For those who love their Falcons...
Yet another e-book and a good one, this time from the Grandaughter of the inventor and producer of the original Falcon pipe (link at end of post above). It is an amazing story of invention, promotion, international business, competition and quality. The Falcon is often presented as some kind of "gimmick"pipe which it is most definitely not.
For example, the aluminum was of extremely high quality aircraft aluminum, and required precision manufacture. Falcon sought top quality briar and rejected anything they considered sub-standard. For a lousy $2.99 from Kindle for a very long and extremely thorough book, with plenty of original documents, patent application, pictures, handwritten memos and the like, it is worth 10 times its cost, seriously.
I learned a couple interesting things. Falcon was first made in the United State, with later operations in Ireland and England. Another BIG controversy at the forums is the so-called "seal" on the bowl. Some owners insist they never had one, while others swear their indeed does have one. The truth:
Both are right. The early and top quality originals were made in the US in the early to late 1950's and yup, no seal. The originator/and inventor insisted no seals were needed as the bowls were machined to a tolerance of just 5/1000th's of an inch. Yet in less than a decade the Falcons made overseas modified the design to accomodate a very thin "seal". It may be the original design was better as there as the redesign for the seal actually had issues with sealing due to inconsistencies with the manufacture of the seal.
My biggest discovery, and a good one!
This is a dense book, but fortunately well organized enough to find things. It turns out that my $12 Falcon find on eBay was a good one. The very first - original Falcons were made in the mid-1950's, and carried the name "Falcon" only, on the bottom of the aluminum stem, near the bowl. These orginal Falcons also carred the number "1" stamped into the underside of the humidome (indicated the first moldings). Later Falcons carried higher numbers like "2" or "3" as the molds were replaced. Falcons made in England or Ireland had different markings.
Turns out mine seems to be an early first run Falcon - a #1, first mold - and with top quality briar (assuming the bowl is also original, which it appeared) and according to the granddaughter's e-book, likely made around 1955 or so. No seal, and an absolute collector's item (knowing this of course I will now never sell it). Gave it its refurbished, re-maiden voyaged smoke today with classic old Prince Albert and so far, the Falcon lives up to all the good things said about it.
And so it goes...
*******
http://www.amazon.com/Back-From-The-Ash ... 52-2399005
Just $2.99 on Kindle
