I was working on a System advertisements project yesterday evening and as I was closing up various files in Photoshop I saw, on the screen before me, the solution to the Shape 56 Mystery Al Jones presented in the last post, top line, fourth from the left:
You’re looking at a page from a c. 1975 GT&C Peterson brochure shape chart, which Steve Laug posted at Reborn Pipes in September of 2016. You’re also looking at something rather unique in the Peterson shape history: a numbering system devised at least as early as 1951 exclusively for the Canada’s Genin, Trudeau & Cie, who began in Montreal in 1889 as an importer of housewares and giftware but had by 1919 specialized in the distribution of imported smokers’ accessories [viz., Peterson] and religious articles (a winning combination, in my view).
If you own a copy of The Peterson Pipe, you can chase down several GT&C references and illustrations, including the “1300” System shape chart. Here is the Classic Range number chart from the 1951 catalog:
While Steve traced the three-digit postal code in the address to 1960-69, the Dunmore line was not in production until 1974, while the Aran XL shapes (seen on another page in the PDF) were first made in 1975. The brochure was therefore issued at some point in 1974-75.
And here’s the complete 1975 GT&C catalog as PDF:
There are, then, three numbering systems at work in Peterson history: the Dublin shape numbers, the London shape numbers and the Montreal shape numbers. That’s a lot to be keeping up with, fellas.
Thanks to Al Jones & to Steve Laug,
Rebornpipes.com
Maith thú!
Good morning. We should be happy if we have no bigger problems than shape numbers, but I like it.
I have been breaking in a De luxe 03 the last week, bad pipe but now it seems to work. Just be patient and work with it
Started on a 3s yesterday evening it goes better.
Yes, shape number problems are among the best a smoker can have, aren’t they? Good luck on your 3s and Deluxe 3s.
Thanks for the update Mark and for the search from Steve L. Now that you have found a Canadian numbering system It wouldn’t surprise me to have someone locate another catalog with an Aussie or African newly discovered stamping system. It seems like the mysteries will go on forever with our love for Peterson Pipes.
If you ever go to Australia, Andy, let me know. I have a couple of Australian research queries that can only be handled in person, “on the ground.”
Thanks again for your diligence on determining the story behind this shape number, funny that it was right under our noses! Big thanks to Steve Laug, who spends a lot of time uploading these brochures, etc.
Absolutely fantastic information, really appreciate all the detective work. I love learning out about the history and it adds to admiration of the Peterson Pipe!
Thanks, Lou! Glad you enjoyed it–definitely a labor of love.
What a great story! Thanks to all those involved.
It makes me wonder why they just didn’t keep them all the same. It’s seems it would have been a LOT easier for everyone involved.
Good question, Jack. My best short answer: GT&C in Canada felt that this stamping would somehow be proprietary–they wouldn’t have to deal with any warranty issues on non-made for GT&C pipes. The London factory did use several numbers in the Dublin shape numbering system, but as their craftsmen were English (as well as a few Irish) and their primary customers were English, they developed lines like the Bradley, Croyden Square and Trafalgar Square with their own in-house design language. The only real conflict, I suppose, was that the Dublin factory was using one set of stamps for the Canadian pipes… Read more »