Past Issues INDEX:
October 1995
December, 1995
April, 1996
May, 1996
Latest Issue...
BLOWING SMOKE
June, 1996
THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE
ORGANIZATION OF ONLINE PIPE SMOKERS
OoOPS@amug.org
http://www.fujipub.com/ooops
Ray Bromley (rbromley@amug.org), Perpetrator
The Fine Print:
Blowing Smoke is published as a forum for OoOPS members and no responsibility
for its contents is assumed by Ray Bromley, OoOPS, and AMUG. Use this information
at your own risk and under adult supervision. Close cover before striking.
Use only as directed. Do not consume more than eight tablets in a twenty-four
hour period. Do not use if you are taking medications for hypertension,
the gout, or hemorrhoids. If pain or swelling occurs, discontinue use. Exercise
caution while operating a motor vehicle. In short, don't blame us for anything
we have done because we'll deny everything.
Please respect the privacy of our members. This electronic publication is
for distribution to OoOPS members only. If you wish to reproduce it, please
delete any personal member profile information before forwarding or printing
it for viewing by others. Each submitted item (including every ad and article)
is copyright 1996 by the contributor or author, unless otherwise stated.
No part may be duplicated or distributed in any form without the expressed
written permission of the Editor and/or all contributors. Generally, if
you wish to duplicate this stuff we will be so pleased that, when we are
revived, we will grant permission and pay for your online time.
Submissions of ads, articles, tell-all books, household hints, pipe ash
art, subliminal messages, forged diaries of world leaders, suggestions,
changes to the membership directory, interesting pipe lore, pipe trivia,
and videos of police beatings are welcome. Heck, entertainment is hard to
come by these days. Yes, ads are free. Send all such items by e-mail to
OoOPS@amug.org
by the second weekend of the month, if possible. If you submit something
to us, we will pretty much gladly publish it, thus giving you a tiny bit
of electronic immortality. Other than that, and the knowledge that you are
serving pipedom, we can't pay you anything. OoOPS is so non-profit that
we loan people money so that they will donate to us, and even then no one
does. Your article or submission remains your possession alone, so if you
find anyone with money that will pay you for it, you get every penny. Just
like you did not send it to us.
Contents
1. JOINING MORTISE TO TENON- Members making
connections with others
2. LOADING UP- Resources for members
In this issue, places to purchase new pipes!
3. CHARRING LIGHT- Friendly discussion of controversial
burning issues
4. DOTTLE-
In this issue, "Top Ten Stupid Hobbies you can do While Smoking"
CORRECTIONS
Section 1
Joining MORTISE TO TENON
Advertisements and Notices from Members
* CLUB NEWS * * CLUB NEWS * * CLUB NEWS *
I am really working on updating the web pages. Honest.
The update will include:
many new links to business, reference, and personal pages;
some new pipe and tobacco quotations;
more famous smokers;
easy access to all of the old Blowing Smoke newsletters;
and (my pet project) a catalog of pipe shapes (with photos).
By the way, thanks to all of you who have been helping with famous pipe
smoker names and other information.
Actually, we have two sites; a "real" site at www.fujipub.com/ooops
and our test site at www.amug.org/~rbromley/ooops. New stuff will appear
on the test site first. I think the pages should be different enough to
reward a visit by the middle of July.
If you would like me to send you a little note when the update is completed
(so you don't waste your time visiting the same old thing), send me an e-mail
message to:
OoOPS@amug.org
and put the words "web update" in the subject.
Your obedient servant,
-Ray [:-?
* CLUB NEWS * * CLUB NEWS * * CLUB NEWS *
We had our SECOND ANNUAL UNOFFICIAL NON-VIRTUAL OoOPS MEETING on Friday,
May 24. This was the evening before the Pipe Collectors International (PCI)
convention and show. Members in attendance at the real life meeting were
Sami Mikhail, David Quisenberry, Tom Pfaeffle, Ray Bromley, and several
others. We enjoyed samples of Cornell and Diehl tobacco and managed to keep
the smoke alarm from going off.
At the convention itself, there were about a dozen OoOPS members, and we
managed to "network" in real time and in person with each other
with some frequency. In addition, there were a few highlights that might
be of interest to OoOPS members.
