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[[Image:charatan1.jpg|thumb| | [[Image:charatan1.jpg|thumb|right|Early Lane period, courtesy [http://www.smokershaven.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=681 SmokersHaven]]]''Charatan collectors, please consider contributing to this article'' | ||
== Brief History == | == Brief History == | ||
In 1863 '''Frederick Charatan''', a Russian / Jewish immigrant, opened a shop in Mansell Street, located in the borough of Tower Hamlets, London E1, where he began to carve Meerschaum pipes. These pipes got very popular soon, and thus Charatan moved to a bigger workshop in Prescot Street, just around the corner. Here he began to make briar pipes which should make the name famous the world over. Charatan was the first brand to make entirely hand-made briars from the rough block to the finished pipe including the stems. | In 1863 '''Frederick Charatan''', a Russian / Jewish immigrant, opened a shop in Mansell Street, located in the borough of Tower Hamlets, London E1, where he began to carve Meerschaum pipes. These pipes got very popular soon, and thus Charatan moved to a bigger workshop in Prescot Street, just around the corner. Here he began to make briar pipes which should make the name famous the world over. Charatan was the first brand to make entirely hand-made briars from the rough block to the finished pipe including the stems. The nomenclature "Charatan's make" refers to this method of production and was meant to differ Charatan from other brands who "assembled" pipes from pre-drilled bowls and delivered mouthpieces. | ||
Being the undisputed No. 1 in English pipemaking, Charatan was approached by Alfred '''[[Dunhill]]''' who was unsatisfied with the quality of the pipes he imported from France. During 1908 - 1910 Dunhill bought pipes from Charatan paying exorbitant prices to ensure he had some of the very best pipes for sale in England. In 1910 he lured away Joel '''[[Sasieni]]''', one of Charatan's best carvers, and opened his own small pipe workshop on 28 Duke Street. | Being the undisputed No. 1 in English pipemaking, Charatan was approached by Alfred '''[[Dunhill]]''' who was unsatisfied with the quality of the pipes he imported from France. During 1908 - 1910 Dunhill bought pipes from Charatan paying exorbitant prices to ensure he had some of the very best pipes for sale in England. In 1910 he lured away Joel '''[[Sasieni]]''', one of Charatan's best carvers, and opened his own small pipe workshop on 28 Duke Street. | ||
On the retirement of his father '''Reuben Charatan''' took over the family business | [[Image:char_und5.jpg|thumb|right|Charatan '''Underbore'''; ca. 1930's]] | ||
On the retirement of his father in 1910 '''Reuben Charatan''' took over the family business. | |||
Around 1950 '''Herman G. Lane''', striving to expand his business in Great Britain, made contacts with the Charatan family. Apparently Lane got a certain influence soon, but it was not until 1955 that Lane Ltd. became the sole distributor for Charatan’s in the United States superseding '''[[Wally Frank]]'''. This can be documented in a “biography” written for Herman G. Lane titled “Leaves from a Tobaccoman’s Log”. | |||
[[Image:char_41.jpg|thumb|left|From Charatan Flyer, ca. 1964]] | |||
Thanks to Herman G. Lane's dedicative labour Charatan became hugely popular in the States. In 1960 he bought the firm from Reuben Charatan's widow. In the early 1960's Charatan pipes were the first to overstep the $100 Dollar line in US pipe sales. In 1978 Lane's heirs sold the Charatan company to Dunhill - of all things! The Prescot Street factory was closed in March 1982. Thereafter the fame and quality of the make declined. | Thanks to Herman G. Lane's dedicative labour Charatan became hugely popular in the States. In 1960 he bought the firm from Reuben Charatan's widow. In the early 1960's Charatan pipes were the first to overstep the $100 Dollar line in US pipe sales. In 1978 Lane's heirs sold the Charatan company to Dunhill - of all things! The Prescot Street factory was closed in March 1982. Thereafter the fame and quality of the make declined. | ||
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Image:Chara_n4.jpg| | Image:Chara_n4.jpg| | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
To say the least, these Colin Fromm made Dunhill Charatans show impeccable craftsmanship and feature great smoking characteristics at very reasonable prices. (BTW a Colin Fromm made Dunhill Dunhill asks 3 - 4 times the pice. At least.) | To say the least, these Colin Fromm made Dunhill Charatans show impeccable craftsmanship and feature great smoking characteristics at very reasonable prices. But eventhough someone might say that a today's Charatan by Dunhill is as original as a today's Bugatti by Volkswagen is. (BTW a Colin Fromm made Dunhill Dunhill asks 3 - 4 times the pice. At least.) | ||
== Miscellaneous Notes == | == Miscellaneous Notes == | ||
Charatan records indicate the DC bit was introduced in the 50’s, but some report seeing them in earlier production. Still others indicate they were introduced by Lane in 1960. Regardless, the DC bit is not an accurate way to date a pipe because many Charatan’s were made with regular and saddle type bits throughout the “Lane Era”. | Charatan records indicate the DC (Double Comfort) bit was introduced in the 50’s, but some report seeing them in earlier production. Still others indicate they were introduced by Lane in 1960. Regardless, the DC bit is not an accurate way to date a pipe because many Charatan’s were made with regular and saddle type bits throughout the “Lane Era”. | ||
Notes on Supremes: Supremes made before 1950 were mostly traditional shapes and smaller than after Lane started influencing Charatan. | Notes on Supremes: Supremes made before 1950 were mostly traditional shapes and smaller than after Lane started influencing Charatan. | ||
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'''Note:''' ''Memories of Charatan Pipes and Notes on their Dating, an article that appeared in The Pipe Collector written by Ivy Ryan has been removed from Pipedia. Charatan experts and enthusiasts indicate that this article contains miss-information as to the dating of | '''Note:''' ''Memories of Charatan Pipes and Notes on their Dating'', an article that appeared in The Pipe Collector written by Ivy Ryan has been removed from Pipedia. Charatan experts and enthusiasts indicate that this article contains miss-information as to the dating of Charatan pipes. You are welcome to present arguments to the contrary to the SYSOP by sending an E-mail to [mailto:sethile.pipes@gmail.com sethile.pipes@gmail.com]. | ||
== Off Site Links == | == Off Site Links == | ||
The following [http://digilander.libero.it/tempioedonismo/CHARATAN.htm Charatan Article in Italian] is reported to be excellent. It is a study by Fabio Ferrara (Monterubbiano - Italy) based on more than 2000 old charatan pipes he studied from the "Basciano stock" purchased by Mario | The following '''[http://digilander.libero.it/tempioedonismo/CHARATAN.htm Charatan Article in Italian]''' is reported to be excellent. It is a study by '''Fabio Ferrara''' (Monterubbiano - Italy) based on more than 2000 old charatan pipes he studied from the "Basciano stock" purchased by Mario Lubinski - Fermo). '''Note:''' ''If anyone would like to translate this article into English, it would make a fanatastic contribution to the Charatan knowledge base her on Pipedia''. | ||
'''[http://pipepages.com/charatan.htm Charatan related documents on Chris' Pipe Pages]''' | |||
[http://crown.claudiorampini.org/ C.R.O.W.N.] (Charatan Rules Over Whitespot Newera) | '''[http://crown.claudiorampini.org/ C.R.O.W.N.]''' (Charatan Rules Over Whitespot Newera) | ||
[[Category: Pipe makers by nationality]] | [[Category: Pipe makers by nationality]] | ||
[[Category: Great Britain]] | [[Category: Great Britain]] | ||