Old Charatan marking/grading

[Ken Barnes]

Hi Folks,
I have an old Charatan (a small lovat with a saddle mouthpiece in a smooth 'natural' finish straight grain)
The markings on the shank read
CHARATAN'S MAKE
LONDON, ENGLAND
EXTRA

I thought that I was quite knowledgeable on Charatan grades, having worked in the factory in the 1970s for a few years and also working in the Charatan retail store in Jermyn Street, London.
I was wondering if anyone knows when this 'extra' grade was in production?

 

[Ghisalbertino]

Hello!

I was able to get some information on Charatan's Extra grading by means of this Russian article: http://brbpipe.ru/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/T-shop_1-2011-12_56-69_3.pdf

Here is the interesting part, roughly translated by Google Translate:

Extra

Expressive straight grain, excellent flame grain or already at all an excellent cross cut. In this grade, besides a great figure, there are deviations from the classical forms, following the "flame": billiards or Dublin with a sloping bowl. Pipes Extra cost considerably more expensive than De Luxe (up to 8 pounds in the 20s, up to 12 - in the 30s). Sometimes an old memory or on request supplied with hard case.

So it seems to be a Reuben's era grade.

You can read the first half of the article here: http://brbpipe.ru/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Charatan.pdf

 

[Ken Barnes]

That is truly amazing, thank you so much for this info. Yes, this is the exact stamping on the one I have (with a full stop/period between the London and the England). Regrettably, I do not have the case that it may have come with.
The one I have is very a 'Dunhill-like' lovat with a distinct 'hand-made' look to it. Ken

 

[Puffstone]

That is truly amazing, thank you so much for this info. Yes, this is the exact stamping on the one I have (with a full stop/period between the London and the England). Regrettably, I do not have the case that it may have come with.
The one I have is very a 'Dunhill-like' lovat with a distinct 'hand-made' look to it. Ken

Sorry to revive a somewhat dated thread but would you mind posting pictures of your pipe? Does the stem have any nomenclature?

 

[riff raff]

I'm not sure how I missed a comment by Ken Barnes.
Mr. Barnes - it is amazing to have someone of your stature in the pipe world participating on the forum. I look forward to more of your insights.