Translations:About Dunhill Dead Root/13/en
Very strange and always a fun mystery! I would not be surprised if a special block of briar was found at some point earlier, and set aside by one of the Alfreds into a “DR” box, to be finished later. For example, Alfred is inspecting the briar one day, and he says, “Wow! This will be a wonderful DR... Put it over there for now separate from the regular blocks.” Then maybe it gets lost or not used for a few years.Steve Snyder.
My guess is that the signature idea was much more about marketing a super-premium product with a story partly fantasy that continued past the death of any one member of the family. Special editions of books of course had of course been given extra cache for many decades using signatures, limitations on number printed, deluxe materials, and more. And even Martin guitars released a few models that supposedly had the personal approval and signature of one of the company’s grandsons.Guy Lesser.
Straight Grain pipes are stamped with DR (“Dead Root”) followed by additional markings, shown below and listed in rising order. They can today be distinguished between Root Briar Straight Grain pipes (now 8 categories in use DR ★ - DRH) and Amber Flame Straight Grain pipes (3 categories).Hener, K. S., Product Line Director - The White Spot Smoker's Accessory Division and Walthamstow site.
| Now | 1950’s until 10th June 1974 |
| DR ★ | |
| DR ★ ★ | |
| DR ★ ★ ★ | |
| DR ★ ★ ★ ★ | |
| DR ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ | |
| DR ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ | |
| DRG | |
| DRH | |
|
Mr. Hener told me that he found an internal memorandum dating from 10th June 1974, stating that:
As from 7th June, all straight grain pipes are to have an additional marking which will be as follows:Stamps have been ordered.
- Shapes which are in range of Groups 1 and 2 will be marked with ★;
- Shapes which are in range of Groups 2 and 4 will be marked with ★ ★.
From 1979 onwards, D.R. series are graded with stars and also an “XL” stamp was added to indicate Extra-Large straight grain pipes.
Hener, K. S., Product Line Director - The White Spot Smoker's Accessory Division and Walthamstow site.
Note:
- Only from 74 (when first stars appeared) up to 78 the group size was marked with stars.
- All Dead Root are Bruyere up to 31.
- From 1932 up to 1950 DRs became associated with Root Briar finish, were stamped DRR.
- From 1949 up to 78 DRs are graded with ascending letters "A" to "J".