Barling: Difference between revisions

[[File:Barling cased pair.jpg|thumb|350px|Cased Pair, Pre-trans, Derek Green Collection[http://www.derek-green.com/Others.htm]]]

[[File:1909SilverSpigot.jpg|thumb|350px|Barling 1909 Silver Spigot Billiard, Courtesy [http://www.finepipes.com/english.php?pipemakerID=25 Finepipes.com]]]

[[File:Barlings_Pre_long2.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Pre-Barling by Crown of Vienna, silver work by the Barling family of London, and stamped with E.B. and W.B. stamps, albatross wing bone extensions. From the Johnny Long Collection]][[File:Barlings_long1.jpg‎|thumb|200px|Stamped "BARLING'S MAKE", London 1906, Rd. No. 458002, from the Johnny Long Collection]][[File:Barling_silver_bands.gif|thumb|200px|From Left: 1927-Tetley's; 1916 w/Military bit; 1956-Tetley's; Pre-Trans EXEL T.V.F, Derek Green Collection[http://www.derek-green.com/Others.htm]]][[File:Barlings_pre_Long4.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Pair of 1884s with E.B. W.B stamped Barling silverwork]][[File:BarlingBent(FinePipes).jpg|thumb|200px|Barling c. 1930 EXEXEL-Sized Classic Bent Billiard, courtesy, [http://www.finepipes.com/english.php?pipemakerID=25 FinePipes.com]]][[File:Barlings_pre_Long3.jpg‎|thumb|250px|left|1884, upper pipe from above pair. It has screw mounts and also has the wing bone extension. From the Johnny Long Collection]][[File:Barlings_pre_Long3b.jpg‎|thumb|250px|left|1884 screw mount detail. From the Johnny Long Collection]]'''''“We have much pleasure in presenting our New Catalogue illustrating some of the principal shapes and specialities in our celebrated EB WB Briar Pipes.'''''<br>

'''''Our pipes being so well known and universally known (without the artificial aid of advertisements), we will not here dwell on their perfection, but would ask you to kindly peruse this book, which will no doubt introduce to you some new patterns.'''''<br>

'''''If you are not already a smoker of our pipes, we hope that it will lead to your giving them a trial and thus testing their quality and workmanship, we ourselves being confident of your ultimate judgment and satisfaction. Every department of our factory being under our own practical and personal supervision, ensures every pipe turned out by us coming under our direct notice. This fact, coupled with the excellence of the materials used in their manufacture, has given our pipes a reputation second to none in the smoking world, a reputation we firmly intend to maintain and strengthen.'''''

'''''B. BARLING & SONS.'''''

'''''London”'''''

Three years ago I wrote the following:<br>

''Where we poor mortals have written in generalities and offered educated guesses, Jon has provided detailed, exact, and thoroughly researched data that dispels many of the smoke clouds in which pipe history is enshrouded. Worse, Jon has presented this data in language so graceful and engaging that I’m left with the realization that at best, I write with both thumbs. Fortunately, Jon has graciously consented to allow me to incorporate some of his findings in this revision of the Barling page. For serious Barling enthusiasts Jon’s essay is a fundamental “must read”.”''

Three years later, nothing in this statement has changed. Jon’s article is still the gold standard for research in this area. Unfortunately, as of this writing, Neill has closed his site. We can only hope that it will resurface at some future point, or that Jon will make his work available elsewhere.

I’m also indebted to Tad Gage, who has consented to share some very rare and important images and documents from his personal collection. In addition, Tad has added to, improved, and clarified points of my recent revision to the Barling page. The page has

been greatly improved by Tad’s contributions.

Lastly, I’m indebted to Troy Lloyd, an intrepid researcher into all manner of historical data on pipes and tobaccos. His contribution to this update offers the intriguing probability that Barling was producing sandblasts before Dunhill.

No other maker enjoys a superior reputation for the legendary quality of its materials, craftsmanship, and smoking properties than the pipes made by the Barling Family. In their single-minded pursuit of perfection, B. Barling and Sons used only the very choicest

of old growth air seasoned Algerian briar. “Legendary” is the term most often applied to the smoking properties of these pipes.

<center><gallery widths=175 perrow=4 caption="A Beautiful 1917 cased set, courtesy Alex Lee - Scotland">

File:Barlings 1917set03.jpg

</gallery></center>

The Barlings were silversmiths in England during the latter part of the 1700's. Sensing an opportunity, Benjamin Barling started outfitting meerschaum bowls with exquisite silver mountings, founding B. Barling and Sons in 1812.

The following Gallery photos are of a "Kalmasch" (German style) meerschaum carved in Vienna with silverwork done by Benjamin Barling (marked BB) in London, hallmarked 1850. From the Johnny Long Collection. Hallmark was authenticated by silver expert Giorgio Busetto, secretary of the ASCAS (silver association[http://www.ascasonline.org/newsAPRIL71.html]). This 1850 meer was featured in the ASCAS newsletter in May 2010.

