* The Dunhill stamp inventory log shows receipt of this patent stamps whithout any date code in 1927 and 1941. Since this pipe is a ROOT BRIAR (intoduced in 1931) and given its patent number, it cannot be a 1927 pipe.
• Value (Estate - Mar 2008): 172.50 US $ • 110,55 €
Dating this pipe is interesting because of an ambiguity which could occur between the 1923 and 1943 years. Aside the sanblasting quality, the only clue leading to a 1943 production year (this pipe) is the DUNHILL SHELL stamping without possessive form (DUNHILL'S) and without quotation marks on SHELL. As a matter of fact, the 3 (underlined) year suffix and the patent number (1341418/20) are both likely to be stamped on pipes from 1923 (see here) and from 1943 (see here).
This pipe from 1932 has the same shape and finish but a DUNHILL'S stamping.
• Value (Estate - Oct 2012): 312.00 US $ • 241.00 €
White dot on a a horn mouthpiece. Ebonite (vulcanite) became scarce during WWII.
• Value (Estate - Apr 2009): 129,61 US $ • 98,30 €
• Value (Estate - Feb 2008): 112,00 US$ • 73,30 €
It seems that this pipe is stamped with a "B" grade and simultaneously with an "R" holding for a Root Briar finish.
The DR letter grading was initiated in 1949.
The ROOT BRIAR stamping under DUNHILL was introduced in the 1950s and the "R" on the DR pipes with this finish will be discontinued then.
Consequently, this pipe illustrates one of the first attempts to grade a Root Briar DR.
The small square (left to the L of LONDON) was probably a help for the retailer to take a decision about the price.
• Value (Estate - Sep 2010):
1,650.00 US $ • 1.295,34 €
Despite the lack of the year suffix this pipe can be dated:
- The ODA 800 series were introduced in 1950.
- The patent 417574/34 stamping ran until 1951
- The DUNHILL SHELL stamping was replaced by DUNHILL SHELL BRIAR in 1951.
• Value (Estate): 1,038.00 US $ • 770,50 €
This pipe (Skate shape) was crafted in 1950: LONDON is under DUNHILL and the first year suffix is 0. It took more than two years to sell.
• Value (Estate - Aug 2009): 360.55 US $ • 253,80 €
This pipe is not stamped with a " T " , as on the regular "TANSHELL" production. It was an attempt to produce a natural sandblasted pipe and its name (Root Shell) was transient. Dunhill finally arrived at "TANSHELL" name later in 1952.
• Value (Unsmoked - Jun 2008):
1525.00 US $ • 992,30 €
The LC mythical shape, characterized by a "swan's neck" shank, generally was crafted in a SHELL or sometimes BRUYERE finish. This TANSHELL finish is extremely rare.
• Value (Estate - Sep 2008):
2,375.00 US $ • 1 616,00 €
According to its year suffix and its patent N° this pipe could be from 1944 or 1954. But the group numbers (here 4) were inroduced in 1951. Thus 1954 remains the only possibility.
• Value (Estate - Feb 2008): Unknown