Sir del Nobile
Sometime in the early 1960's S.M. Frank & Co. Inc. set up a subsidiary in Livorno, Italy called KYM Europe Srl. This location was to operate and act as a warehouse and distribution facility of S.M. Frank products in Europe, Africa, South-East Asia, the Middle East and neighboring areas.
Along with KYM Europe, a pipe manufacture named Sir del Nobile was established in 1965 and amalgamated with Kaywoodie, Yello-Bole and Medico pipes (hence KYM!). The firm specialized in the production and distribution of Medico pipes and filters throughout Europe.
Quotation: "It's craftmen are some of the best of the “Maremma School”. Over the years these craftsmen, gifted with expertise and imagination and a lifetime's experience in that sector, have branched out from producing 6 and 9 mm Medico pipes considered to be of the highest standard of medium quality, have become in addition specialized in the production of a pipe of top quality, the Sir del Nobile.
The Medico pipes and the Sir del Nobile are appreciated throughout the world for their refined style, taste and elegance."
- When S.M. Frank closed the Richmond Hill plant in the early 1980's, they had pipes produced by several other Italian pipe manufactures, too. Thus all brands offered by S.M. Frank were Italian made for a while. Because the quality of these pipes was not up to the fixed standards, these arrangements ceased soon in favor of a domestic pipemaker. In 1992, S. M. Frank purchased this supplier in Tampa, Florida to maintain better control of quality and production. All US briar Kaywoodie, Yello-Bole, and Medico pipes, as well as private label pipes, are produced at this facility.
Today the Italian subsidiary continues the tasks of KYM Europe along with the production and distribution of Sir del Nobile and Medico 6 and 9 mm pipes, Medico corn cobs, Medico filters and other smoking accessories.
Sir del Nobile Pipes Srl - Contact Mrs. Pamela Cresci - Via Amendola 3 57023 Cecina (Livorno) Italy Phone & Fax: +39 0565 794721 E-mail: mailto:info@delnobilepipe.com Website: http://www.delnobilepipe.com/ (dead link)