Brigham Pipes: A Century of Canadian Briar

by Charles Lemon

In 1906, Roy Brigham began a small pipe repair business in Toronto, Canada. Through hard work, perseverance and one brilliant invention, R. Brigham & Co grew to become the largest pipe-making firm in Canada, claiming at its height over three-quarters of all pipes made in the country.

This book tells the story of the first 100 years of Brigham pipes, painstakingly pieced together from corporate archives, historical records, company legend and first-hand accounts from long-time staff at what is now Brigham Enterprises Inc. It is a tale of personal and professional grit, adaptation, invention and survival over three generations, two World Wars, the Great Depression and radical shifts in society’s attitude towards the tobacco industry.

The quintessential collector’s guide, this book lays out not only the chronology of Canada’s most prominent pipe-maker but also never before compiled information on the pipes themselves, including the stamps, grading schemes and pinning patterns used between 1906 and 2006. Also featured is an updated version of the Brigham Pipes Shape Chart and a full list of Limited Edition pipes.

92 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2023

Reviews

[Jeremy Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

This well-researched, superbly written history of the great Canadian tobacco pipe company, Brigham Pipes, is a thorough and illuminating book. Written by Brigham collector and pipe repair expert Charles Lemon (DadsPipes.com). I highly recommend this book to all tobacco pipe aficionados. The story begins with founder Roy Brigham as a pipe repair apprentice, eventually founding his own pipe repair and manufacturing company in 1906 in Toronto, Canada. The story continues right to the present day, offering insights not only into the history of the company, but also into the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, innovation, and craftsmanship.