Danish Estates: Ben Wade Golden Walnut Smooth Freehand Tobacco Pipe

Founded by Benjamin Wade in 1860 in Leeds, Yorkshire, Ben Wade began as a pipe-trading business before evolving into a dedicated manufacturer. The company quickly became known for its high-quality, handcrafted briar pipes, emphasizing classically English designs, with many models boasting smaller dimensions. During WWII, the factory was destroyed, but the Wade family rebuilt and resumed production, reviving the brand’s pre-war reputation.

However, in 1962, the company was sold to Herman G. Lane, who also acquired the Charatan brand. Ben Wade’s subsequent production dwindled, and the Leeds factory closed in 1965, marking the end of pipes stamped “Made in Leeds, England.” In the early 1970s, Preben Holm, a rising Danish pipe artisan, formed a successful partnership with Lane, reintroducing Ben Wade pipes with a “Handmade in Denmark” stamp. Holm’s Freehand pipes, designed with a focus on craftsmanship, large dimensions, and unique finishes, contributed to the brand’s resurgence. However, after Holm’s death in 1989, the brand ceased production once again.

In 1998, the rights to the Ben Wade brand were acquired by Peter Wilson of Duncan Briars, who revived the name by producing pipes at the Walthamstow plant in London, where both Parker and Hardcastle pipes were also made.