Miller Browne – London

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These words came to me from a friend abroad:

“Hello Ringo

The info I gave is/was as I recall it, with no evidence. I have not spoken to Les for some years, I know he has been in ill health recently, the last time I spoke to his son Martin, (about 2 years ago), he told me Les was very ill and had in fact gone blind, although it was hoped this was not permanent.

As for Miller Browne, Jeannie will know that there is a “parlour pipe” set stamped Miller Browne in the College of Piping Museum. Legend has it Miller was the turner and Browne looked after the business side. According to his grand daughter, Miller also used to turn for Lawrie, but she could not recollect him turning pipes for Miller Browne. They certainly churned out marching fifes/flutes by the bucket-load, there are a huge number still around today.

I have seen a full size set stamped Miller Browne London and Boosey & Hawkes, London. These looked like low end Starcks, plain turned, made from a reddish brown Brazilwood, and with appallingly cheap looking ferrules, soldered together at one time but now all split. I had some pictures of this set, but unfortunately I lost practically all of 20 odd years of vintage/antique pipe photos in a computer crash a year ago. I have not seen any Starcks made from such low quality wood or with such poor fittings.

They definitely supplied higher quality pipes, a guy in Creiff was selling a very nice AWB all ivory set stamped Miller Browne London with an MOD arrow and dated 1956. These looked very much like Starcks.

I also saw a Brian Boru set reputed to be Miller Brownes, but only stamped with the H. Potter mark. These were also made from a reddish brown Brazilwood, but with the heavy all over beading that Starck used to use on his “Irish” pipes instead of beading & combing. It had a common stock, where it was stamped. Once again, it had very cheap looking ferrules, soldered together at one point but now splitting. I would have said “Starcks” but for the cheaper wood and poor quality/cheap fittings. I usually associate the Starck name with quality.

The conjecture was that it may have been made for the Irish Guards, who were based in Aldershot.”