PIPE Peterson THE HISTORY
South of Dublin, where the metropolis has already taken on a suburban appearance and the ends of the Wicklow Mountains seem to be within reach, is the site of one of the oldest pipe factories in the world: Peterson of Dublin. The company is still called "Kapp & Peterson " in memory of the founders, the brothers Friedrich and Heinrich Kapp of Nuremberg. In 1865, the two Germans opened a shop for smokers, named Kapp-Brothers, in the elegant Grafton Street of Dublin. Around the same time, the Irishman Charles Peterson began making briar pipes and in 1890 discovered the famous reservoir system. It is a tank in the torch under the head which has the task of keeping the tobacco dry. All moisture – that's the goal – is channeled into the tank. Charles Peterson showed up in the shop of the two Germans with this revolutionary invention, for which he was subsequently awarded two gold medals in London, and shortly afterwards the foundation stone was laid for the creation of the Kapp & Peterson company.
The shapes of Peterson pipes - the traditional ones are the curves, the Army and the Silver Spigot - have changed little in the last hundred years and continue to remain highly sought after internationally. Mark Twain and many other writers were admirers of the Peterson system.
While Ireland is not a typical pipe-smoking country, Peterson are as purely Irish as Guinness, Irish music and Irish stew. Opposite Trinity College, at the end of Grafton Street, is Peterson 's shop whose assortment does not only include home products. A substantial part of Peterson pipes is still made with the palatal mouthpiece which, with the exception of the German house Vauen, is hardly ever made by any other manufacturer.
Peterson currently offers about 80 different shapes — including some foam pipes — mostly classical in style. Many are named after Irish counties, islands or cities, and the rusticated pipes give the impression of being as rough as the Cliffs of Moher. In the meantime, the English manufacturer 'Duncan Briars' has also joined the company, for which, however, few specimens are manufactured. Peterson pipes are offered in any quality and at any price. Silver gilt or even gold bands are frequently applied to the high-quality models and, when exported to certain countries, the stove is not treated with carbon dust. The pipe lover can therefore immediately ascertain that the wood is free from defects even in the internal part of the pipe. Alongside the various series such as Antique or Old English Collection, Peterson also manufactures a line of pipes called Sherlock HolmesPeterson . The pipe series have now become a coveted collector's item.
After numerous changes of ownership, the company was managed for years by Jim Nicholson - the only one in the sector to have risen from the position of worker to that of manager - who sold it to Tom Palmer in 1994, who set himself the goal of preserve tradition and at the same time comply with market needs. Some stages of production are carried out by other enterprises except the silver works. In Dublin we are particularly proud of the fact that this craft continues to be carried out in the Peterson factory.
In 1998, six new pipe models were presented for the first time, which differ from the classic style and strongly approach the Danish shapes. The Kapp & Peterson company seems to represent today's Ireland which, with a mix of traditional and modern elements, has conquered a stable economic position in the European Union.
Models:
system Series
• standard system • Deluxesystem (Smooth, Natural); • The Charles Darwin Pipesystem (Smooth, Natural).
Classic series
• ARAN ; • killarney • Wicklow; • Sterling Silver (Sandblast, Smooth); • Flame Grain; • Silver Cap (Sandblast, Natural); • DublinNatural; Grafton; • Royal Irish Natural; • Celtic Ebony; • Rock of Cashel; • Black Rock; • Kapp Royal; • Irish Made Army; • Army Red; • Army Brown; • Green Spigot; • Sandblast Spigot Black; • Red Spigot; • Black Spigot.
Special Series
• Lady Pipes (Calabash, Belgique, Tankard, Barrel); Dalkey; • Christmas Pipe 2011; • Sports; • Out-Door; • Dear Black; • Ebony&Ivory; • Churchwardens; • The Antique; • The Writers Collection; • The Antiques Collection; • The Irish River Collection; • The Castle Collection; • Pipe of the Year (2007-2008-2009-2011); • Sherlock Holmes (Smooth, Dark, Rustic); • The Return of Sherlock Holmes • The Adventures ofSherlock Holmes .
