Caminetto Pipes: A Piece of Italian Passion
As is often the case with Italian pipe brands, the history of Caminetto is turbulent and intertwined with numerous renowned personalities. It began in 1959, when Giuseppe Ascorti was hired by Carlo Scotti to work in the Castello factory. Ascorti worked at Castello until 1968, when he partnered with his colleague Luigi Radice to establish their own workshop later that year. They struck a deal with Gianni Davoli, who ran a successful pipe shop in Milan. Together, they created the brand name “Caminetto.” The pipes were well received, and Davoli quickly took on worldwide distribution.
The Price of Success
The business flourished, especially in the USA, where the pipes were marketed as equivalent to Castello but at half the price. This drove demand and success steadily upward. By the 1970s, additional staff were hired, and production numbers increased, reaching up to 7,000 pipes per year.
Unfortunately, success also brought discord among the company's owners, with Luigi Radice in particular growing increasingly uncomfortable with the factory-like production of pipes. Ascorti shared concerns about declining quality with higher production volumes. In 1979, Radice left the company, and Ascorti followed a few months later.
Rebirth by Ascorti: Pipes by Caminetto
Giuseppe and his son Roberto eventually founded the renowned Ascorti brand in 1980, and Caminetto as a pipe brand ceased production in 1986. However, in 2013, the brand was revived by the founder's grandson, Tommaso Ascorti. A passionate pipe maker himself, Tommaso focuses on the typical style and impeccable craftsmanship that have always defined Caminetto pipes. The pipes, marked by the iconic “Baffo” – the mustache – offer excellent smoking qualities and represent classic design with a touch of Italian freedom. Each Caminetto is a handcrafted one-of-a-kind piece.