<center><Gallery widths=200px>

File:Barling Full 1850.jpg|1850 Kalmasch Meerschaum w/Barling Silverwork. Johnny Long Collection

</Gallery></center>

[[File:Barling_Catalogue_Cover.jpg|thumb|200px|left|B. Barling & Sons catalogue of pipes - Printed by Unwin Brothers - The Gresham Press - likely dated 1914, Courtesy Jesse Silver]]The company received recognition of their work at the Great Exhibition of 1851 for their display of a set of “Silver-mounted meerschaum smoking pipes.” - Official Catalogue of the Great Exhibition of 1851 - page 147. This honor meant so much to the company that they proudly displayed the medallion they received on the cover of their first catalog of pipes decades later (as seen to the left).

Over the ensuing years the company gained and maintained an enviable reputation for the excellent smoking characteristics of their pipes, as well as for their unique interpretation of classic shapes, and the development of some "new" classics. Though not the first English company to carve pipes from Briar, (that distinction being claimed by Loewe’s who first introduced briar pipes to English smokers in 1856 - “Loewe of the Haymarket - 1926) the Barling Company supplied finely wrought silver fitments to briar bowls turned by French carvers. Finishing bowls turned in St. Claude and other manufacturing centers was a common practice among British makers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

In his classic article, Mysterious Barlings, written for the Spring 2000 issue of Pipes and Tobacco Magazine, Tad Gage writes that the Barling Company did not exclusively turn their own bowls until around 1909. Jon Guss, based on a statement made by Montague Barling in the British trade publication, Tobacco, gives the year that Barling began turning their own bowls as 1906 (Guss), following a crippling strike by French carvers.

Barling would become one of the few British companies to carve all of their bowls until the family sold their business to their largest client, Finlay, on October 3rd 1960 as reported in the British tobacco industry journal Tobacco (Guss). But though the family sold their company, they were retained to operate it through mid 1962. This probably accounts for the differences in the dates for the transition that are found on various pipe history sites.

Montague Barling was still the president of the company and Williamson-Barling was still the general manager, a position in which, according to McNab, he would continue to 1967. Guss reports that Williamson-Barling actually departed June 1st 1962 to be replaced by Ronald Gibbons (Guss). This disparity in dates may also be partially responsible for the disparity in dates given for the end of the Transition Era and the beginning of the Post-Transition Era.

It has recently come to light that letters exist, which were written by Montague Barling from the period of April thru June of 1962, during which time the Barling Company presented pipes to celebrity pipe smokers to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the company. We have included a sample of that correspondence in the form of an exchange of letters between Mr. Barling and Bing Crosby. Montague Barling’s stationery clearly bears the imprint of “President”.

<center><gallery widths=250 heights=350>

File:Bing Barling1.jpg|1962 Letter, From Montague Barling to Bing, Courtesy Peter Ashton

It’s worth quoting Montague Barling’s letter at this point:

'''''“Dear Mr. Crosby,'''''

'''''During a fleeting visit to Jasper Park late in the summer of 1948 I had the pleasure of having a chat with you.  The subject of pipe smoking arose and I well remember your keenness and interest in specimen briars.”'''''

'''''“This has been brought to mind again because my company has collected and made up into Companion Cases, containing two pipes, a few fine specimen Barling Pipes.  They have been manufactured in celebration of  the One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of the establishment of this business by my Great Grandfather in the year 1812.”'''''

'''''“It is our wish that these should be presented to world famous pipe smokers, and I have taken the liberty of including your name on my list.  Would you be kind enough to let me know if you will accept such a presentation?”'''''

<center>'''''Yours sincerely,'''''<br>

'''''    B. Barling & Sons, LTD.'''''</center>

Not being stupid, Bing happily accepted the presentation gift.

Montague Barling, in reply, thanked Bing Crosby, presented the 150th Anniversary pipe set and wished him many hours of smoking pleasure from them. In the body of this letter Barling again uses the term “my company”. So in June of 1962, Montague Barling refers to B. Barling and Sons as his company. And who is anyone else to dispute this?

Following the sale of the company change came on gradually. Montague Barling still ran his company. Guss disputes the significance of Monty’s position as President at this point, but for the time being it’s still a matter of conjecture. (Guss) Williamson-Barling was nearing the end of his tenure as Managing Director. Both MacNab and Ron Harden had remembered Williamson-Barling as staying in this position until 1967. But as Guss discovered in Tobacco, Williamson-Barling left the company at the beginning of June of 1962. Ron Harden, who worked for Finlay, and whose reminisces provided much of the information to both Mssrs. Gage and Macnab, joined Barling as sales manager in 1964. He later became General Manager, and is credited for later saving the brand from extinction at the hands of Imperial Tobacco.

According to recent scholarship, Barling pipes have gone through three distinct eras that dramatically effect collectability of the pipes. These are referred to as the Pre-Transition, Transition, and Post Transition eras.

Pre-Transition Barling pipes are generally defined as those pipes made while the Barling family owned and operated the family business.

The Transition Barlings are generally defined as those made by the company that bought the business from the Barling family.

