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要记得东西实在太多February 14 The history of Samuel Gawith and CompanyThe history of the company begins, interestingly, not with a Gawith at all, but an enterprising Kendalian by the name of Thomas Harrison, who, aware of the popular interest, and associated commercial potential, of snuffs and tobaccos, removed himself to Glasgow to learn the trade of snuff making. He returned to Kendal in 1792 with not only knowledge of snuff making, but the means, also.
He had bought approximately 50 tons of second hand machinery, estimated to be manufactured around 1750, and transported it via packhorse, to a mill at Mealbank, on the river Mint, a few miles North East of the centre of Kendal. Although the building disappeared about fifty years ago, some of the machinery is still intact and in day-to-day use at the Brown House today. Indeed, in 1965, the industrial trade magazine "Design and Components in Engineering" judged it to be the oldest piece of industrial machinery still in regular production use - "The reason we feel confident in accepting the estimate of (at least) 210 years as being the age of the machine is that the central drive bevel wheels have wedged wooden teeth. Had cast iron gear wheels been available they would most probably have been chosen as the central drive members, and since they were available about 1760 it is safe to assume that the machine dates back to about 1750".
But enough about machinery, and back to the people who created the company. Shortly after establishing his new business, Thomas Harrison appears to have entered business with Thomas Brocklebank, a "chymist and druggist" of Kendal. At that time chemists would frequently sell tobacco and snuff (as opposed to those today who dispense nicotine patches!), so we can presume that the partnership was split evenly between production and retail. In this same year, 1793, Thomas Harrison's namesaked son was born and effectively took over the business after his father's death. Possibly it was this Thomas Harrison who bought 27 Lowther Street, around 1830, as both family residence and factory, as was the habit of the time.
By 1837, Thomas Harrison the second's eldest child, Jane, reached 18 and had fallen in love with a "plumber and glazier" of Kendal, one Samuel Gawith. Apparently against her father's wishes, the two married "over the anvil" at Gretna Green on 15 January 1838.
The history of the company begins, interestingly, not with a Gawith at all, but an enterprising Kendalian by the name of Thomas Harrison, who, aware of the popular interest, and associated commercial potential, of snuffs and tobaccos, removed himself to Glasgow to learn the trade of snuff making. He returned to Kendal in 1792 with not only knowledge of snuff making, but the means, also.
He had bought approximately 50 tons of second hand machinery, estimated to be manufactured around 1750, and transported it via packhorse, to a mill at Mealbank, on the river Mint, a few miles North East of the centre of Kendal. Although the building disappeared about fifty years ago, some of the machinery is still intact and in day-to-day use at the Brown House today. Indeed, in 1965, the industrial trade magazine "Design and Components in Engineering" judged it to be the oldest piece of industrial machinery still in regular production use - "The reason we feel confident in accepting the estimate of (at least) 210 years as being the age of the machine is that the central drive bevel wheels have wedged wooden teeth. Had cast iron gear wheels been available they would most probably have been chosen as the central drive members, and since they were available about 1760 it is safe to assume that the machine dates back to about 1750".
But enough about machinery, and back to the people who created the company. Shortly after establishing his new business, Thomas Harrison appears to have entered business with Thomas Brocklebank, a "chymist and druggist" of Kendal. At that time chemists would frequently sell tobacco and snuff (as opposed to those today who dispense nicotine patches!), so we can presume that the partnership was split evenly between production and retail. In this same year, 1793, Thomas Harrison's namesaked son was born and effectively took over the business after his father's death. Possibly it was this Thomas Harrison who bought 27 Lowther Street, around 1830, as both family residence and factory, as was the habit of the time.
By 1837, Thomas Harrison the second's eldest child, Jane, reached 18 and had fallen in love with a "plumber and glazier" of Kendal, one Samuel Gawith. Apparently against her father's wishes, the two married "over the anvil" at Gretna Green on 15 January 1838.
John Thomas Illingworth was the commercial traveller for Samuel the First, and had been for some 10 years at Samuel's death, himself then aged 35 years.
In 1842, Samuel Gawith (The Second) was born, and over the next 14 years 5 siblings followed.