The OoOPS table did not have the planned computer web-page display, but
we did give out samples of the fine Cornell and Diehl tobacco produced and
provided by member Craig Tarler. Members who were represented by tables
at the convention included Bob Hamlin, whose huge display of gourmet tobacco
and shiny new pipes by Ser Jacopo, Castello, Dunhill, and Ashton was a major
attraction at the show. If you think Bob's mailers and web-pages are tempting,
you should see the spread he lays out for pipe shows! Member Alberto Bonfiglioli
showed off some of his finely-crafted Italian briar as well; by the end
of the show, he had sold all of the pieces that he had brought to Dallas.
Speaking of Alberto, he was presented with the PCI Lifetime Achievement
Award at the Saturday evening PCI banquet. Alberto's pipes have earned him
great respect among smokers in the last few years, and his honor was greeted
with resounding affirmation from those in attendance.
Sunday was the last day of the convention, and its scheduled highlight was
a pipe smoking contest. The goal of such a competition is to keep one's
pipe burning as long a possible on a single initial lighting from two matches.
The pipe all contestants used for the event was a Stanwell sandblasted billiard,
donated by Lane Limited, while the tobacco was Dunhill My Mixture #965,
also donated by Lane. By my reckoning, seven members of OoOPS participated
in the pipe smoking contest, which attracted about forty contestants in
all. While the winner, Mr. Dennis Moore of Texas, is not an OoOPS member,
the OoOPS contingent did make a respectable showing. More importantly, we
all enjoyed ourselves thoroughly.
It was great to finally meet the faces behind so many logon names. If you
are at the Los Angeles Expo in July, please introduce yourself.
-submitted by Ray Bromley
* PIPE SHOWS * * PIPE SHOWS * * PIPE SHOWS *
THE 1996 WEST COAST PIPE & CIGAR EXPO
Saturday and Sunday, July 27th and 28th
The Los Angeles Airport Sheraton Hotel
6101 West Century Boulevard, Los Angeles, California
Door Prizes, Cigar Smoking Contests, Dozens of Exhibitors
Special Guest: Sir Richard Carleton Hacker, author of The Ultimate Pipe
Book and The Ultimate Cigar book.
Banquet on Saturday, July 27th (includes an auction)
Hotel rooms: $79+tax per night single/double
For room reservations call toll-free (800) 445-7999 by July 6th.
You MUST mention the EXPO to receive hotel room discount!
GENERAL ADMISSION: $3.00
HOTEL PARKING: $6.00 per day (special EXPO rate)
GOURMET BUFFET BANQUET: $45.00 per Person
EXHIBIT SPACE IS AVAILABLE! For more information please contact:
Steve Johnson, 1532 South Bundy Drive, Apt. D, Los Angeles, CA 90025
PHONE: (310) 820-9706
Also see the information at
http://www.earthlink.net/~jgallco/pipes.html
* PIPE SHOWS * * PIPE SHOWS * * PIPE SHOWS *
I hope you don't mind if I share some of the exciting details of the
OPC Sept. 14 swap/sell pipe show--pipes only; no cigars. This promises to
be a really exciting event, and we'd like as many people as possible to
make plans to be there.
With room for 60-65 tables, we have already rented 42 and have a good shot
at a full house. So far, several pipe shops, numerous individuals, Nikos
Levin of NML Pipes and Bob Hamlin of PCCA, and pipe makers Tim West, Steve
Weiner, Steve and Roswitha Anderson, and Lee von Erck have all committed
to attending. There will be thousands of pipes as well as great quantities
of pipe-related items (tobacco, literature, etc., etc.) available for purchase
and possible trade.
With a table rent of only $25 ($30 after July 1), most of the money we make
each year to continue operating comes from our $1 a ticket raffle. We already
have lots of tobacco and other stuff pledged for the raffle, but
I'll just enumerate the pipes pledged so far: a Tim West, a Dunhill Chestnut
bamboo shank Group 5 pot, a Bob Everett, a Kirsten, an S&R, an older
GBD unsmoked Virgin, a David Jones Regency, a von Erck, a Mark Tinsky American,
an unspecified Dunhill, a Steve Weiner and a (probably) Brebbia. There will
be more.