The Post-Transition Barlings are generally defined as those pipes made by Imperial Tobacco after it took over the ownership and running of the business. It all seems neat and simple. But none if it is actually neat and simple as I’m about to show.

Different sources suggest different dates for each of these eras. The Pre-Transition era ends in either 1960, or 1962. The Transition era either starts in 1960, or 1962, and ends in 1964, 1968, or 1970. The Post-Transition era starts on one of those dates and continues on as the Barling factories are closed, the pipes are jobbed out to first English and later Danish makers, then made by an entirely new entity with little connection to earlier eras. Eventually, Barling pipes appeared that were clearly made by Peterson, complete with P-lips.

And just to muddy the waters, there is also a group of collectors who suggest that there are two Transition periods, based on quality rather than ownership of the company. These collectors contend that there was a noticeable inconsistency in quality beginning

around 1954. Transition 1 runs from 1954 to 1962 and Transition 2 runs from 1962 to 1968.

The Transition 1 and Transition 2 version of the Eras is largely ignored today. Very few can tell the difference between a pipe made before 1954 and one made after.

That said, Guss points to another reason for the perceived change in the qualities of the Barling product. 1954 was the beginning of the Algerian War for Independence and as a consequence, Barling’s source for briar began to dry up. As Guss notes, “Barling management acknowledged this explicitly, and admitted to responding by sourcing its briar from “France, Italy, Sardinia, Spain, and Greece” as a result of the Algerian crisis.” (Guss) Based on Jon Guss’ mining of the historical record left by the British and American tobacco trade through contemporary trade publications, an accurate set of dates of each of the eras can be offered. These dates are also based on the definitions for the 3 Eras that were given above.

Pre-Transition: 1812 (or 1815) thru October 3rd, 1960. <br>

On that date, the Barling family sold their business to Finlay, their largest client.

Transition: Late 1960 thru February 1963.<br>

Finlay was 40% owned by Imperial Tobacco. Imperial Tobacco had an option to

was absorbed, Barling came under direct control of Imperial Tobacco.

Post-Transition Era: Early 1963 and later.<br>

Imperial ran the business, some say into the ground. They closed the Barling factories in

Barlings have shown up as relatively cheap pipes made by Peterson.

Though we now have Eras whose duration is linked to the *public record, it’s still not

simple and here’s why.

After the Barling family sold their business to Finlay, they continued to operate it for the

new owners. For a period of roughly 20 months pipes continued to be produced with no

pipes based on the traditional definitions.

Okay, so the first 20 months of the so-called Transition era pipes is pretty much a loss.

Then in mid 1962, Barling releases its 150th Anniversary Catalog and announces a

group number as the first number. The old size stamps are dropped.

About this same time, the Barling family gets sacked, and Finlay management takes over.

In November of 1962 a new Retailers Catalog is released, showing a complete revamping

of the product line with revised nomenclature.

A couple of months later, Finlay is absorbed into Imperial Tobacco, and along with it

comes B. Barling and Sons.

The so-called “Transition” era pipes can’t really be clearly defined. The only exception

are the pipes made for a short period in 1962, a “Barling’s Make” pipe whose four digit

just doesn’t work.

So I’m dropping those inaccurate definitions and using something simpler and more

accurate: Family Era and Corporate Era.

It ain’t perfect, but it’s more accurate than what we’ve been using.  

Those more comfortable with the traditional definitions can still use the following information. Just follow the timeline.

*''' Family Era 1912 - 1962:''' Pipes made by the Barling family while it either owned or managed B. Barling & Sons.

*'''Corporate Era 1962 - the Present:''' Pipes made after the family left off managing the company, beginning with the revised product grades and revised nomenclature that were introduced in the 1962 Dealers’ Catalog.

----

The Family Era pipes are highly sought after by collectors and have excellent smoking

and aesthetic qualities. These pipes are famous for the "old wood" from which they were

President, and Williamson-Barling was still General Manager.

These 1962 pipes were made by the same craftsman from the same materials, as the

earlier product. Some of them are stamped with both the old and new model numbers.

The Corporate Era pipes all bear a script “Barling” logo with no apostrophe and no “s”.

Since these pipes share the same markings as others manufactured as late as 1970 and

pipes have “Barling’s Make” all on one line.

The 150th Anniversary catalog is not the first catalog issued by Barling. At least three

earlier catalogs are known to exist. In addition to the ca. 1914 catalog and an incomplete

catalog. (Guss)

The preface for the B. Barling and Sons catalog, circa 1910-1914, is now included on this

page as is a scan of the cover and several pages. In addition, Barling issued a brochure

unintentional howlers created by the translator will provide a great deal of amusement.

The Barling Catalog presented here was a reference copy that was preserved in the

Barling Company’s archives. As you can see, this catalog features beautiful engravings of

some of which are herein reproduced.

<center><gallery widths=250px heights=200px caption="Samples from the 1914 Barling Catalog">

File:Barling Illustration stock Room reduced.jpg

</gallery></center> ‎

These model numbers were in use as late as 1926 and possibly later. Barling stamped

model numbers that match this catalog on pipes made in 1926.

