reproduced on Pipedia. The content of this guide was compiled by Mike, with information and assistance provided by Marco Parascenzo, Franco Coppo (via Marco), Gregory L. Pease, Mike Penix, Bob Hamlin, Chris Jones, Mike McCain, and Mike Davis.
- Ed.
History and Stamping
1947. Carlo Scotti begins the company. In the beginning (1947–1949, maybe –1950), the pipes were stamped "Mi Reserva" (my reserve). Later the "Reg No" was added. This "Reg No" has nothing to do with shape numbers, but is merely the Castello company trademark registration number.
Vulcanite stems used until? This is an interesting question. From early Castello pipe advertising, from the Wally Frank and later Hollco Rohr companies, it says the pipes come with Vulcanite stems. However, the photos appear to have pipes with Lucite stems. To our knowledge no one has yet seen a Vulcanite stemmed Castello with the faux diamond logo inset. To see these ads please visit http://pipepages.com/ (editor: now defunct), the superb information site by Chris Keene.
The Old Sea Rock and the Sea Rock Briar co-existed. As far as I know, the OSR was US only, imported by Hollco Rohr, and sported the rhinestone. The Sea Rock goes back to the early days.
There was an Antiquari (not Old Antiquari) that was also a Hollco import, and was fume top and rusticated. I think it was only around for a couple of years.
Stem logos. White bar, black dot, and faux diamond. The first stem logo was the white bar. However. once Castello began its working relationship with Wally Frank, Ltd., a different stem logo was required, as Wally Frank had a line of pipes named White Bar.
The faux diamond logo was created and used primarily for the US market for many years.
Castello still occasionally put rhinestones in the mouthpieces, just to maintain its value as a trademark. It's not on many pieces. The black dot logo is used on Castello pipes with white Lucite stems.
Shape numbers. Shape numbers are all 2 digits. A 2 in front indicates a "fancy" interpretation, a 3 in front means that the carving is somehow unique. I don't know when the change was made, but currently, a π symbol is used instead of the 3xx. I've only seen this on Sea Rocks, but that doesn't mean anything.
Hollco Rohr begins distribution in the mid- to late 1960s when they take over the Wally Frank company.
Big Line. Stamp used from 1968–1972. Replaced by Great Line, although still used on huge pipes.
Colored Lucite stems. Used in the 1970s, and on occasion today, although the material is difficult to find.
Pre-"K" grading. From the late 1950's to mid-1960's, the pipe carried stamps which indicted sizes. These were as follows; SA, SB, SC, and SS. SA being the smallest and SS the largest.
"K" grading begins. In 1969 Franco "Kino" Coppo joins the firm. In the late 1960s and early 1970s the company began the use of the "K" grading. The uppercase, large "K" was used for non smooth pipes to designate size. For smooth pipes it was used to indicate a combination of grain quality and size. These are also the years that Castello switched from machine made pipes that were hand finished to completely handmade pipes.
Switch from uppercase "K" to lowercase "k" in an oval. In 1982 the company changed from the use of the large, uppercase "K" grading to a small, lowercase "k" within an oval (two "k"s or greater) or a circle for single "k" grades.
1984–1985. Franco "Kino" Coppo takes over the running of the firm. The Kino "knickname" was given to Franco by Carlo Scotti, and is a shortened version of his full birth name, Franchino.
The Natural Vergin was first issued in 1967, but it was only in 1985 when they started to be produced in a series of natural carved pipes.
1987—the 40th anniversary Castello—begins the number within a castle stamp. The number added to 1947 gives the year of a pipe's production, i.e., "50" within a castle = 1947 + 50 = 1997.
1992. Carlo Scotti passes away.
"US" stamp begins in 1997.
"KINO" stamp begins in 2007, Castello's 60th anniversary. Kino is Franco Coppo's nickname.
"X" stamp. This stamp is added to pipes that are picked up directly at the factory by customers. It indicates a "friendship" pipe.
"A" stamp. "Amicizia," or "friendship." That is the stamping for the pipes given for free to friends. It is quite rare.
"LOB" stamp. Used for part of a large collection that the factory re-purchased, which they stamped with "LOB" ("Legendary old briar")
Ever wonder where your pipe came from? Which shop had it first? If so, read below;
- N1 = Novelli (Italy)
- N = Noli (Italy)
- F = Fincato (Italy)
- LO = Lorenzi (Italy) (this shop has since closed and they used to add a "*" on every pipe)
- B = Bonfiglioli (Italy)
- BO = Bollito (Italy)
- B15 = Bollito (Italy)
- V = Agide (Italy)
- SO = Tabaccheria Scarafioffi (Italy)
- JO = Osstermann (Austria)
- R3 = Ruocco Raffaella of Savona (Italy)
- L = Lanzola (Italy)
- US = sold in the US via the US Castello distributor
Current finishes, grades, & SRP in US dollars (note: for 2010s)
Castello US prices have not increased since 2012!!
Standard sizes
Sea Rock Briar - carved finish - various stains
k 380.00, kk 395.00, kkk 405.00, kkkk 425.00, G 450.00, GG 550.00, GL 615.00 & GGG 615.00
Old Antiquari - sandblast - various stains
k 415.00, kk 415.00, kkk 450.00, kkkk 450.00, G 530.00, GG 675.00, & GL 675.00
Trademark - smooth - various stains
k 430.00, kk 430.00, kkk 480.00, kkkk 480.00, G 500.00, GG 660.00, & GL 660.00
"Castello" - smooth - various stains
kk 550.00, kkkk 590.00, G 600.00, GG 690.00, & GL 690.00
Perla Nera - smooth polished black
k 560.00 & kk 590.00
Collection - smooth - various stains
k 595.00, kk 655.00, kkk 750.00, kkkk 825.00
Occhio di Pernice - smooth - graded birds eye
k 685.00, kk 750.00, kkk 800.00, kkkk 855.00
Aristocratica - smooth - fumed rim
Trademark - 595.00, "Castello" - 690.00, Collection - 865.00, Collection Great Line - 910.00
Castello Collection Fiammata - 1090.00, Collect Great Line Fiammata - 1545.00
Le Dune - carved
k - ???.00, kk - ???.00
Oversized and High-Grade
Big Line:
Sea Rock - ???.00
Old Antiquari - 900.00,
"Castello" - ???.00,
Collection, ???.00
Collection Great Line - smooth - free style
k 780.00, kk 850.00, kkk 1000.00, kkkk 1270.00
Collection Fiammata - smooth - graded straight grains
k 970.00, kk 1150.00, kkkk 1270.00, kkkk 1600.00
Collection Great Line Fiammata - smooth straight grain free style
k 1660.00, kk 2300.00, kkk 3100.00, kkkk 3780.00
Special Series - Cavallo, Riso, etc:
Sea Rock 765.00,
Old Antiquari 810.00,
Trademark 950.00,
"Castello" 1050.00,
Collection 1300.00,
Occhio di Pernice 1300.00,
Fiammata 1455.00
Preziosa (semi-precious stone floc)
Perla Nera 950.00,
"Castello" 980.00,
Collection 1180.00,
Collection Great Line 1390.00,
Madreperla 1545.00,
Fiammata 1700.00
Other Options
Briar shank or stem application + 75.00
Silver floc or band + 90.00
18k gold band + 500.00 - (now a very rare addition, due to gold cost)
18k gold band with lacquer inlay + 500.00
silver pin / nail + 160.00
common stone inlay + 105.00
special pi trim + 55.00