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About Dunhill Dead Root: Difference between revisions
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signified by square subscript stops. In addition it appears that early DRs dating from the 1910s to the early 1920s were stamped with a one or low two digit number on the shank next to the bowl (where the shape number normally appears) which appears to be some sort of category (as opposed to shape) number, either price or shape related. (I suspect it was the latter, perhaps the forerunner of the initial Shell stampings in that regard.) The Dunhill catalogues of the 1920s through 1931 consistently show four DR price categories but the precise stamping code to indicate the different price levels is presently unknown. Presumably, there were differing price groupings of the Root DRs in the 1930s but number of such and stampings indicative of the same are presently unknown. In the 1950s Dunhill began grading DR's "A" through "J", "J" being the finest. I have seen a 1957 DR stamped "DRR" followed by a horizontal "H" presumably signifying the "H" grade but I do not know the significance, if any, of the horizontal manner of the stamping. In 1979 Dunhill changed it's DR letter grading system to stars running from one to seven stars underneath the "DRR" stamping with seven being the highest grade and also introduced a DR over XL stamp, presumably to denote larger pipes.</q> Loring, J. C., The Dunhill Briar Pipe, The Patent Years and After (self-published, Chicago, 1998).</blockquote> | signified by square subscript stops. In addition it appears that early DRs dating from the 1910s to the early 1920s were stamped with a one or low two digit number on the shank next to the bowl (where the shape number normally appears) which appears to be some sort of category (as opposed to shape) number, either price or shape related. (I suspect it was the latter, perhaps the forerunner of the initial Shell stampings in that regard.) The Dunhill catalogues of the 1920s through 1931 consistently show four DR price categories but the precise stamping code to indicate the different price levels is presently unknown. Presumably, there were differing price groupings of the Root DRs in the 1930s but number of such and stampings indicative of the same are presently unknown. In the 1950s Dunhill began grading DR's "A" through "J", "J" being the finest. I have seen a 1957 DR stamped "DRR" followed by a horizontal "H" presumably signifying the "H" grade but I do not know the significance, if any, of the horizontal manner of the stamping. In 1979 Dunhill changed it's DR letter grading system to stars running from one to seven stars underneath the "DRR" stamping with seven being the highest grade and also introduced a DR over XL stamp, presumably to denote larger pipes.</q> Loring, J. C., The Dunhill Briar Pipe, The Patent Years and After (self-published, Chicago, 1998).</blockquote> | ||
The Dead-Root brought a stronger grain feature to the the already well established "Bruyère". The D.R. models are perfect, made with the best Briar available and that is – compulsorily – "Straight Grain". They are rare models of considerable value, which vary according to the graduation of the grain, and can fetch easily | The Dead-Root brought a stronger grain feature to the the already well established "Bruyère". The D.R. models are perfect, made with the best Briar available and that is – compulsorily – "Straight Grain". They are rare models of considerable value, which vary according to the graduation of the grain, and can fetch easily 1k USD on the estate market. Over the years, Dunhill has established a classification system based on the aesthetic aspect of this product, using alphabet letters and a variable number of stars (the first stars appeared midth 1970's). | ||
The criticism emphasizes that it is only a question of marketing. However, it is interesting to know the minutiae of this model and to understand what earns a Dunhill the "Dead-Root" designation. | The criticism emphasizes that it is only a question of marketing. However, it is interesting to know the minutiae of this model and to understand what earns a Dunhill the "Dead-Root" designation. I found an interesting consideration during my research: | ||
<blockquote><q>Perhaps the company did come across some actual dead roots that were usable and they garnered the idea from that. However, it is unlikely that that practice continues today. A briar burl does not have to have been dug up already dead to produce straight grained pipes. Why did Alfred state “From the heart of such roots are carved the straight grain bowls…” when the plateau, or outside parts of the burl produce the best straight grains? The answer is because the outside of a dead piece of wood is decayed and cracked. Perhaps this is proof that they were using dead burls and staining their pipes dark to hide the grain. More likely though, it was the prose that got people’s attention and drew them to the “mysterious” dead root pipes. Mr. Alfred Dunhill created a product that stood out and, to this day, surrounds itself in mystery and mysticism.</q> MrHolmes’ Weblog - [https://mrholmesdrwatson.wordpress.com/2008/01/22/dunhills-dr-stamping-dead-root-or-extra-stamps/ Dunhill’s DR stamping: Dead Root or Extra Stamps]</blockquote> | |||
The Dead-Root designation is tied to the type of Briar, which was reportedly "naturally cured" for hundreds of years while it was "dead." They speculated that the maturation process would begin shortly after the death of the tree, where the briar would sit undisturbed for decades--that only this way is it possible to obtain the exceptional grain that is required by the series. However, experts oppose this idea by arguing that as soon as the tree dies it immediately begins to decompose, and therefore would be completely unusable in a short period of time. Furthermore, grain is developed in the briar as the tree grows through the seasons. It is certainly not developing additional grain character when it is "dead", although it is likely changing in other ways as it cures. | The Dead-Root designation is tied to the type of Briar, which was reportedly "naturally cured" for hundreds of years while it was "dead." They speculated that the maturation process would begin shortly after the death of the tree, where the briar would sit undisturbed for decades--that only this way is it possible to obtain the exceptional grain that is required by the series. However, experts oppose this idea by arguing that as soon as the tree dies it immediately begins to decompose, and therefore would be completely unusable in a short period of time. Furthermore, grain is developed in the briar as the tree grows through the seasons. It is certainly not developing additional grain character when it is "dead", although it is likely changing in other ways as it cures. | ||