The Nurnberg brothers Friedrich and Heinrich Kapp, whose elegant Dublin tobacconist first opened for business in 1865 at Grafton Street, Dublin could scarcely have dreamt that they would participate in the birth of a legend.
Friedrich & Heinrich, who christened their shop simply 'Kapp Brothers,' soon made a name for themselves making and selling quality meerschaum and briar root pipes. It was not long before Charles Peterson walked into Kapp Brothers Grafton Street premises armed with a revolutionary pipe and ambitious plans for the future.
Right then and there, Peterson suggested that the brothers go into partnership with him to turn his pipe dream into the world's dream pipe. They agreed, and the company was renamed Kapp & Peterson. Kapp & Peterson went on to become Dublin's most fashionable and respected manufacturer and purveyor of fine smoking products. Pipe and cigar smokers would stroll down to the elegant premises for professional advice on the subtle nuances that determine a good handmade cigar or pipe. The Peterson brand was embraced by politicians, business leaders, sportsmen, artists, and writers.
The skills and craft which Charles Peterson applied to his original invention are continued by the dedicated team of craftsmen at Peterson today. Whether as a gift for a friend or for your own personal use, you will appreciate the excellence of the Peterson range of cigars, tobaccos, pipes, and smoking accessories.
The Peterson System
In 1890, the famous Peterson system pipe introduced a revolution in pipe smoking which brought pleasure to smokers worldwide. This was followed in 1898 by the Peterson Lip mouthpiece, another innovation designed with a deep understanding of the pipeman's needs. The System pipe smokes cool and dry to the last puff and has won for its creators many Gold Medal awards. The Peterson Lip, by adapting the pipe precisely to the contours of the lips and teeth, ensures a comfortable and satisfying smoke at all times.
Since Petersons are also collectibles, they are also hallmarked. Hallmarking is not a legal requirement in many countries, but it is in Ireland. By Irish law, the standard of most gold, silver, and platinum articles must be tested (known as assaying) at the Assay Office of the Company of Goldsmiths at Dublin Castle. Having established the legal standard of purity, the articles are stamped with a series of marks know as hallmarks.
All Peterson silver mounted pipes carry three distinctive hallmarks:
The symbol Hibernia denoting the country of origin. The Crowned Harp is the fineness mark denoting the high quality (purity) of the silver used. The Date Letter Code for the year in which the silver was hallmarked and the pipe made.