<center><gallery widths=250px heights=200px caption="Images of the 1926 model 31, from the Cadillac Collection">

File:1226 Barling Model 31-1.JPG

</gallery></center>

[[File:Barling 150th Cat Cover scaled.jpg|thumb|left|150th Anniversary Catalog Cover]][[File:Price List scaled.jpg|thumb|200|150th Anniversary Catalog Pricelist]]In 1962 the B. Barling and Sons Company issued not one, but TWO complete catalogs.

The differences between these two catalogs are striking enough to warrant comparison

Pre-Transition, or Family Era, Barling.

The earlier of these two Catalogs, is the 150th Anniversary Catalogue.

The copy that we have, and from which we have pulled pages for your examination,

36, under the heading “Jubilee Companion Set” the following is written:

“For many years, in anticipation of our 150th Anniversary, we have put aside certain

bruyere bowls of outstanding merit to be brought to maturity under ideal conditions.”

definitions. Another reason why I’m not continuing with them.

It is in the 150th Anniversary catalog that the new numbering system first appears. The

new numbering system was introduced while the Barling family managed the business.

The price list explains that the new number designates size.

All of the pipes pictured in this catalog feature the arched “BARLING’S” over “MAKE”

logo stamp. But here’s an interesting fact. Most of the pipes pictured have the old model

stock that they could turn into product.

<center><gallery widths=200px heights=200px perrow=4 caption="Barling’s Make pipes with the “transition” model numbers and wide view of the catalog page">

File:P21 scaled.jpg|Page 21

</gallery></center>

The catalog contains a listing of grades. From bottom to top these grades are: standard,

sandblast (referred to as “fossil” in the stampings), Guinea Grain, Ye Olde Wood Special,

pipe is so rare that a waiting period would be up to 10 years!

In November of 1962 B. Barling and Sons published another full catalog. The

differences between the two are instructive.

Let’s start with the frontispieces, shown here side by side.

<center><gallery widths=300 heights=325>

File:150th Frontispiece scaled.jpg|June 1962 - 150th Anniversary Catalog Frontispiece

</gallery></center>

June 1962 - 150th Anniversary Catalog - “During nine Reigns the Barling family have

developed and perfected their craft of making the finest quality briar pipes in the world.”

November 1962 - Retailers’ Catalog - “During nine Reigns Barling have developed and

perfected the finest quality briar pipes in the world.”

The frontispiece of the Retailers’ Catalog has been remade to remove any direct mention

of the Barling family.

The 1962 Retailers’ Catalog introduces a brand new company logo. Gone is the

traditional block lettered “BARLING’S MAKE”. In its place is a script Barling logo.

are making pipes. It’s just Barling, an impersonal proper noun.

All pipes pictured in the Retailers’ Catalog are stamped with the new logo. See the

examples below. For this rebranding of the Barling line of pipes, new photography has

assertion that the company was faltering and that a thorough reboot was necessary.(Guss)

<center><gallery widths=250px heights=250px>

File:1962 retailers' cat sample logo detail.jpg|1962 retailers Catolog Sample Logo

</gallery></center>

The grading system is simplified in the Retailers’ Catalog. There are now 4 grades,

standard, sandblast, Garnet Grain, and Guinea Grain.

The numbering system that was introduced in the 150th Anniversary Catalog has been

retained. But, the numbers also include a size 1. So, with this new line of pipes we now

find 4 digit numbers beginning with a 1.

We would suggest that the 150th Anniversary Catalog represents the climax of the family

era. And, based on both 1962 catalogs and their contents, we suggest that all pipes which

“Barling” that begins the Corporate Era, not model numbers.

What follows is a more detailed discussion of the Two Eras.

<Center><Gallery  widths=250px heights=200px Caption="Barling Factory Photos From the Collection Of Tad Gage">

File:Barling_2 HQ 9-11 Park Street.JPG

</Gallery></Center>

The Barling family controlled production up till this point. Quality was excellent,

however some sources indicate a marked inconsistency in quality starting as early as

company supplemented with briar sourced from other countries. (Guss)

Prior to 1954 Barling pipes were made from old growth “extra extra” grade Algerian

briar, of a quality no longer available. Barling conducted their own harvesting

though the nature and extent of this investment is not currently known.

We do know that Barling conducted its own harvesting operations, as well as cutting and

seasoning of their selected briar. These images from the 1920’s brochure,

states that Barling looked for briarroot that was about 50 years old.

<center><Gallery  widths=200px heights=175px Caption="Romance Of The Barling Pipe, From the collection of Tad Gage">

File:Romance of the Barling pipe 002.jpg

</gallery></center>

While many find the grain to be beautiful, this was not the aim of the Barling Company,

and many of their pipes have rather unremarkable grain. The Barling Company’s intent

resulted in excellent heat dispersion and provided a cool smoke.

Before discussing the nomenclature of the Family Era pipes it is important to note that

there are no absolutes. Barling pipes from this period show a remarkable degree of

general fashion.