In greater detail, the business was now to be run by Samuel the 2nd, and the next eldest son, John Edward. John was only 18 (and therefore a minor at law) at the time, and his directorship had to be sanctioned by the Lord Chancellor. The property at Lowther Street was bequeathed to the other children as a home, for as long as they required it, provided Samuel and John had access to the business section.
In 1867, J.T. Illingworth left the company to set up on his own, building a factory on Sandes Avenue in 1869 and then moving to larger premises on Canal Head (literally next door to the Kendal Brown House!). 1931 saw the company cease tobacco production and become "Illingworth Snuffs Ltd." The premises were destroyed by fire in the early 1980s, after which the company continued in Kendal for a few more years before being bought up by Joseph Wilson's.p>
Back to Samuel Gawith.
The partnership between the two brothers worked for some years, but, not for the first time in a family firm and surely not for the last, Samuel and John decided that they would be best served by not working in partnership anymore and on 31st March 1878 an "agreement of seperation" came into effect. The premises at Lowther Street, and the mill at Meal Bank were to be split and that Samuel Gawith was to have the choice of which to possess. Samuel chose the mill, and Lowther Street passed to John E. Gawith, Tobacco Manufacturer.
Samuel must have found Mealbank, either in location or size, deficient, as he designed and built new premises - the current Kendal Brown House, and an adjoining private house "Greenbanks" (possibly he was fond of Kendal's colours-Kendal Green cloth was famous in the 1400s, Kendal Brown is a world renowned snuff) at the terminus of the Lancaster-Kendal Canal, in 1881.
Although the "Agreement of Separation" allowed Samuel and John to both produce tobacco and snuff, Samuel concentrated on snuff, John on "twist" tobacco. John, however, soon moved into production of snuff also, and acquired a water-driven grinding plant at Low Mills, just South of Kendal. It was possibly this rapid overexpansion that contributed to John's bankruptcy in 1885, at which Samuel bought John's goodwill, trademarks etc. John died seven years later, in 1892, one hundred years after Thomas Harrison established himself at Meal Bank.
Samuel could see the financial reward of continuing tobacco production, after buying up John's goodwill, and received a license to manufacture tobacco from the Inland Revenue on 6th July 1885. He also kept the Lowther Street premises.
In 1884, Samuel's Scottish wife gave birth to their first son, Samuel Anderson Gawith (Samuel the Third-his middle name coming from his mother's maiden name), brother to four older sisters.
Sadly, two years later, on November 27th, 1886, Samuel Gawith the Second died, aged 44. Apparently, the flag on the Town Hall flew at half-mast as a mark of respect. Respect, not necessarily or solely from his success as a local businessman, but also as a member of the "Westmorland Volunteer Rifles", a precursor to the present Territorial Army. He had joined on their formation in 1859 and held every rank from private in 1860 to major in 1878, and Honorary Lieutenant Colonel "for long service" in 1886. His military funeral was a great civic occasion, with over 200 members of the "Volunteers" in attendance.
Samuel the Third was two years and five months old at his father's death, and once again the company was put in the hands of trustees, probably Samuel the Third's mother, John Edward Gawith (who died six years later) and William Henry Gawith, Samuel the Second's youngest brother.
A word here about William, who set up in rivalry to the Samuel Gawith dynasty, about the time John's enterprise failed. He set up in partnership with Henry Hoggarth, whose sister he married. Together they purchased the Lowther Street tobacco factory, and made snuff at Marble Mills outside Kendal. The firm continues now as Gawith Hoggarth TT.
Samuel the Third took control of the company about 1904/05, and saw it's production increase during the First World War to meet growing demand - as the American General J.J. Pershing put it "You ask me what we need to win this war. I answer tobacco as much as bullets".
By 1920 new premises at Sandes Avenue, Kendal were opened, and the whole of the machinery transferred from Meal Bank, and adapted to power by electricity, rather than water.
In 1929, Derek Dakeyne-Cannon, Samuel Gawith's nephew became a shareholder, and was named Managing Director, Samuel being named Chairman.
At some time in the early 1930's there was further expansion, and Samuel Gawith took over the idyllically situated snuff mill of William Nevinson at Eamont Bridge, immediately south of Penrith. This had originally been a corn mill, then gunpowder mill, then from 1835 a snuff mill.
