Peterson (c. 1949-1970) Dublin London 150S Smooth Bulldog Estate Briar Pipe

Description

Peterson pipes generally need no introduction, but just in case you’re unfamiliar: in 1876, a Latvian named Charles Peterson immigrated to Ireland and was hired making pipes in a workshop owned by Frederick and George Kapp. After rising through the ranks to become head craftsman, Peterson bought into the Kapp’s business, which was renamed, Kapp & Peterson (K&P). During this time, Peterson himself applied for several patents for pipe designs, including the world-famous Peterson’s System. Since then, Peterson has become one of the most recognizable names in pipe smoking and continues to produce high quality pipes from their headquarters in Dublin.

As far as names go, “Dublin & London” is rather unassuming. Historically, it points back to a time in the mid-20th century when Peterson pipes were manufactured both in Ireland (Dublin) and England (London), where the company maintained two factories (the London one closed around the end of the 1960s). There is another possible significance to the name, however. Mark Irwin of Peterson Pipe Notes and The Peterson Pipe book suggests that, during the years of its production, the “Dublin & London” name might have been an equivalent counterpart to the “Supreme” grade, as the latter was, originally, made for the US market, where it was distributed through Rogers Imports.

Aside from its curious title and provenance, this particular Dublin & London has another thing going for it that Peterson pipes today do not: its shape. Another thing noted by Irwin’s research is that Peterson’s catalogs during the company’s “early Republic era”—i.e., pipes made during the first decades of the establishment of the Republic of Ireland—were filled to the brim with different bulldog renditions. The “150S,” seen here would appear to have been just one of them; a saddle-cut, lightweight billiard that has not been part of Peterson’s standard production for quite some time.

The condition is fair. Some minor inner rim charring and some scratches on the pipe’s vulcanite mouthpiece.

Details:

Length: 5.9″ / 149.8mm

Bowl Width: 0.74 / 18.79mm

Bowl Depth: 1.48″ / 37.59mm

Weight: 1.1oz / 34g