According to Tad Gage, Pre-1946 stampings are minimal. Pre WW2 pipes rarely have

size, shape or grading. But pipes have surfaced, hallmarked as early as 1925 with size

inconsistently appear on some earlier examples. (Gage)

'''Sandblasts:'''

Until recently it was believed that Barling didn’t produce sandblasts until the late 1930’s

and didn’t list them formally as part of the product line prior to 1943. It’s possible that

moment.

'''The Barling Elite:'''

In 2014, a Barling pipe stamped Elite had appeared on eBay. The pipe looked like a

sandblasted Dunhill prince. But rather than being sandblasted, the Elite was exquisitely

astonishing.

<center><gallery  widths=250px caption="Barling Elite, courtesy Beau Boston - Valtrane on eBay">

File:Barling Elite Hallmark.jpg

</gallery></center>

We assumed that this was Barling’s response to the Dunhill shell finish.

'''The Niblick:'''

But, in a 1917 edition of Tobacco World there was an entry in the product line for a pipe

called a Niblick.

<center><gallery widths=300px heights=250px caption="1917 edition of Tobacco World pages, courtesy, Misterlowercase">

File:1917 Tobacco Yearbook Niblick1.jpg

</gallery></center>

I had never seen a Barling Niblick and neither Tad, nor Jon had ever seen one. The

Niblick appeared sporadically in the Barling line. It appeared in a couple of 1920’s price

the line from well before WW1 into the Corporate Era.  

<center><gallery widths=250px caption="Barling Niblick, from the Jesse Silver Collection">

File:Barling Niblick 1 cropped.jpg

</gallery></center>

It seems a pretty good bet that the 1917 Niblick is a sandblast. But until we actually see a

Niblick identifiable to the period, the issue remains speculative.

with no special nomenclature.

<center><gallery  widths=250px caption="Note the lack of stampings on this Early custom order Barling, as well as the beautiful deep blast, courtesy Jesse Silver Collection">

File:B_Fossil1.jpg

The sandblast illustrated above lacks a “Fossil” stamp. It has only the small Barling’s

Make and “MADE IN ENGLAND” stamps. Based on research by Jonathan Guss, there

is no mention of sandblasts in the published price lists prior to 1942.

Barling began its pipe works by mounting meerschaum bowls, likely carved in Austria

using Turkish meer. These bowls were fitted with exquisite sterling fitments of the

“s”.

During the 1930’s and early 1940’s the BARLING’S MAKE logo appeared in a small

version with a simpler letter style. Following the War, the small “BARLING’S MAKE”

though the company logo stamps remained a constant.

An interesting briar calabash shape from 1908 features the dealer’s name on the LH side

with the “BARLING’S MAKE” stamp on the verso in a secondary placement. Instead of

“BARLING’S MAKE” stamp. There is no crossed Barlings logo on the stem.

<center><gallery widths=200px caption="1908 Calabash Shaped Briar Pipe, Jesse Silver Collection">

File:B_Calabash2.jpg

</gallery></center>

Sometime around 1913, the “Ye Olde Wood” stamp made its appearance on selected

pipes. An example exists stamped on a 1913 date hallmarked pipe.

<center><gallery widths=250>

File:1913_YOW_1.jpg|1913 Ye Olde Wood, Jesse Silver Collection

</gallery></center>

This logo will continue to be used in the decades to come. Initially it was used to

designate a higher grade than the average, much as the “Special” grade would after the

company used the slogan in advertising materials from the early teens onward. (Gage)

It is not known when the crossed Barling stem logo first appeared, but an example exists

on a pipe with a 1923 date hallmark. And several of the mid 1920’s pipes added in this

update also feature the crossed Barling stem logo.

''Also according to Tad Gage, the only four-digit number that denotes a Pre-Transition

piece begins with "1," which was used for pipes sold in England. Any other four-digit

Barling pipe is a Transitional piece-- (Tad Gage in P & T magazine).''

Model numbers were occasionally stamped below the logo as early as the late 1920’s.

<center><gallery widths=300px heights=200px Caption="1920's era four digit model stamped pipe - courtesy Jesse Silver">

File:Barling 1920's 4 Digit 1 cropped.jpg

</gallery></center>

'''Barling Globe:'''

One enduring truth about Barling nomenclature is that it is, for want of a better word,

on the size. This pipe is stamped T1133.

<center><gallery  widths=250px caption="1925 Barling Globe, courtesy John Fury Collection">

File:Barling Globe.jpg

</gallery></center>

Was Barling changing its numbering system around this time? Could this have been a

number stamped specially for a specific dealer? Barling was still using the same numbers

31 pipe, pictured in the section on the 1914 Catalog.

And there may be more to the story as bits and pieces of Barling history continue to come

to light. According to a mid 1920’s article published in the US version of Tobacco

catalog largely disappear.

'''Nichols Numbers:'''

Pipes intended for the US Market have a 3 digit model number. However, Family Era

Barlings may have two numbers, not just three, and they may also have a letter following

indicate that the bowl is meerschaum lined.

