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"Profitability doesn't come into it"

Property developer Mordechai (Moty) Ezrati is your archetypal compulsive buyer. He has collected some 3000 pipes for himself - plus two of the most distinguished names in the English briar business: Upshall and Astley. In this, he was motivated by the general decline of the famous British brands - he didn't want old-fashioned ways to disappear entirely.

In a Pfeifenbox interview, Moty says that he is not in the pipe game for maximum profit - but to uphold the traditions of the industry in the UK. He adds that the future of Upshall is secure.

How did you come to own the Upshall brand?

ME: I had been collecting Charatans for many years, and when I couldn't find any more authentic Charatans in the shops I began looking for other pipes with similar smoking qualities and a design like the old Charatans. I bought 200 pipes in an auction - most I discarded, but a couple grabbed my interest for the way they had been finished and their straight grain. They were James Upshall pipes. I hadn't heard about the Upshall name before, but through those two pipes I began researching and eventually went to visit Barry Jones in the Tilshead Pipe factory. I bought a few pipes and continued buying pipes over a period of time, and eventually we became firm friends.

I told Barry all about my interest in pipe collecting, and a few years later he invited me to become a partner in the company. My accountant looked at the company's books and unfortunately I had to decline, as it did not make any business sense. Our friendship continued, and I tried to support Barry's international pipe sales wherever possible. However, the inevitable happened and the bank finally pulled the rug from under his feet in 1996. Cadogan and Dunhill were negotiating with the liquidators to buy the James Upshall factory - and, more importantly, the name! But from what Barry told me, Dunhill intended to have him cut high grade Dunhills and Charatans, while Cadogan wanted him to make GBDs and Comoy Uniques. It was sad to think that such a high quality pipe, as James Upshall would disappear only due to financial difficulties. I decided that regardless to the viability of the business I should purchase the company to keep Barry making James Upshall pipes without having any financial burden.

Why did you acquire Astley as well?

ME: I acquired Astley as a natural progression. James Upshall was one of Astley's high-grade pipe manufacturers, and for a long time I liked the idea of running Astley and James Upshall side by side. I had the chance to buy the shop in Piccadilly Arcade, but considering the high cost of rental and rates decided against it at the time. Then Paul Bentley, who was by then suffering from poor health, could no longer keep the business running, and considering the high quality pipes associated with the name and the history of the company starting in 1862 alongside Dunhill and Charatan, I simply could not resist.

Will Upshall or Astley ever be truly profitable again?

ME: The question of profitability doesn't really come into it. However, considering that the James Upshall pipe is the last British pipe which is 100% truly hand made from the best possible briar, I am sure we will be continue to satisfy the section of pipe buyers who appreciate such workmanship. At least we will turn over enough profits to keep the doors open and the production continuing.

The day of the English pipe factory seems gone. Nowadays, the surviving quality brands are kept afloat by relatively few individuals. Who would you count among the key players - carvers and managers alike - in Britain today?

ME: My opinion is that the large so-called brand pipes have taken a dive with regards to quality as the makers have profitability in mind. They cut corners to the point of importing pre-made bowls from the cheapest supplier and finishing the pipes without regard to quality. Basically, they are relying on the continuation of sales through a strong brand name alone. The most successful production pipe always came from the smaller pipe makers like Billy Taylor, Les Wood, Colin Fromm, Dennis Marshall etc. - and last, but not least, Barry Jones, who has been cutting pipes for some 44 years and is regarded as the best in his field by the English pipe making fraternity. Unfortunately, due to financial circumstances, Barry is the only one left who still devotes his time solely to hand-made briar pipes.

What will happen to Upshall when Barry Jones retires? Can you think of a replacement?

ME: From what Barry tells me, he will continue for at least the next 20 years. Over the past 10 years he has been training a young fellow to cut briar - and feels he is now ready to spend the next ten years learning how to turn the briar the traditional way!

Finally, you like to smoke big pipes yourself. How come you have such a passion for the English makes?

ME: You are right that I like to smoke the extra large and giant sized pipes. British pipes were traditionally renowned as quality pipes, and although the majority of British pipe manufacturers produced small to medium sized pipes, from time to time a giant sized one would turn up. Some of the biggest pipes I possess are the hand made Charatans, and of course I make sure that Barry always has a supply of briar blocks the size of a building brick to produce the extra large and Empire Series pipes for James Upshall.

(February 13, 2004)

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