Pipe production

Every type of pipe has its own manufacturing techniques. The production of clay tobacco pipes is the first to be published. Already in 1770 its technique is fully described by a man called Duhamel du Monceau. The famous encyclopaedia of Diderot is based on this book and also afterwards his illustrations are copied in various publications.

The picture of a clay pipe workshop with a large kiln in the centre is in fact completely fantasy. It is part of a print book showing different arts and crafts, the texts fully set to rime. It is more the romantic impression of the craft than the technical knowledge that counts.

After the invention of photography more objective illustrations of the production of tobacco pipes come available. The pride of the manufacturer speaks from the series of photographs being made to emphasise the size and activity in his factory. These photographs could be printed in the product catalogue.

In the French town of Saint-Claude (Jura) picture postcards illustrating factories of briar pipes were offered for sale. The local pipe industry was of such a great importance that the tourist could impossibly neglect it.

From 1900 onwards, illustrated magazines published on the production of tobacco pipes in whatever way. Usually these kinds of illustrations are more educational, although the technical details are not always correct. Again, the text is full with glamour of the manufacturer, the numbers of labourers and the production ciphers are usually strongly exaggerated.

 one of the three engravings explaining the making of clay pipes, Duhamel du Monceau, Paris, 1777 plan and cross cut of the kiln in which clay pipes are backed, Duhamel du Monceau, Paris, 1777
title page of the work of Duhamel du Monceau, Paris, 1777
some tools for making pipes including a typical Gouda kiln, Duhamel du Monceau, Paris, 1777 the first of a series of four prints from the encyclopedia of Diderot, Paris, 1771
a romantic print showing a pipe makers workshop, an example full of technical errors, the Netherlands, 1810-1820
polishing the mould seams by the pipemaker, Royal Goedewaagen, Gouda, the Netherlands, 1933
wiring the roll of the pipe, Royal Goedewaagen, Gouda, the Netherlands, 1935
the pipe maker from Gouda sitting behind his vice press moulding pipes, firm P. Goedewaagen & Sons, Gouda, the Netherlands,1912
the clay mill for preparing the raw material, firm P. Goedewaagen & Sons, Gouda, the Netherlands, 1908
overview on the workshop of Royal Goedewaagen, Gouda, the Netherlands, 1933
a tray of freshly moulded pipes brought to the stoving room, firm P. Goedewaagen & Sons, Gouda, the Netherlands, 1912
the saggars for backing the pipes being filled, firm P. Goedewaagen & Sons, Gouda, the Netherlands, 1912
a woman polishing the leather dry pipes before they are being backed, firm P. Goedewaagen & Sons, Gouda, the Netherlands,1912
the large kiln in which the saggars are placed to be backed, Royal Goedewaagen, Gouda, the Netherlands, 1935
the turning of the pipes in a briar factory, Saint-Claude, France, 1900-1910
Illustrations on this page from the Pijpenkabinet collections
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