But that's not all. The Dunhill Chestnut is now in the hands of Chris
Hill, wife of OPC member and artist Pat Hill. Chris is a jewelry designer,
and, in conjunction with the OPC, which is paying for the materials, she
is
making a solid sterling silver fitted case for the pipe. This will be the
last item in the 4:30 raffle, and I expect the interest will be intense.
You don't have to be present at the raffle, but you have to buy your
tickets at the show.
OPC membership now stands at 132 from 22 states and Canada, plus one in
England. Anyone interested in receiving a show flyer and/or a sign-up sheet,
please contact me. And, as always, I will send a complimentary copy of our
increasingly large newsletter to anyone who thinks they might be interested
in becoming a member.
If you've got one pipe, you're a pipe smoker. If you've got more than
one, you're a pipe collector.
Bill Unger
Secretary, Ohio Pipe Collectors
*PIPE NEWS* *PIPE NEWS* *PIPE NEWS*
From Joel Farr
jgallco@earthlink.net
Steve Johnson & I put together a site we think Ooops members
will find interesting. The URL is:
http://www.earthlink.net/~jgallco/pipes.html
For now, our site serves as a promotion for the Los Angeles Pipe
& Cigar League - 1996 Pipe & Cigar Expo. After July, the site will
become the home page for PIPE FRIENDLY Magazine. Please bookmark it as
things will be updated regularly.
Also, there's an incomplete set of links and a nice collection of
graphics (including one that Dr. Ray had a hand in - The Rack - thanks
again Ray).
*PIPE NEWS* *PIPE NEWS* *PIPE NEWS*
FROM Mark Leiblum
M.Leiblum@iowo.kun.nl
A new 'pipe museum' just opened in Amsterdam and it's fantastic.. thousands
of ancient pipes.. many for
sale.. and a pleasant knowledgeable owner. If any of your members get
to Amsterdam it's worth a visit.. address is:'PijpenCabinet Amsterdam,
Prinsengracht 488, 1017 KH A'dam'. Owner is Mr. Dondukko, tel.
31-020-4211779. It may be worth contacting him. He buys also.. but only
very unusual and old pipes.
I would be willing to
offer assistance to any visitors to the Netherlands interested in learning
about antique pipes. My collection will be on display at a German
"volksmuseum" in Kevelaar (about 1 hour from Dusseldorf) in the
Fall. I
stopped smoking pipes years ago.. but still have fond memories about my
collecting experiences. Prices for old pipes (beautifully carved
meerschaums.. some about 2 feet large with amazing carvings, that
were produced for nobility) can sell for $10,000 or more, and put a
damper on my collecting enthusiasm.
*PIPE NEWS* *PIPE NEWS* *PIPE NEWS*
From: Ed Price
epr065@airmail.net
Just a quick note to let you know I'm putting together a page (or set of
pages) showing the various finishes, shapes and other information about
Peterson Pipes. The page can be found at
http://web2.airmail.net/epr065/peterson1.html
Feel free to link to it.
Ed Price
Dallas, Texas
epr065@airmail.net
http://web2.airmail.net/epr065
*PIPE NEWS* *PIPE NEWS* *PIPE NEWS*
From Sami Mikhail
mikhail@onramp.net
Note: A group of DFW Pipe smokers got together for the first time last
night to form a club. This is the report of the meeting.
--------------------------------------------------
Hi Gang:
I hope you will tolerate a little bandwidth usage for something that may
not be of interest to everyone, but I figure it might a) encourage others
to attend and/or b) encourage others to start a local group.
So: There were six of us in attendance.
Brief Summary: It was great! We plan to do it every Third Wednesday, at
The
Londonner in Addison. If you need meeting/direction details please email
me.
Verbose Summary:
The six of us found each other fairly easily: We were the only ones walking
around the pub with pipes in hand. (Oh and one Cigar). We gathered, we
greeted and that was that for the formalities.
We swapped stories about our favorite/worst Tobaccos, Pipes, beers,
liquors, women^H^H^H^H^H^H, local/mail order Tobacconists etc etc.
