WDC Milano Smooth Bent Billiard Estate Briar Pipe, American Estates

Description

The William Demuth Company, otherwise known as WDC, was established in 1862 by German-born American William Demuth, and survived as a mainstay brand in the United States until the 1970s. It would not be inappropriate to call such pipes ‘presidential,’ given that, owing initially to Demuth’s friendship with US president James Garfield, WDC pipes became an inauguration gift and fixture in the oval office for every president from Garfield to Hoover.

Much like contemporaries such as Dunhill, WDC was so proud and confident in their Milano line that it was advertised as “The Insured Pipe”. In other words, the company guaranteed that their pipes were high-quality smoking instruments that, if any issue should arise, WDC would cover the replacement themselves. This one is a large and tall bent billiard, with a curiously slight bend that reminds me of the old Pibe Dan shapes, presumably designed so that the pipe could hang from the jaw easily while keeping the chamber perfectly upright.

The condition is fair. Some general wear and a couple of spots of charring on the rim, and some handling marks.

 

Details:

Length: 6.2″ / 157.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.85 / 21.59mm

Bowl Depth: 1.76″ / 44.70mm

Weight: 1.5oz / 44g