Here is the translated text into English: ---
Chacom is one of the most traditional pipe manufacturers in the world and is based in Saint-Claude, a town in the French Jura region. Strictly speaking, Chacom is a brand produced by the company Chapuis Comoy.
Chacom Pipes: Craftsmanship from Saint-Claude Since 1825
The story began in 1825 when the Comoy family started producing wooden pipe mouthpieces in a small village near Saint-Claude. Henri Comoy, a key figure in the company, was born in 1850. During his captivity in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870/71, he met his cousins from the Chapuis family, who were also involved in pipe making. Together, they decided to merge their businesses. Nine years later, Henri moved to London with a small team and founded the first briar pipe factory in England under the name H. Comoy & Co. Ltd. After World War I, the company flourished and became independent from supplies from France. To maintain production in Saint-Claude, the Chacom brand was created and initially sold in France, Switzerland, and Belgium. By the 1930s, the factory had grown to over 450 employees and was among the largest pipe manufacturers in the world.
The Path to the Future
The connection between the French and British branches lasted until 1970. Then, Yves Grenard, a former employee, took over the factory in Saint-Claude. He led Chacom to new heights and expanded into markets such as Japan, China, and Eastern Europe. In the 1990s, the company acquired renowned brands such as Jeantet, Ropp, Vuilliard, and Jean Lacroix, consolidating them under the distribution company S.A. Cuty-Fort.
The Present Success of Chacom
Today, Antoine Grenard, son of Yves Grenard, runs the company. As an engineer with international experience and a talent for design, he brings fresh ideas to the traditional house. Currently, around 25 employees are involved in production, a relatively high number in the industry.
Approximately 60,000 pipes leave the workshop each year. Antoine sees the decline in pipe production in Saint-Claude as a challenge. He criticizes the missed trends, while manufacturers from Italy and Denmark were more innovative. For a long time, traditional designs were maintained in Saint-Claude, while the market evolved.
Tradition Meets Innovation
Antoine is committed to developing modern designs and further optimizing quality without abandoning traditional roots. Chacom continues to supply numerous pipe manufacturers with pre-made pipe bowls and mouthpieces. The warehouses still hold thousands of high-quality pipe bowls made from old Algerian briar wood, known for its excellent smoking quality. However, as Algeria no longer provides suitable supplies, this raw material has become increasingly rare.
Chacom manufactures most of its mouthpieces in-house, using materials such as acrylic, ebonite, and Cumberland, all of which are handcrafted.
Chacom Pipes: Craftsmanship from the Jura
Whether classic pipes or creative designs with metal and acrylic accents – Chacom offers a wide range for pipe enthusiasts. The company also collaborates with renowned pipe makers such as Tom Eltang. Since 2016, production has been housed in a modern, glass-walled workshop with a showroom and smoker's lounge in Saint-Claude.
Visitors can experience traditional pipe making firsthand in the new factory.
Chacom: A Must for Connoisseurs
Chacom pipes are ideal for those who appreciate artisanal tradition and outstanding smoking quality. The high-quality woods and attractive prices make them the perfect choice for both beginners and connoisseurs alike.
