Charatan’s Make First Lane Era (c. 1961-5) Selected Extra Large Smooth Dublin Estate Briar Pipe, English Estates

Description

While Dunhill may be Britain’s most famous pipe brand, Charatan is not only older, but has the honor of being the first to have made its pipes entirely in-house. ‘”Charatan’s Make” referred to the fact that, at a time when other pipe companies were sourcing stummels and stems carved from other companies before assembling them in their factories and workshops, Charatan made every part of their pipes on the Charatan premises. So began a legacy of high-quality pipe-making under the Charatan name, one whose employees, at one time or another, included Joel Sasieni (who went on to work at Dunhill, before leaving again to start the Sasieni make), Dennis Marshall (previously of Barling, later of Milville), Dan Tennison, Stan Haney (later of Ashby Hall), and Ken Barnes and Barry Jones (later of James Upshall).

During the Reuben era of Charatan pipes—the time when Reuben Charatan owned and operated F. Charatan & Son—the Selected was the penultimate grade achievable by any given pipe, surpassed in quality only by the Supreme. During the Lane era(s)—the time when Herman Lane’s Lane Ltd. took ownership of F. Charatan & Son—the company’s grading system was continually expanded, with new grades inserted within and—in some cases—beyond the modest four that Reuben Charatan had worked by. The Selected remained in the upper echelons of Charatan’s system, however, and, true to their name, these were select pipes, available to the select few who could find and afford one.

Based on the nomenclature, this Selected Extra Latrge grade was made during the “first Lane era” between approximately 1961 and 1965, back when Herman Lane first took full ownership of Charatan’s Make. This period is often considered to have been some of the best—if not the best—years for Charatan pipes, especially the pipes from its freehand workshop. And, with a pipe like this one, it’s difficult to disagree with that appraisal. One thing that often strikes about the Lane years in relation to the Reuben era is that, unlike many a make that has experienced a change in ownership and/or management at some point in its history, we find that Charatan’s pipes did not succumb to “grade inflation” after Reuben’s passing. Instead, the quite the opposite occurred, with pipes that would previously have been awarded the highest grades being bumped down a notch on that ladder. This Selected, for instance, possesses an “angel hair” consistency in the straight grain lining its bowl, one easily comparable to a Supreme grade from just a few years prior (and a sizeable one, at that). Then again, that’s why the Lane years are so fondly remembered—because the floor staff who made Charatan pipes rose to meet the increasingly lofty expectations set by Herman Lane’s tenacious salesmanship.

The condition is very good. Some rim darkening, minor finish fading, and very light tooth chatter, though nothing major.

Details:

Length: 7.2″ / 182.8mm

Bowl Width: 1.00 / 25.4mm

Bowl Depth: 1.85″ / 46.99mm

Weight: 2.6oz / 76g