David Quisenberry brought some tobaccos for all us to sample: Stanhope from
C&D, Dunbar from Esoterica. Yours truly showed off his latest acquisitions
from the Dallas PCI show. (Aside: we unanimously agreed the show could have
used more advertising, we hope to be able to help with that in the future
-- but that may be a Pipe Dream :) )
It was fun to get confirmation that Pipe smokers truly are great people.
Everybody was very friendly and pleasant.
Incidentals:
Turns out that not only do most of us read avidly, but we have some very
similar tastes in authors and genres. There was a napkin writing incident
which I promised not to bring up, so I won't :). If anyone knows Art
Larson, and is in touch with him, please tell him he has a very charming
daughter.
If any of y'all have any non-net friends in the area whom you think would
be interested, please drop me their name and numbers. I would be more than
glad to call them.
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns please let me know. 8D
*INTRODUCTIONS* *INTRODUCTIONS* *INTRODUCTIONS*
FROM Marc Reckinger
100724.3114@compuserve.com
Hi pipe smokers,
I'm Marc Reckinger, I'm 36 years old , I'm living in Luxembourg (am I really
the first member from my country?) and I am (still) a...cigarette junkie.
Two years ago my parents were in Cogolin at Courrieu's pipe factory, and
they bought a cheap briar pipe for me. I bought 50 grams of Amphora regular
and started smoking that pipe. After having smoked it three or four times,
my whole mouth was like raw meat; it hurt, and whatever I ate or drank,
it was awful.
That was the end of the first chapter, and I returned to my cigarettes.
Then I found Mr Hacker's "Ultimate Pipe Book", and, reading that,
I learned
much about pipes and pipe smoking, and I restarted smoking my first and
only pipe; it was much more pleasant, in that way I decided becoming a *real*
pipe smoker, and I bought two nice mid-priced Bjarne pipes in a shop here
in
Luxembourg, and I started smoking them...
But in my job, there is a lot of stress, and I need the nicotine-kick, which
only cigarette smoke inhalation can give to me. But I think, I'm an the
right way: In the office, I still smoke cigarettes, but in the evening,
at home, the first thing I do is making a cup of coffee or good tea, sitting
down and smoking my first (and not the last) pipe for the day.
Last year I spent my holiday at the "Cote d'Azur", and I visited
the Courrieu factory in Cogolin, from where I got out with three new pipes.
But I was a little bit disappointed by the industrial pipe production, which
I'd seen there, and back home, I bought two more Bjarne Pipes - for 9mm
filters- at "my" tobacco shop.
Actually, I would characterize myself as an
evening-pipe-smoking-cigarette-smoker on the way getting a full-time-pipe-smoker
who is persuaded of pipe smoking, but has difficulties with stopping smoking
these cigarettes.
I read everything I can get abut pipes, pipe makers and pipe smoking, and
so I'm an OoOPS member now and I get the "pipes digest", and I'm
on the way getting more and more fascinated of briar pipes.
Last week I got my first Meerschaum pipe, and that again is a new experience
(not a bad one!)...
Reading "Blowing smoke" and the "pipes digest", I see
that there are many people who were cigarette smokers before coming to the
pipes. Please tell me about your experiences, problems, etc.
Marc Reckinger from Beaufort/Luxembourg
P.S.: Re-reading this, it seems to me, that my English is very bad, but
it's the
best I have...
* TOBACCO WANTED * TOBACCO WANTED * TOBACCO WANTED
*
INFORMATION DESIRED
FROM Bubba Johnson
bubbaj@awod.com
Gentlemen:
I have bounced around, back and forth for almost an hour now
looking for a place to purchase my favorite commercial-package blend.
It used to be known as Old Grand Dad, later changed to Dutch Masters.
This was a tobacco cured with "OLD GRAND DAD" Kentucky whiskey.
Tasted good and smelled good too.
I can no longer find it or a blend that compares. Can you help
me?
BTW, I AM of age (60, in fact).
Thanks, Bubba Johnson
* TOBACCO WANTED * TOBACCO WANTED * TOBACCO WANTED *
From: howard@erols.com
Please add me to your list. Thanks. And, by the way, do you know how I
can get Astleys pipe tobacco Royal Tudor No. 99? They are in London.