Stamping model numbers on the pipes became much more common after WW2, though

like all Barling nomenclature their appearance is a bit haphazard.

The “MADE IN ENGLAND.” stamp was in use in the 1930’s thru 1962. As with all

things related to Barling nomenclature there are variations. Sometimes there is no

period after the word “ENGLAND”.

Up to 1926 and possibly beyond, Barling used specific, completely unrelated, model

numbers to designate the various sizes of a specific shape. They produced pipes in three

sizes, small, medium, and large.

Barling’s published price lists show that they continued to offer pipes in only three sizes,

small, medium, and large until 1941. That’s it, small, medium, and large.

relative to even EXEXEL pipes, and carried no size stampings (Gage).

Size stamps were rare before WW2, but we do an example from 1925 that we will

discuss later as it is part of a forgotten class of Barling pipes.

LF (long flat) and LLF (long-long flat) were used for Canadian style pipes with unusually

long shanks and generally of EXEXEL size. These stampings were added late in the

the introduction of these size stampings. (Gage)

In addition to the stampings on the briar, Barling stems had stampings that relate to

specific periods. In 1935 Barling received a patent for a stem design that radically

improved airflow as well as cooling of the smoke.

Pipes made in 1934-5 may have the words "Reg'd Design" on the underside.

Following the granting of the patent in 1935, Barling stems featured the following patent

numbers:

• REG'D 98 046 - US patent number - 1936 - 1949

• REG'D 42/8968 - WW2 production - 1942 - 1950

• Barling Design - 1950 - 1962

Not all pipes have this stamping on the underside of the stem, but its presence is a good

indicator for the period of manufacture, assuming that the stem is original.<br>

Below are examples of several patents awarded to the company in this area.

<center><gallery perrow=3 widths=175 heights=225>

File:US1507571 Page 1.jpg|US Patent 1507571, Page 1

</gallery></center>

Starting in the 1920’s the Barling Company offered several different filtered pipes. The

Tro-Tube offered an aluminum tubular filter”. A striking example of this line of pipes

appears on this page.

<center><gallery Widths=250px heights=200px caption="1927 Tro-Tube quaint, A striking example of a spectacularly rare pipe, courtesy Kevin Chapman via Jesse Silver">

File:Barling trutube1.JPG

</gallery></center>

Barling also offered a line of filtered pipes called the "CYG-Smoker". The CYG-Smoker

line of pipes (designed for cigarette smokers who inhaled, according to company

offered through the 1950’s.

Gage notes, based on tenon and air hole construction, that it appears a number of Barling

pipes of all varieties originally had filters, and the company registered a number of

patents for filter pipes. (Gage)

<center><gallery widths=250px heights=200px caption="The Cyg Smoker, a filtered pipe that Barling produced, Courtesy Douglas Holloway via Jesse Silver">

File:Barling CygSmoker1.JPG

</gallery></center>

<center><gallery perrow=3 heights=300 widths=200 caption="Patent Application for Pipe Filters">

File:US1738554 Page 1.jpg|US Patent 1738554, Page 1

</gallery></center>

The Pipelet line of aluminum tube pipes had a script "Barling" logo, no apostrophe and

no "s", presaging the later Corporate Era logo. These featured an aluminum push tenon.

* Family Era pipes come in a number of grades:

* Standard or "Barling’s Make" (reflects no quality grading) (Gage). Older pipes will often

* Elite - Rusticated finish - 1920’s

Worth noting, "Giant" is another grade that was not stamped as such, but is clearly an

exceptionally large, classically proportioned billiard, and easily identified by the

occasionally giant sandblasts were stamped "Fossil." (Gage)

In addition, in a category all by themselves, are the Quaints. The Barling family prided

themselves on producing flawless pipes with no fills or sand pits. In some cases, pipes

creativity, regardless of who conceived the designs and who executed the flawless result. (Gage)

<center><gallery widths=250 caption="A beautiful  Pre-WW2 Quaint, which has an 'R' makers mark carved into its side, courtesy Jesse Silver Collection">

File:B_Quaint1.jpg

<center><gallery widths=250px Caption="1950's Meercshaum Lined Quaint, courtesy Jesse Silver Collection">

File:Barling Quaint Meerschaum cropped 1.jpg

</gallery></center>

'''The Barling “Freak”:'''

In 2014, a Barling pipe turned up with a hitherto forgotten set of nomenclature. It is a

panel bent billiard, whose sterling band bears hallmarks for 1925. It also is stamped

We are indebted to Richard Gray for allowing it to be included in this update.

<center><gallery widths=200px Caption="1925 FREAK, courtesy Richard Gray Collection">

File:Freak Hallmarks.jpg

[[File:Barling Freek Article.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Article indicating Horry Jamieson carved the "FREAK"]][[File:1926 Barling Ad.jpg|thumb|200px|1926 Barling Ad mentioning the "FREAK"]]According to the article included to the left, FREAKs were carved by a young Horry Jamieson, who also carved many of the Barling quaints.

