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A Demuth—Dunhill Connection?: Difference between revisions
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From early reading, I had also suspected a subtle rivalry between the Demuth Company and a newcomer to New York City, some 60 years later, the Alfred Dunhill Company. It was only a gossamer-thin theory, but to validate, document and intermingle both topics in a feature article, I needed evidence to connect the ••••••. This story is founded on industry research, fact-finding, and analysis. You’ll read about their apparent competition in business and the similar disposition of their pipe collections. Some of what follows requires a leap of faith. | From early reading, I had also suspected a subtle rivalry between the Demuth Company and a newcomer to New York City, some 60 years later, the Alfred Dunhill Company. It was only a gossamer-thin theory, but to validate, document and intermingle both topics in a feature article, I needed evidence to connect the ••••••. This story is founded on industry research, fact-finding, and analysis. You’ll read about their apparent competition in business and the similar disposition of their pipe collections. Some of what follows requires a leap of faith. | ||
German immigrant William (Wilhelm C.) Demuth began manufacturing pipes in 1862 along with smoker’s requisites, cigar-store figures, canes, and zinc sculptures. Established in New York City as William Demuth & Company, he was a pipe importer for many years before he became a pipe manufacturer. The factory was in Queens, and the retail business was at 507 and 508 Broadway in the City. The company trademark was an inverted triangle within which were the letters WDC on its popular Wellington and Milano briars. In time, several trade journals called the company “the largest tobacco pipe manufacturers in the world,” and Demuth was identified as “the richest pipe merchant on the East Coast.” (Read about the Company’s early struggles in an interview with Leopold Demuth, “Trying to Get Pipes Off Novelty Basis,” ''Printers’ Ink'', December 31, | German immigrant William (Wilhelm C.) Demuth began manufacturing pipes in 1862 along with smoker’s requisites, cigar-store figures, canes, and zinc sculptures. Established in New York City as William Demuth & Company, he was a pipe importer for many years before he became a pipe manufacturer. The factory was in Queens, and the retail business was at 507 and 508 Broadway in the City. The company trademark was an inverted triangle within which were the letters WDC on its popular Wellington and Milano briars. In time, several trade journals called the company “the largest tobacco pipe manufacturers in the world,” and Demuth was identified as “the richest pipe merchant on the East Coast.” (Read about the Company’s early struggles in an interview with Leopold Demuth, “Trying to Get Pipes Off Novelty Basis,” ''Printers’ Ink'', December 31, 1914). In 1926, Demuth acquired the right to manufacture England’s “BBB Own Make” pipes with this ad, “A Famous Old Pipe Introduced Under New Auspices” (“How a Modern American Pipe Factory Popularizes Its Products,” ''Tobacco'', August 18, 1927). | ||
The company went through a period of changeovers. David A. Schulte (Schulte Cigar Stores) purchased the company in 1927. As of 1929, Demuth and S.M. [Samuel Morris] Frank were two of the five companies that controlled the domestic briar pipe industry. In 1937, Frank became Demuth’s president by purchasing the factory in Queens—to combine Frank (Kaywoodie pipes) and Demuth pipe production—and Demuth became a subsidiary company. The Company officially disappeared in 1972, but Frank continued to produce Wellington pipes from the Demuth factory until 1976; in the 1980s, the Wellington was revived for a brief time. | The company went through a period of changeovers. David A. Schulte (Schulte Cigar Stores) purchased the company in 1927. As of 1929, Demuth and S.M. [Samuel Morris] Frank were two of the five companies that controlled the domestic briar pipe industry. In 1937, Frank became Demuth’s president by purchasing the factory in Queens—to combine Frank (Kaywoodie pipes) and Demuth pipe production—and Demuth became a subsidiary company. The Company officially disappeared in 1972, but Frank continued to produce Wellington pipes from the Demuth factory until 1976; in the 1980s, the Wellington was revived for a brief time. | ||