Charatan c. 1950 Executive Bent Apple Square Shank--Unsmoked!

Charatan c. 1950 Executive Bent Apple Square Shank--Unsmoked!
This elegant pipe presents a series of interesting puzzles. First, we know from the style of stampings and the absence of the florid "L" that it is a pre-Lane pipe. Yet it has a "Double Comfort" bit, one of the signature elements of that later era. This is resolved when one remembers that Charatan had actually developed the Double Comfort bit before Lane acquired the company; it had been designed for the comfort of denture-wearers, but turned out to be very popular with customers whose teeth were intact. Lane, superb marketer that he was, later specified it for almost all pipes because it was so unique and immediately recognizable. Moreover, the "French Red" color is characteristic of high grade Charatans until Lane insisted upon the natural or "root" finish to sharpen the competition with Dunhill's highest grade finish.

Next, we note that the grain, while excellent on the right side, is somewhat weaker on the left. Thus it is fair to say that it lies on the cusp of the "Special," just barely qualifying as an Executive. But this is curiously reassuring, as one normally sees pipes that are evidently under-graded, viz. the pair below.

Such provenance issues aside, the pipe itself presents no problems as an object whatsoever. It has an especially nice apple bowl with slightly convex rim, and an unusual square shank that extends onto the heel below, and curves upward to meet the hand cut Double Comfort bit. The quality of materials and execution is superb, and the pipe is in perfect, unsmoked condition.