This ran in operation until about 1936-7, when, probably as a result of the change from snuff taking to cigarette smoking immediately after the First World War, operations at Samuel Gawith's were consolidated. Eamont Bridge and Sandes Avenue were closed and the Kendal Brown House expanded. For at least it's third time, the original four-pestle mill was dismantled, moved and re-instated. A tribute, indeed, to the undoubted craftsmanship and ingenuity of it's constructors.
Samuel Gawith the Third passed away in 1953, leaving his widow Louie as Chairman and Derek Dakeyne-Cannon as Managing Director.
The latter was succeeded on his death by Wilfred Lloyd Link, in 1961, and Derek's widow Edith Dakeyne-Cannon was appointed to the board as Chairman, and continues to this day as a director.
In 1979, Doug Harris, who joined the firm as a boy in 1935 (and served in the RAF with great distinction in the Second World War) became M.D. on the death of Wilf Link.
When Doug retired in the early 1990s, Graham Forrest (who like many of his predecessors started as a young man fresh from school, learning his trade in all the various departments of the factory) was appointed as Managing Director.
Right : Graham Forrest, picture by kind permission of Chuck Stanion, Pipes and Tobaccos magazine.
And that brings us to the present time. In a shrinking world, ruled by technology, few enough products are manufactured in such a time-honoured and traditional way as the many varied snuffs and tobaccos of the House of Samuel Gawith. February 03 Poul Hansen      Poul Hansen, Danish pipe maker:
Production pr. year: about 500
Hansen briars were carved in the 1960's and 70ties by a "student" of Sixten Ivarrson's by the name of Paul Hansen. Hansen was a very skilled tools maker and he made a lot of tools and machines for a large number of the Danish pipe makers in the early 60ties. He was inspired by the many beautiful pipes he saw when he visited the pipe makers and soon he decided to try out the art himself. Poul Hansen was basically "self made" but Sixten Ivarsson helped him getting started and thought him all the vital "tricks". Soon Hansen was in business and right from the start he concentrated on the American, Japanese and German markets.
Iwan Ries in Chicago was one of his American dealers and in catalogs form the late 60ties and early 70ties you can find Poul Hansen pipes ranging from 125-500 $US. In Japan, his pipes were prized even higher at the same time.
For the German market Hansen made some very elegant 9mm. filter pipes. In Denmark he only sold a very limited amount of pipes - but some of his very best. Poul Hansen is little known in today's circles, those collectors (especially in the States) who have his pipes tend not to sell them.
When Poul Hansen in 1998 at a very high age decided to stop making pipes (due to his bad sight) the remains of his workshop including a farley large number of pipes was bought by one of the leading Danish suppliers of briar and rods. Some of the tools is still there, but all the pipes was obtained by Lars Kiel (www.danishpipemakers.com) in early 2002. Some of these pipes is now up for sale. January 28 Sasieni 英伦很多百余年的厂牌犹如旧时深宫大院一样，总是有那么多的故事让人寻味。
Sasieni一个烟斗界妇孺皆知的英伦的厂牌.这里不得不提到一个人Joel Sasieni。Joel Sasieni --曾为英伦老厂Charatan的他，于1910年被Alfred Dunhill挖至当时还处于雏形的Dunhill.1919年离开，成立了Sasieni. 1919年该品牌成立，于同年推出了其斗嘴标记----一颗小蓝点。哈哈，麻烦来了。1922年，在1910年公爵大街28号成立店铺正式运营烟斗生意，1915年开始使用斗嘴白点标识的Dunhill提出了维权。结果，致使Sasieni于1924年推出四蓝点标识。一蓝点标记只允许在欧洲销售，四蓝点进军美国市场。一蓝点标记1961废止。这就是著名的“一点之争”。 经典英伦老斗都跳不出衰败的宿命，Barling也好，Charatan也罢,Comoy's都曾有巅峰阶段，转型期，转型后三个阶段，品质也不可同日而语。Sasieni也不例外，分为转型前的家族世代Family Era(Pre-Transition)1919～1979；转型期Transition 1979～1986；转型后Post-Transition 1986年以后。 Sasieni三度易手，如今已面目全非，空留得一声叹息。 Sasieni略有瑕疵沦为副牌者众多，如Sportsman，Fantail，Mayfair，OldEngland等等。Windsor为其副牌之一。Family Era时期，Windsor为黑色喷砂斗，Transition期，有光面斗出现。