Though unmentioned in other writings on Barling pipes, FREAK pipes were enough of a presence to justify mentioning in Barling’s advertising, as seen to the right.

'''Giants:'''

Barling did not make giant pipes that were labeled as such. But Barling offered giant

versions of their pipes at least as far back as 1909. The ad shown directly above also

includes mention of “giant shapes”.

An example is this hawksbill from the 1920’s. The dimensions are: <br>

Length: 6.25”<br>

<center><gallery widths=300px Caption="1920 Hawksbill, from the collection of John Fury">

File:Hawksbill2.jpg

</gallery></center>

The Barling Company produced a variety of classic English shapes of every description.

It has been written that they primarily produced billiards and pots because Montague

model numbers because they are not standard models.

The inside cover of the Barling box has a label pasted inside. Every five years the length

of time that Barling has been in business was updated on that label. By looking at the

made.

<center><gallery widths=400px heights=250px Caption="Barling box, courtesy Jesse Silver">

File:Barling Box.jpg

</gallery></center>

I’m retaining the terms Transition and Post Transition here because the following

information underscores why they’re not useful designations. As stated earlier in this

the distinction is meaningless.

Before going farther into this section it’s useful to discuss the implications of Jonathan

Guss’ article regarding the Transition period. To fully understand this portion of the

percentage of his findings.

The story that gets promulgated among aficionados can be thusly summarized. For 150

years, the Barling family produced superior products that ranked amongst the finest of

use the best of the best.

Guss pinpoints the sale of the company to October 3, 1960 as reported in the trade journal

Tobacco. (Guss) And yours truly has documented that the Barling family was still occupying

Barling that passes as a pre-trans.

<center><gallery widths=250px caption="1961 Hallmarked Barling">

File:61 Barling CU2.jpg  

</gallery></center>

The seller represented this as a pre-transition pipe. The buyer is hopefully happy with his

purchase. It’s technically a transition piece, made after the sale of the company, if the

finish, which no are longer apparent after 60-70 years.

The model number and logo stamp changed in mid 1962 while the Barling family still ran

operations.<br>

months in 1962.

Occasionally one sees a Barling pipe for sale whose owner claims it to be an “early

transition” piece. The stampings look exactly the same as any other transition piece, with

the vast majority there is no objective method of identification.

The only subset of pipes that can clearly claim “Early Transition”, barring their

acceptance as Pre-Transition pipes, are those “Barling’s Make” pipes made in 1962 after

Gage identifies these pipes as '''Pre-Transition pieces'''.

Other Barling experts believe that all of the pipes that have the old arched block logo

were made before the sale of the company and as such are Pre-Transition pieces

now.

As for the pipes made with the new script logo, their date of manufacture is a guess.

Late in 1962 Barling issued the Retailers Catalog featuring new photography of the

revised product line. These pipes feature a script Barling logo with no apostrophe and no

Tobacco group.

A script '''''Barling''''' logo replaces the block “Barling’s Make” logo. Makes sense, no

Barlings are making pipes.

The pipes retain the 4 digit model number introduced in mid 1962, but they also

introduce a size 1, which means that there are 4 digit numbers beginning with a 1. The

model number is placed right below the '''''Barling''''' logo.

The words LONDON ENGLAND are stamped below the model number. The “MADE

IN ENGLAND.” Stamp is discontinued.<br>

1960’s.

The revamped line up of Barling pipes comes in 4 grades.

[[File:Barling 1962 price list.jpg|center|600px]]

'''STANDARD''' - Replaces the basic Barling grade<br>

'''GARNET GRAIN''' - Replaces the Ye Olde Wood finish<br>

'''GUINEA GRAIN''' - The script Family Era “Barling’s” logo is replaced with the

Corporate Era “Barling” logo - no apostrophe and no “s”. It’s important to remember

this distinction as a lot of Corporate Era Guinea Grain pipes get mistaken for Family Era

</gallery></center>

<center><gallery widths=200px heights=250px caption="Pages from the 1962 Retailers Catalog">

File:1962 retailers catalog grades.jpg|1962 retailers Catalog Grades

</gallery></center>

The crossed Barling stem logo is retained.

Initially, Finlay’s management used the remaining stock of bowls that were turned by the

original family run company, and then proceeded to turn more bowls with old wood

Portland, BB & S, Cragmoor, and London Brand.

As previously stated, the later 1962 Retailers Catalog, distributed in November, clearly

shows that a new logo is in place, a script “Barling”. So by late 1962 no more pipes are

is herein reproduced below and as you can see, it refers to 150 years of pipemaking

[[File:Retailers'-Barling catalog scan pg3.jpg|center|600px]]

Quaints continued to be made during this period. The initial Quaints continue the

tradition. But at some point a decision was made to institute a line of Quaints, a half

[[Image:PostTransQuaint.jpg|thumb|400px|center|A Later Transition Barling Quaint - Courtesy of Mike Ahmadi]]

The Post Transition period is generally given as beginning around 1967-8 with the

supposed sale of the “transition company” to Imperial Tobacco. At this point quality is

supposed to have taken a serious dive. None of this is correct.

