WDC Wellington 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.

These days, the most imitated aspects of pipe design are shapes, which are frequently the subject of homages and studies from maker to maker. For a good part of the 20th century, however, pipe companies would often “borrow” internal, or more engineering-centered elements of particularly successful makes. Peterson, of course, was wildly successful in the 20th century, as it still is today, and the Peterson P-lip was pretty revolutionary. As a result, several other, established pipe manufacturers, from Vauen to Savinelli, created their own version of a stem that would condense and channel smoke for a cooler experience. WDC did much the same, as seen here. In fact, there’s a lot of Petersonian influence on this one, which almost borders on the Irish make’s iconic Dutch billiard shapes as well.

The condition is very good. Minor rim darkening and very slight handling marks.

 

Details:

Length: 6.4″ / 162.5mm

Bowl Width: 0.78 / 19.81mm

Bowl Depth: 1.66″ / 42.16mm

Weight: 1.9oz / 54g