* PIPES WANTED * PIPES WANTED * PIPES WANTED * PIPES WANTED *
From Elizabeth Anderson
poorrichards@earthlink.net
I need a 1982 (preferably not smoked) Comoy Christmas Pipe. Some dirty dog
of a sales person sold mine to a persuasive customer thus putting a hole
in my collection. Any of Dunhill's first three 12 days of Christmas pipe
series.
* HELP WANTED * HELP WANTED * HELP WANTED * HELP WANTED *
ADVICE/Help
From Ed Faerman
EMF1234@aol.com
I would like to know if there exists a pipe club in the south Florida area
or if anyone would like to get together for such activities.
___________________________________________
* HELP WANTED * * HELP WANTED * * HELP WANTED *
FROM Charles D. Dennis
76236.1454@compuserve.com
Hi,
I have some questions I would like to ask your club members as well as you
yourself.
Reference: A.I.T.S. index. There are some I would like to find.
A question on my clay Churchwarden's draw hole that doesn't draw (brand
new).
So if you would let me know the how to's I would love it.
Thanks for your attention
Sincerely,
Charles
___________________________________________
* HELP WANTED * * HELP WANTED * * HELP WANTED *
FROM Gil Velez
aikido@nando.net
I have a couple of Dunhills and I need to get a bit replaced on one of
them, can anyone help me. Also I have a Davidoff pipe that I would like
some info about. Please let me know if there is anyway I can get some
feedback on this. Thanks!
___________________________________________
* HELP WANTED * * HELP WANTED * * HELP WANTED *
From: Scott (Phillip) Laughlin-Richard
scottlr1@earthlink.net
I am trying to assemble a sort of pocket collector's guide. I am interested
in
information on identifying pipes, shapes, dates, finishes etc. on any and
all
brands I can. With Comoy and Savinelli being at the top of the list since
Castello, Barling, Sasieni and Dunhill are fairly well covered in the
various publications (although any additions to these brands are welcome).
Readers with such information (even the tiniest bits) that are willing to
share their experience would be greatly appreciated. I would be willing
to
share whatever finished list I can assemble.
* FOR SALE * FOR SALE * FOR SALE * FOR SALE *
FOR SALE *
From Irwin Friedman,
if@worldnet.att.net
Tobacco: Barney's Ideal and Parson's Pleasure (several cans of each), six
large tins of Three Castles form the mid to late 1960's, three tins of Dunhill
Virginia Ready Rubbed (made in England)
Pipes: 1959 Dunhill shape 721 F/T (stack, a cross between an acorn bowl
and a bulldog),group 3, bruyere finish, excellent condition, very nice crosscut,
$225.00; Sasieni patent Fantail, large billiard, carved finish, $120.00;
several others that I will be culling from my collection soon.
._________________________________________________
* FOR SALE * FOR SALE * FOR SALE * FOR SALE * FOR SALE *
FROM Bruce Harris
103575.367@CompuServe.COM
Doodler pipes for sale. Unsmoked pieces from the 1970's in
original boxes. Four available. Price $40 each.
* FOR SALE * FOR SALE * FOR SALE * FOR SALE * FOR SALE *
FROM James Aubrey Jensen
jjensen@net-magic.net
I would like to trade or sell 2 Sasieni pipes (Royal Stuart,Canadian). They
both need a new bit.
* FOR TRADE * FOR TRADE * FOR TRADE * FOR TRADE *
From: Scott (Phillip) Laughlin-Richard
scottlr1@earthlink.net
I have one tin of Ashton #3 that I would be happy to trade for a tin of
any of the following;
LPI Scottish Woods or 3 Oaks
PCI Quest
Any interested can contact my e-mail
Return to Contents
Section 2
LOADING UP
Listed below are some sources for new (unsmoked) pipes. This is a list of
those sellers of new pipes which seem to put forth particular effort to
cater to mail order customers. If I left out your favorite mail-order source
for new pipes, let me know and I will add them in next time this list is
published. Future issues of the newsletter will feature sellers of tobaccos,
presmoked pipes, etc.
