A SHORT HISTORY OF ALFRED DUNHILL
Alfred Dunhill, Ltd. is a British-based company, specialising in men's luxury leather goods, writing implements, lighters, timepieces, fragrances and clothing. The business was developed by Alfred Dunhill after he inherited his father's saddlery business on London's Euston Road. Alfred Dunhill, responding to the growing demand for automobiles, developed a line of accessories called "Dunhill's Motorities". This first collection included car horns and lamps, leather overcoats, goggles, picnic sets and timepieces. Alfred Dunhill pitched the company under the slogan “Everything But The Motor”.
In 1967 Carreras acquired a 51% stake in the company. The company is currently owned by Richemont.
Developed in the mid 1950s, Dunhill produced one of the first butane gas lighters. This iconic design has remained relatively unchanged since and was regularly used by James Bond in both print and on the screen.
Abridged timeline
In 1967 Carreras acquired a 51% stake in the company. The company is currently owned by Richemont.
Developed in the mid 1950s, Dunhill produced one of the first butane gas lighters. This iconic design has remained relatively unchanged since and was regularly used by James Bond in both print and on the screen.
Abridged timeline
- 1893 – Aged 21, Alfred Dunhill takes over his father’s saddlery business and converts it into Dunhill’s Motorities, providing ‘Everything for the car but the motor’.
- 1903 – Alfred Dunhill’s first dashboard clock marks their entry into the timepiece arena.
- 1905 – Alfred Dunhill patents his Windshield Pipe, designed to allow comfortable smoking while driving or cycling.
- 1907 – Having retired from running the Motorities business, Alfred Dunhill opens a pipe, cigar and tobacco store among the men’s clubs of Duke Street, St. James’s, London SW1.
- 1910 – Alfred Dunhill opens a pipe factory near the store.
- 1915 – The trademark White Spot marking is added to Alfred Dunhill’s pipes.
- 1921 – Store opens in New York; Paris store opens three years later.
- 1927 – Alfred Dunhill launches the revolutionary Unique lighter, the first to be operated using just one hand.
- 1928 – Alfred Dunhill begins distributing the Namiki pen company’s maki-e lacquered pens.
- 1936 – The iconic Facet timepiece, based on Alfred Dunhill’s car head-lamp designs, is launched.
- 1941 – Alfred Dunhill’s Duke Street store is bombed during World War II; it was extended and rebuilt in the 1950s and recently renovated.
- 1956 – The Rollagas butane lighter is launched.
- 1963 – Manufacture of Dunhill brand cigarettes starts.
- 1985 – First annual Alfred Dunhill Cup golf tournament.
- 2000 – Alfred Dunhill Links golf championship supersedes Dunhill Cup.
- 2005
A LITTLE INSIGHT INTO DUNHILL REPAIR IN AUSTRAILIA
Hi Gordon
I just happened to see your Dunhill Site and was interested in your situation regarding your business repairing Dunhill Lighters –It brought back many memories BOY what years they were ---Well hear I go !! it was back in 1961 when I was working for Gresham Industries who were a Tobacco Wholesaler in Leichhardt –I had just left Philip Morris where I was employed as a Cigarette Salesman –At Gresham.s I was given the position of Sales manager with their Chesterfield cigarette division with two special salesman under my control marketing and distributing Chest field and L&M products. The owner was a guy named Sid Gresham who was a Canadian [ A very hard man ] his son was a top Armature Golfer!! “You may have heard of him?? Anyhow Sid went to London and came back with the rights to sell Dunhill products Tobacco, Pipes, and the famous Dunhill Roller Gas Lighters throughout Australia –He promoted me to Australian Sales manager for the company.s Dunhill division. Now I must admit at that time I had no idea what this Dunhill was all about? After many months I started to learn all about the merchandise and, became knowledgeable with all the products--- Now the fun Begins !! when I called on Jewellers to purchase the famous Dunhill lighters they in return asked if Gresham,s REPAIRED the Dunhill lighters?? Of course I said we do however, it takes a long period to repair I was telling” Porky,s”— In my mind i was going to send them over to the Repair section of Dunhill and have them repair the lighters. I spoke to London and they agreed to repair the Lighters for me. Mate was that a pain in the backside, the time it took for them to repair was far too long as the jewellers customers as were complaining. So in the meantime i contacted a friend of mine who worked for –RONSON- over in Lang Cove he was in charge of the Repair section of their Lighters –I went over to see him with my Dunhill lighter, he looked at it and said that i would have to work with him, so together we striped the whole Lighter down looked at all the components SHOOK OUR HEADS and we both said –No Way!! however he said that we should Contact Dunhill London and for them to send us a complete Workshop manual and tools --- OK!! they arrived three weeks later the whole Box and Diice
I went to my Boss and said that I would have to work out of Ronsons and learn how to service and repair them --- Gordon it was a nightmare however at last i mastered the skills and after 3 months I started to repair all the lighters throughout Australia ---- Then It happened I got Married –and started a new venture –MOTEL MANAGEMENT- now ? WHAT ABOUT THE LIGHTER REPAIRS –Old Gresham asked me if i would teach another Guy how to repair the lighters? which I did not knowing that this Guy ended up Passing Away. At this stage I was employed by the Motel Group “Travelodge Motels and was stationed In Gundagai ---- This is Funny!! I got a call from Gresham.s and they ask me if I could take time out and repair lighters as the cost from London was getting out of hand –note:: They had to go back to the original concept and have London Repair them again”” Ok I said send me the tools and Parts and I will repair them for you again –Which they did / And boy did I make Money !!! Mate I was repairing them in a section of the Motels Guest Laundry. At last they sent up a jeweller to Gundagai and I taught him the Art, sent him back to Sydney with all the gear and that was that.
