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Loewe & Co.: Difference between revisions
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''This is an article written by Martin Farrent March 2003'' | ''This is an article written by Martin Farrent March 2003'' | ||
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[[File:Loewe birmingham.jpg|thumb|300px|Loewe Birmingham, courtesy Wikipedia Commons]] | [[File:Loewe birmingham.jpg|thumb|300px|Loewe Birmingham, courtesy Wikipedia Commons]] | ||
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== '''History''' == | == '''History''' == | ||
Loewe is one of the haunting old names of British pipe-making, characteristic of an almost vanished "upper middle class" of the trade, which also incorporated makes such as BBB, Orlik, Comoy's and GBD. Along with these brands, Loewe has long dwindled into pseudo-existence, becoming little more than a logo occasionally used by the Cadogan factory in Southend-on-Sea. But owners of older Loewes treasure them as superb, featherweight smokers, excellently crafted and with grain characteristics superior to those of many contemporary Dunhills. | Loewe is one of the haunting old names of British pipe-making, characteristic of an almost vanished "upper middle class" of the trade, which also incorporated makes such as BBB, Orlik, Comoy's and GBD. Along with these brands, Loewe has long dwindled into pseudo-existence, becoming little more than a logo occasionally used by the Cadogan factory in Southend-on-Sea. But owners of older Loewes treasure them as superb, featherweight smokers, excellently crafted and with grain characteristics superior to those of many contemporary Dunhills. | ||
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[[File:Loewe 1928.jpg|thumb|1928 Ad, courtesy Doug Valitchka]][[File:Loewe-1.jpg|thumb|Ad, courtesy Doug Valitchka]][[File:Loewe Ripple Grain 1938-9.jpg|thumb|Circa 1938-39 Loewe Ripple Grain Brochure, courtesy Doug Valitchka]]The Frenchman Emil Loewe founded the company, both shop and workshop, in 1856 at the Haymarket 62, London. He is said to have been the first to make briar pipes in England. Richard Hacker maintains that theatre people from the West End were among the shop's heyday aficionados. Loewe's spigots are especially well regarded by lovers of elegance today - they were originally introduced for practical reasons, to facilitate the production of replacement stems for customers abroad. | [[File:Loewe 1928.jpg|thumb|1928 Ad, courtesy Doug Valitchka]][[File:Loewe-1.jpg|thumb|Ad, courtesy Doug Valitchka]][[File:Loewe Ripple Grain 1938-9.jpg|thumb|Circa 1938-39 Loewe Ripple Grain Brochure, courtesy Doug Valitchka]] | ||
<translate>The Frenchman Emil Loewe founded the company, both shop and workshop, in 1856 at the Haymarket 62, London. He is said to have been the first to make briar pipes in England. Richard Hacker maintains that theatre people from the West End were among the shop's heyday aficionados. Loewe's spigots are especially well regarded by lovers of elegance today - they were originally introduced for practical reasons, to facilitate the production of replacement stems for customers abroad. | |||
The firm and its facilities were later taken over by Civic, well before becoming a fully integrated part of the Cadogan group sometime in the final quarter of the twentieth century. As with other brands belonging to this group, it is not easy to pinpoint a date marking the end of Loewe's independence and singularity. This is partly due to Cadogan's own development from a cooperative to a monolithic entity. | The firm and its facilities were later taken over by Civic, well before becoming a fully integrated part of the Cadogan group sometime in the final quarter of the twentieth century. As with other brands belonging to this group, it is not easy to pinpoint a date marking the end of Loewe's independence and singularity. This is partly due to Cadogan's own development from a cooperative to a monolithic entity. | ||
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French Loewes in the early 1980s is a sign that Loewes were being produced in more than one | French Loewes in the early 1980s is a sign that Loewes were being produced in more than one | ||
place at some stage before the Cadogan-era proper. | place at some stage before the Cadogan-era proper. | ||
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[[File:Loewes.jpg|thumb|Courtesy Doug Valitchka]]From what I can gather, Cardogan's various brands continued to be made in separate facilities | [[File:Loewes.jpg|thumb|Courtesy Doug Valitchka]] | ||
<translate>From what I can gather, Cardogan's various brands continued to be made in separate facilities | |||
throughout the1970s. It was the purchase of Orlik in 1980 that enabled the Cadogan group to | throughout the1970s. It was the purchase of Orlik in 1980 that enabled the Cadogan group to | ||
consolidate all manufacturing in that company's new factory in Southend-on-Sea. Whether or not | consolidate all manufacturing in that company's new factory in Southend-on-Sea. Whether or not | ||
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1980s. Of course, today's 'Loewes' are definitely made in Southend - though, according to | 1980s. Of course, today's 'Loewes' are definitely made in Southend - though, according to | ||
Cardogan, the trademark is no longer used very much. | Cardogan, the trademark is no longer used very much. | ||
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== Collectibility == | == Collectibility == | ||
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possibly two. The results of our collected research are still not comprehensive and the hope | possibly two. The results of our collected research are still not comprehensive and the hope | ||
remains that someone will provide the information necessary to fill in the blanks. | remains that someone will provide the information necessary to fill in the blanks. | ||
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== Aspects of Dating == | == Aspects of Dating == | ||
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Based on information rendered by owners of hallmarked Loewe pipes, the stamping from 1920 | Based on information rendered by owners of hallmarked Loewe pipes, the stamping from 1920 | ||
(or earlier) to 1967 (or slightly earlier) appears as follows: | (or earlier) to 1967 (or slightly earlier) appears as follows: | ||
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===== Right side of shank (seen from the smoker's perspective): ===== | ===== Right side of shank (seen from the smoker's perspective): ===== | ||
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Manfred W. Resag has a page on 9xx numbered pipes, with photos of pieces made from 1978 to | Manfred W. Resag has a page on 9xx numbered pipes, with photos of pieces made from 1978 to | ||
1982 (with one possible exception — an unbanded and therefore undateable pipe): | 1982 (with one possible exception — an unbanded and therefore undateable pipe): | ||
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http://perso.wanadoo.fr/nautor/Loewe.htm | http://perso.wanadoo.fr/nautor/Loewe.htm | ||
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By studying the website of one UK dealer I was able to deduce that the present shape numbers | By studying the website of one UK dealer I was able to deduce that the present shape numbers | ||
(early 2003) mostly (probably all) differ from those used from 1967. For example, a Billiard is | (early 2003) mostly (probably all) differ from those used from 1967. For example, a Billiard is | ||
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for those able to contribute additional information in order to make this text more satisfactory, | for those able to contribute additional information in order to make this text more satisfactory, | ||
some day. | some day. | ||
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<center><gallery widths=250 heights=185 caption="Examples and details, courtesy Doug Valitchka"> | <center><gallery widths=250 heights=185 caption="Examples and details, courtesy Doug Valitchka"> | ||