Aromas
Steve Leaders
4936 Windsor hill
Windcrest, TX 78239
(210) 590-1802
Often offers new Ascorti, Castello, GBD, Comoy's, Savinelli, and others.
*****
Allberto Bonfiglioli
8/A Via Bertiera
Bologna, Italy 40126
tid0826@iperbole.bologna.it
(051)23.17.71
Alberto's pipes are rapidly gaining a reputation for quality and craftmanship.
In addition, he sells pipes from other makers as well.
*****
Briar Rose Tobacco Shop
Shane Pappas, Owner
20700 S. Avalon Bl. Suite 537
Carson, CA 90746
1-800-323-1323
If they don't have it, they will find it. At least that's their slogan.
*****
Connoisseur Pipe Shop, Ltd.
1285 Avenue of the Americas
NY NY 10019
(212) 247-6054
Carries its own line of pipes.
*****
E.A. Carey's Smokeshop
7245 Whipple Ave., NW
North Canton, OH 44720
1-800-99-BRIAR
Offers pipes in a wide range of grades, from its own modestly-priced Carey
pipes, through those of Mark Tinsky, Randy Wiley, Tim West, Kaywoodie, Butz-Choquin,
Sasieni, Peterson, Comoy's, GBD, Savinelli, Stokkebye, and even Dunhill.
*****
Edward's Pipe and Cigar
338 Spanish Village
Dallas, TX 75248
214-774-1655
1-800-851-9020
Dunhill, Savinelli, Mastro de Paja, Upshall, Castello, and others. Sends
out mailer with photos and prices of pipes (new and pre-smoked).
*****
Georgetown Tobacco And Pipe Store
3144 M Street NW
Washington, DC 20007
(800) 345-1459
(202) 338-5100
(202) 338-0008 (fax)
Walt Gorski, catalog sales manager
waltGT@aol.com
Carries a wide selection of high-grade and medium-grade pipe makes (at retail)
including Tsuge, Ashton, Dunhill.
*****
R. C. Hamlin
The Pipe Collector's Club of America
P.O. Box 5179
Woodbridge, Virginia 22194-5179
(703) 878-7655
(703) 878-7657 (fax)
71530.40@compuserve.com
OoOPS Member. Sells new high-grade Ashton, Castello, Dunhill, Ser Jacopo,
Peterson, and others at _very_ large discounts. Sends out mailer with photographs
and prices of pipes.
*****
Iwan Ries & Co.
17 South Wabash
Chicago, IL 60603
312-372-1306
800-621-1457
312-372-1416 (fax)
Large selection and variety of high-grade and medium-grade pipes, including
Ashton, Dunhill, Ferndown, Upshall, Savinelli and others.
*****
Kirsten Pipe Co.
PO Box 70526
Seattle, WA 98107
206-783-0700
Manufactures and retails unique interchangeable bowl pipe.
*****
McCranie's Pipe Shop
4143 Park Road
Charlotte, NC 28209
(704)523-8554
Major pipe brands as well as the store brand. Catalog is available.
*****
NML Pipes Direct
Nikos and Marsha Levin
12159 Cuddington Ct
West Palm Beach, FL 33414
nml@mja.net
(407)753-0153
fax:(407)791-5025
Sends out a mailer with photos of pipes and prices. Often sells unsmoked
pipes from major and less-known brands, including some unsmoked old pieces.
*****
Nat Sherman Co.
500 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10010
800-221-1690
212-246-8639 (fax)
Large selection of assorted makes.
*****
Poor Richard's Tobacco Shoppe
Elizabeth Anderson
364 W. Highland Ave.
San Bernardino, CA 92405-4012
poorrichards@earthlink.net
909-883-7031
fax:909-883-5959
*****
S & R Woodcrafts
Stephen and Roswitha Anderson
4244 East Main Street
Columbus, Ohio 43213
(614)235-6422
In addition to their own honored pipes, made in Columbus, they carry many
popular brands.
*****
Thompson Cigar Co.
5401 Hanger Court
Tampa, FL 33601
813-884-6344
1-800-237-2559
Many medium-priced and inexpensive pipes, such as Chacom, Brebbia, Peterson,
Stanwell, Barontini, etc.