Now the Plot thickens!!!!!! After spending 13 years with Travelodge – I ended up the start up manager for their New Hotels, by then Our Son was born so I had to give the Hotels away. By chance one of my old friends was the C.E.O. of Rothmans Of Pall Mall Australia his name was Reginald Watson. When I told him I was getting out of the Hotel Business he offered me a Position with Rothmans in their Sports Promotion Division –THE BEST DAY.S OF MY LIFE” – ARE YOU READY???? You wouldn't want to know YES”” Rothmans got the rights to Dunhill Australia Now Rag asked me if I would set up the repair section in Sydney as he new about my past experience with lighter repairs –This time he sent me to London to look over the Dunhill company, I was there for 3 weeks and learnt a considerable amount on other products –and new technics ----- On my return Rothmans employed 3 Jewellers to work at the Dunhill shop in Sydney two on Watches and Pipes and the other –Lighters and of course i had to train him on repairs. I must admit he was great, he picked up the Art very quickly . So Gordon that was that !!!! Now I sit back in retirement play with my Computer and drink GOOD Wine watch the Footy and wait for the Lord to take me to that big place in the Sky> OR Down Below Ha Ha Ha !!
I just happened to see your Dunhill Site and was interested in your situation regarding your business repairing Dunhill Lighters –It brought back many memories BOY what years they were ---Well hear I go !! it was back in 1961 when I was working for Gresham Industries who were a Tobacco Wholesaler in Leichhardt –I had just left Philip Morris where I was employed as a Cigarette Salesman –At Gresham.s I was given the position of Sales manager with their Chesterfield cigarette division with two special salesman under my control marketing and distributing Chest field and L&M products. The owner was a guy named Sid Gresham who was a Canadian [ A very hard man ] his son was a top Armature Golfer!! “You may have heard of him?? Anyhow Sid went to London and came back with the rights to sell Dunhill products Tobacco, Pipes, and the famous Dunhill Roller Gas Lighters throughout Australia –He promoted me to Australian Sales manager for the company.s Dunhill division. Now I must admit at that time I had no idea what this Dunhill was all about? After many months I started to learn all about the merchandise and, became knowledgeable with all the products--- Now the fun Begins !! when I called on Jewellers to purchase the famous Dunhill lighters they in return asked if Gresham,s REPAIRED the Dunhill lighters?? Of course I said we do however, it takes a long period to repair I was telling” Porky,s”— In my mind i was going to send them over to the Repair section of Dunhill and have them repair the lighters. I spoke to London and they agreed to repair the Lighters for me. Mate was that a pain in the backside, the time it took for them to repair was far too long as the jewellers customers as were complaining. So in the meantime i contacted a friend of mine who worked for –RONSON- over in Lang Cove he was in charge of the Repair section of their Lighters –I went over to see him with my Dunhill lighter, he looked at it and said that i would have to work with him, so together we striped the whole Lighter down looked at all the components SHOOK OUR HEADS and we both said –No Way!! however he said that we should Contact Dunhill London and for them to send us a complete Workshop manual and tools --- OK!! they arrived three weeks later the whole Box and Diice
I went to my Boss and said that I would have to work out of Ronsons and learn how to service and repair them --- Gordon it was a nightmare however at last i mastered the skills and after 3 months I started to repair all the lighters throughout Australia ---- Then It happened I got Married –and started a new venture –MOTEL MANAGEMENT- now ? WHAT ABOUT THE LIGHTER REPAIRS –Old Gresham asked me if i would teach another Guy how to repair the lighters? which I did not knowing that this Guy ended up Passing Away. At this stage I was employed by the Motel Group “Travelodge Motels and was stationed In Gundagai ---- This is Funny!! I got a call from Gresham.s and they ask me if I could take time out and repair lighters as the cost from London was getting out of hand –note:: They had to go back to the original concept and have London Repair them again”” Ok I said send me the tools and Parts and I will repair them for you again –Which they did / And boy did I make Money !!! Mate I was repairing them in a section of the Motels Guest Laundry. At last they sent up a jeweller to Gundagai and I taught him the Art, sent him back to Sydney with all the gear and that was that.
Now the Plot thickens!!!!!! After spending 13 years with Travelodge – I ended up the start up manager for their New Hotels, by then Our Son was born so I had to give the Hotels away. By chance one of my old friends was the C.E.O. of Rothmans Of Pall Mall Australia his name was Reginald Watson. When I told him I was getting out of the Hotel Business he offered me a Position with Rothmans in their Sports Promotion Division –THE BEST DAY.S OF MY LIFE” – ARE YOU READY???? You wouldn't want to know YES”” Rothmans got the rights to Dunhill Australia Now Rag asked me if I would set up the repair section in Sydney as he new about my past experience with lighter repairs –This time he sent me to London to look over the Dunhill company, I was there for 3 weeks and learnt a considerable amount on other products –and new technics ----- On my return Rothmans employed 3 Jewellers to work at the Dunhill shop in Sydney two on Watches and Pipes and the other –Lighters and of course i had to train him on repairs. I must admit he was great, he picked up the Art very quickly . So Gordon that was that !!!! Now I sit back in retirement play with my Computer and drink GOOD Wine watch the Footy and wait for the Lord to take me to that big place in the Sky> OR Down Below Ha Ha Ha !!