Sasieni一向推崇的Dry smoke，还是很好的保留了下来，经年石楠老木和尚未衰败彻底的传统工艺，作为烟斗抽烟质量的保障。异常独特的铝制冷凝设计继承了Sasieni的衣钵，十字型的冷凝装置增加了与烟气的接触面积，起到极佳的冷凝效果，同时有效地降低了烟灰吸入口中的几率。斗钵底部的凹槽致使烟气更通畅，同时有效地缓解了积水状况的发生。 December 29 08年小记 进入12月了，持续出差。
公司又搬了新地方，感到自己老了，疲惫的不行。
幸运的是，心情总还算不错。
记得2年前，聚会吃饭就嚷嚷着要一年上一个台阶。
。。。。。。
08年发生很多事，行业也不算很景气。但好歹今天坐在新办公室里，感觉还是很欣慰。08年很多公司死了，很多人走了，但我们还在向前。 November 28 rainer barbiGrades, in ascending order, are as follows:
The grade is determined based upon a number of factors, including difficulty and/or rarity of shape, time taken to create the pipe and grain. Therefore, an exceptional sandblast with an extraordinary shape would be graded more highly than a less exceptional smooth. There is no set price point for each grade and all Barbi pipes are priced by the piece. Barbi pipes generally start at $250 and reach into the many thousands for his very finest pipes. Date Codes: Month: Z, Y, X, W, V, U, T, S, R, P, N, M Year:
Generally, the month code precedes the year code. However, Barbi sometimes reverses the stamping. ardorIn 1911, the four Rovera brothers, Federico, Carlo, Cornelio and Francesco created the Rovera line of pipes. As is common among so many pipemakers that are now renowned for their excellent hand crafted pipes, Rovera started by manufacturing machine made pipes. Initially, water power from mills near Lake Como drove the machines used to carve the pipes. The son of Federico, Angelo, joined the business a few years later. In 1958, Angelo's son Dorelio in turn joined the business at the age of 13. Dorelio, after many years of experience began to yearn for something more distinct and artistic in the Rovera pipes. Initially, under the supervision of his father, Dorelio began to create a series of Rovera pipes created entirely by hand. It is from this series that Ardor was born. Ardor has come to symbolize all that Dorelio sought for: creativity, artistry, quality and sincerity. Today, Dorelio Rovera is responsible for the carving of almost all of the pipes that carry the Ardor line. Recently, his son, Domiano, after many years of apprenticing, has joined his father in the creation of Ardor pipes. Domiano is involved in various processes, from staining to sanding; however, it is only recently that Dorelio and Domiano have decided that Domiano is ready to carve his own pipes under the Ardor name. His style, though certainly influenced by that of his father, has a more organic, fluid look than Dorelio's. Pipes carved by Dorelio are stamped 'Dorelio Rovera' or sometimes simply 'DR'. Domiano now has his own stamp which is always "Domiano Rovera". Ardor pipes are completely handmade with bowls turned from extra quality briar from Sardinia, Calabria and Ligurian that is aged for an additional ten years and stems that are cut from solid rod lucite. The unique creative vision of the Roveras combined with minute attention to detail, yield a pipe that has become renowned for both its beauty and superb smoking qualities. Ardor does not have a strict grading system, per se, rather a set of grade, finish and color correspondencies. As Ardor produces over 350 models (shapes), we will not list all of them here, but instead concentrate on the grades and finishes. Below is a chart of the general order of grading, in descending order:
ashton
Excepting the Claret finish, which always has a silver band, all of the above many also have silver bands or other special treatments such as bamboo or a gold band.
There is also an SG stamping that denotes a Sovereign pipe of particularly impressive grain. Few SG Ashtons are made due to the relative rarity of Ashton smooth pipes in general and therefore are incredibly rare and very highly sought after. There are five SG grades awarded based on the quality of the grain. Other stampings:Year: The year the pipe was made is stamped. The number counts forward from 1980. Therefore, an Ashton made in 2002 would be stamped 22. Quaint: Most paneled pipes are stamped quaint since they do not conform closely with established shapes. |
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