*****
Tobacco Barn
tobacco4u@aol.com
or phone: 1-800-999-6882
Mail Order Manager: Mark Schroepfer
Carries wide selection of high-grade and medium-grade pipes including Ashton,
Castello, Dunhill, Upshall, etc.
4 store locations in Washington DC area.
Return to Contents
Section 3
The CHARRING LIGHT
The purpose of this section of the newsletter is to get people on their
feet (metaphorically, of course, but feel free to actually stand if you
want). It is hoped that The CHARRING LIGHT will draw us into a civilized
debate concerning pipe related issues that might not come up in other places
or contexts. Giving one's own opinion on an issue and reading the conflicting
views of others may produce heat (flames, CHARRING, get it?) but it may
also produce enLIGHTenment.
Well, it seems we have just about run out of steam on the issues raised
in the past. So, to get things moving again, let me ask your feedback for
next month on this question.
**What is the most stupid thing you have read or heard a fellow pipe smoker
write or say about pipes or tobacco?**
Any really blatant misinformation will do; it doesn't have to be National
Inquirer stuff.
I would really appreciate your comments.
RETURN TO CONTENTS
Section 4.
DOTTLE-
Being at a financially challenging point in life, I began to wonder what
pipe-related activities I might engage in that would not involve pecuniary
exertion. In short, how might one enjoy his or her pipes more without obtaining
more pipes? While you might be in the enviable situation of not requiring
such diversions, perhaps you might find this list amusing, if not instructive.
"Top Ten Stupid Hobbies you can do While Smoking"
10. PIPE DATING
By this, I do not mean taking your pipe out for dinner and a movie,
although that might be diverting and your pipes probably are
feeling a bit neglected lately. No, I mean that you probably
could find out when your pipe was actually made (within a
few years, at least). If you have Dunhill or Ashton pipes, this
task is made simpler (but not trivial) by the stamping on the
pipe. For Ashton pipes, just add 1980 to the number after "Made
in England." For Dunhills, whole books could be (and are being)
written to enable the enterprising to crack the code. Even if
you have no Dunhills or Ashtons, you can probably date your
pipes by doing a bit of research concerning the stamping, style,
materials used, etc. This may involve looking your brand up in books,
leafing through old pipe magazines, and doing other individual
research. Probably more fun, and rewarding, would be writing to
collectors. Use the OoOPS Directory, Pipes Digest, The Pipe
Smoker's Ephemeris, and alt.smokers.pipes newsgroup to identify
people who might be willing and able to help. Stop by the local
tobacconist when he or she is not busy, and take the pipe in
question with you. You might also try writing to the importer
or manufacturer, if they are still around. Most people in the pipe
business will be glad to assist courteous and polite inquiries of
this type, as will most collectors.
OK, this one may not be "stupid," but it could be fun, and it
certainly won't cost as much as a new Castello.
9. PIPE MEASURING
Just how deep is that bowl? How thick are the walls? How long
is the stem? With a ruler (or calipers, for the really anal-
retentive) you might actually discover some useful facts, like
how thick a bit can be before it feels uncomfortable in your
mouth. You see, by knowing your pipes, you know yourself!
What could be better than self revelation through pipe smoking?
8. PIPE WEIGHING
If you have a postal scale lying around, why not see just how
heavy your pipes are? You can even pull that old Walter Raleigh
stunt and weigh your smoke. If you never heard the story, Raleigh
weighed the tobacco he put into his pipe, smoked the pipe, and
then weighed the ash. He posited that the difference was the
weight of the smoke! Such audacity need not be relegated to
the 17th century. Just weigh your filled pipe, and weigh the
ash and pipe when you are done smoking. A historical re-
enactment! You might even get a government grant for it!
7. PIPE CLEANING
Cleaning one pipe while smoking another may not be the most
fun in the world, but anything I can say to get you to keep your
pipes clean is my public duty. You'll thank me for it someday.
Why not see how many pipe cleaners you can use up while cleaning
a single pipe? Figure out whether your pipes get dirtier with
different kinds of tobacco, or whether they need different amounts
of cleaning depending on the time of day you smoke them. Don't
forget to clean the "gunk trap" in the mortise!
