Lorenzo Pipes: An Iconic Brand of the 70s to 90s
Lorenzo is a name that many pipe smokers of the 70s, 80s, and 90s grew up with. These pipes were almost omnipresent. From the Mühlensiepen shop to privately owned lottery booths, Lorenzo pipes were widely represented. No wonder. On the one hand, these pipes were incredibly popular, even trendy, and on the other hand, they were widely distributed. They were also sold through wholesale.
The Popularity of Lorenzo Pipes
The popularity of these pipes was mainly due to the fact that Lorenzo pipes offered many pipe smokers something that was less available from other brands. They were large, smoked excellently, were robustly built, affordable, and had their own unique style that was outside the mainstream. Additionally, they adopted filter pipes and acrylic mouthpieces very early on.
The Beginnings of the Lorenzo Brand
Lorenzo pipes weren't always so stylish. The manufacture began in the early 1900s under the name Gebrüder Lana (Fratelli Lana). But as early as the 1920s, the factory came into the possession of the Tagliabue family.
Realignment after World War II
After World War II, Lorenzo Tagliabue took over the leadership, having closely observed the positive developments of Castello, Savinelli, and Brebbia. He understood that the era of cheap, mass-produced "consumer pipes" was over and that he needed to focus on other values in the future. These pipes needed to have their own style and be of much higher quality.
Success in the 60s
This realignment of the company at the end of the 50s and beginning of the 60s brought the hoped-for success. The large pipes with thick-walled bowls were advertised as "Real men's pipes for real men" and sold excellently. The pipes were often stained in red and orange tones with a matte surface. This also cleverly concealed unsightly fills. By this time, these pipes were sold under the name LORENZO.
Expansion in the 80s
In the 80s, a second production site was established in Albania to meet the high demand and produce more affordable pipes. Here, mainly the "Spitfire" pipes were manufactured, which were popular across Western Europe as basket pipes. These pipes significantly contributed to the popularisation of the 9mm filter.
The Fateful Year of 1983 and Its Consequences
1983 was a fateful year for Lorenzo Tagliabue. His young daughter died of cancer, and his interest in pipe making and his zest for life vanished instantly. He died in 1987. The company initially came into the possession of Comoy's. However, by 1988, the Aliverti family had become the owners of the company. They had a connection to the company, with various family members having long been part of the company's technical management.
Production in the 90s
Production was almost exclusively in Albania, but the unique style – large pipes, special shapes, matte surfaces – was retained. Pipe smokers continued to praise their good smoking properties.
The Disappearance of the Brand
Unfortunately, the traces of the company's history are lost in the 90s. However, we can personally add that in the mid to late 90s, Lorenzo pipes were still frequently found in specialty shops. In the early 2000s, Lorenzo pipes were still listed in the Dan Pipe catalogue. Distribution in Germany was handled by a company called Hellmann.