Finlay bought Barling toward the end of 1960. Imperial Tobacco owned 49% of Finlay (Guss)

at the time of the sale. Imperial Tobacco announced on March 23, 1963, that it had

direct ownership of Barling, then the Post Transition period begins in early 1963.

What is the difference between the nomenclatures of Finlay managed pipes and Imperial

managed pipes at the time of Imperial’s purchase of Finlay? Again, the difference is

recognized in the product. Again, the distinction is meaningless.

As time goes on, there will be changes to the lines and to the nomenclature. But there is

no clear-cut beginning or end to any of this. There are gradual changes of grades,

nomenclature, and manufacturers over the next 17 years.

What is clear is that the period from 1963-70 saw a major increase in the range of

products marketed under the Barling name, as well as increases in the variety of

production carried in its two factories.

By 1970, the range of products had expanded to such an extent that Imperial Tobacco

decided to reassign the Barling operation to its Ogden branch. About the same time the

have been identified as Charatan and Oppenheimer.

<center><gallery widths=250px Caption="Barling Sovereign from the Later Corporate Era, Courtesy Yuriy Novikov">

File:1083-1.jpg

</gallery></center>

During the late 1970’s additional lines of pipes were introduced and the Company was

restyled as Barling of England.<br>

Presentation Range offers a very agreeable smoking experience.

<center><gallery widths=200 caption="Presentation Straight Grain, Courtesy Yuriy Novikov">

File:1008-5-3.jpg

</gallery></center>

Despite these attempts to diversify the line, Barling lost its market. These pipes just

weren’t equivalent to the family era pipes.<br>

Finally, Imperial decided to close down the Barling operations entirely by 1980.

It was at this point that Ronald Harden, general manager of Barling, stepped in to attempt

to save the brand from extinction. Through the efforts of Mr. Harden, Bucktrout and

the new line of Barling pipes was introduced.

Some of the Pre-Transition nomenclature was restored, such as the old SS thru EXEXEL

size system even though the pipes continued to be stamped with a 4-digit number that

been available for sale in the US.

New information is slowly coming to the surface, but we have only a small part of the

story. We hope that more Barling collectors will be willing to share their treasures so

the story.

Excellent pipes were made in all periods. But the fine old growth briar that was used by

the family during the Pre-Transition Period offers a smoking experience that is not

Legends cannot be copied. Legends are unique.

1. (Guss) Jonathan Guss - How Many Angels? Another Look At The Barling Transition

©2013 Jonathan Guss - published by Neill Archer Roan on his site “A Passion For Pipes”

2. (Gage) Tad Gage article, Mysterious Barlings, pg.40, Spring 2000 edition of Pipes &

Tobacco Magazine.

3. Pipemakers with an unrivalled Reputation: The Barling Story, by Peter Macnab,

Tobacco Magazine, November 1982

4. ca. 1918 Barling Catalog

5. 1962 Barling 150th Anniversary Catalog

6. 1962 Barling Retailer Catalog

7. Rare Smoke, Volume 1, by Richard Carleton Hacker

8. Pipe.org forum discussions

9. Several A.S.P posts Michael Lindner, Mel Feldman, and others.

* "A smoker's guide to Barling" by Tad Gage in "Pipe Friendly" vol. 1, # 3 pp. 7, 1995.

----

1. Jonathan Guss - How Many Angels? Another Look At The Barling Transition © 2013

Jonathan Guss - published by Neill Archer Roan on his site “A Passion For Pipes”

2. Information and amplification provided by Tad Gage for this article.

<center>

'''Barling's Make Baxter & Son Harrogate 1909 with horn stem. Courtesy [http://blaik-pipes.ru Blaik-Pipes]'''

[[File:1891 silverband.JPG|thumb|250px|1891 '''EB WB''' marked Silver Band, Courtesy of Mark Davison who found it while metal detecting at Beggarshouse Lane, Charlwood, Surrey]]

<gallery widths=250px>

<center><gallery widths=250px heights=400px caption="Pages from a 1957 Brochure">

File:brochure02_03.jpg|Plate from 1957 Brochure

<center><gallery perrow=3 widths=225px heights=175px caption="A beautifully restored 1919 Barling's cased pair, courtesy Mark Achtman">

File:Barling 1919 CasedPair CASE.jpg

<center><gallery perrow=3 widths=225px heights=175px caption="1952, courtesy Mark Achtman">

File:Barling1952 1.jpg

<center>'''Example of what is likely a late 19th century pipe that has a block "Barling", not "Barling's Make" logo stamp'''', courtesy [http://www.estatepipes.co.uk Reborn Briar]

<gallery perrow=4>

<center>

<gallery caption="This pipe is all wood, including the stem, and has a special stamping of AW22 under the Barling's Make stamp, courtesy of Steve Dundish">

<center><gallery caption="Various examples from the Corporate Era">

File:BARLING 5605 T.V.F..jpg|Shape 5605

</gallery></center>

[[Category: Pipe makers by nationality]]

[[Category: Great Britain]]