6. PIPE COUNTING
If you are like me, you lost track of how many pipes you have
sometime ago. So, start cataloging those babies. How many
do you have of each size, brand, shape, finish, color, stem type,
etc.? Which pipes have you not smoked in a while? This might
actually help you cull your collection, assuming you are the
type of person who would actually contemplate such a thing.
You might turn into one of those people who actually has a
catalog of your pipes on his or her computer. This will give you
a nice feeling of self-satisfaction, which is especially good
since the rest of us will resent you for being so organized.
5. PIPE SMOKING CONTESTS
You can practice for the real thing any time. Just see how
long you can keep your pipe going on a single light. Compete
against yourself and someday you might win a pipe-smoking
contest at a pipe show. You can even, like the Olympics, stage
your own personal exhibition sports such as "most smoke rings
blown from a single bowl of tobacco," or "most non-smoking
tasks performed while smoking." The possibilities are limited
only by your imagination and your supply of gold medals to award
yourself.
4. SMOKE RING COLLECTING
Since I mentioned smoke rings, why not cultivate the ability
to create these Olympic symbols? Determine whether the
ability to create rings is dependent on the type of tobacco
smoked, or the pipe you are smoking. Try to make patterns
of rings, or concentric rings. Try to blow heart-shaped rings,
or rings resembling letters. Blow rings around objects in the
room. Try to photograph the rings as they enrobe your family
pets or loved ones in an ethereal azure frame. Smoke ring
blowing is a time-honored art.
Sounds like another government grant proposal to me!
3. CHAR BUILDING
See just how thick you can get that legendary cake in your
pipes. See if it depends on the type of tobacco used. See if
it really does develop faster if you smear honey on the inside
of the pipe.
As with most sports, there is a level that many of us are not
prepared to attain, a barrier many of us are not prepared to
breech. Read further only if you are the stalwart type that IS
prepared to risk all to attain the ULTIMATE. The rest of us
weenies will look on in awe, admiration, and dread. What I
am about to suggest should not be attempted before first
consulting a physician. Don't try this at home, kids. This is
only for those professional drivers on closed tracks that you
read about on car ads...
See if your pipe really does crack if you don't ream out the cake.
OK, it's dangerous, but Man's thirst for knowledge must be slaked.
Sacrifices must be made for the greater good.
2. BIRD'S-EYE COUNTING
Pipe smoking is conducive to meditation and contemplation. So,
next time you are smoking, contemplate your pipe. Study its
details. Be one with the pipe. An easy way to do this is to
focus on a particular aspect of the pipe, such as the number
of grain strands that can be identified on the bowl, or the
number of bird's-eyes that the pipe has. Be careful not to
do this while reclining in bed with a lit pipe, as counting
bird's-eyes may be as soporific as reading this.
1. ASH COLLECTING
Last month's BS contained helpful hints involving the use of
ash. Well, to say that you might actually use the ashes you
save for something useful is to defeat the very object of
ash collecting. See how much ash you can accumulate. Ash
is one of the certain by-products of smoking, and so you will
always be able to add to your collection at any time, and it
won't cost a cent. Soon, you'll find yourself lighting up just
to add to your ash collection. Perhaps the activity of adding
to your ash collection will take your mind off of the impulse
to acquire additional pipes, which are almost always more
expensive than ashes. On the other hand, whenever you feel
the desire to add a pipe to your collection, your mind will reel
at the prospect of all of those additional ashes it will produce.
How can you refuse the opportunity to enlarge your ash collection
so quickly and easily? Yes, yes, buy the pipe!!!
CORRECTIONS
In the last issue of BS, I included some pipe terms that might be easily
misspelled, in the hopes that such a list might help members find others
with similar interests more easily. I made a few mistakes in defining some
of the terms and names, and here present some corrections. Sorry if anyone
was confused. At least the spellings were correct <g>.
Ben Wade
English and Danish pipe label; name used for Charatan seconds and some Preben
Holm pipes (Established in England in 1860; discontinued in 1988)
Calich
Canadian (Ontario) pipe maker