Why *I* Buy "Expensive" Pipes
Jeff Folloder (TES)
to do with the soul. I've bought and sold 1000's of pipes in every price
range. Slowly but surely I am divesting myself of most of my pipes that
are not handmade. There will be a few special pipes that are kept that
do not fit this narrow description, but not many.
A machine made pipe, be it a Dunhill, a Stanwell, a Comoy, or a Dr.
Grabow... doesn't have a "soul". I prefer pipes that are made by
somebody I know and, more importantly, somebody I like. I don't know
anybody at Dunhill or Grabow. I do know Trever, and Uncle Peter, Jeff
Gracik and JOdy Davis... the irrepressible Tom Eltang, Jess Chonowitsch,
Toku, Arita, and more. I have to know that there was a smile when the
pipe was made (along with a few curses). Gotta have that good mojo...
--
Jeff Folloder
The Elitist Snob since... Cripes! I forgot!
http://blog.folloder.com
1968eric
acquainted with them whether they are new or estate, factory or hand
made. Its more like a sentimental value.
Unlike most pipe smokers, I can't sell any of mine once I've smoked
them. If they are clunkers that don't smoke well, I don't like the idea
of pushing them off on someone else, and if they smoke well no need to
get rid of a known commodity. Aside from that even, I still couldn't
part with them because of the sentimental value. Each pipe has a story
and all.
Mark McKay
"expensive"....I'm sure not disagreeing with anything you said for
yourself...that is the way you feel....I think "soul" might be within
yourself...not a pipe maker....I mean Petes have a wonderful
history...is that not "soul"???As far as "Expensive"...is that not a
personal condition???The most "expensive" pipe I have bought so far is
$200 bucks..I could afford more...and prob will in the future...but my
conditions are can I slip it past the SHMBO...lol...now if I hit the
lotto...conditions change...to me you sound more like a pipe
broker...and are no longer wanting to do that...you know some guy's that
you like..good for you.....you get tired of them...let us know
first...we will buy them....:)
Ken Dixon
pipe draws a NFW every time ;-)
Ken in Miami
http://pipesmokersintelligencer.org/journal/
Jeff Folloder (TES)
Probably should have elaborated a bit. Completely hand made pipes tend
to be expensive. And I started this direction back in the late 90's and
just didn't realize it until a few years ago.
kim
buy. Guess some have more soul than others, eh ? There in lies the
slippery slope. Anthropomorphism seems silly in this context. It's
you, not the pipe. No need to justify or proselitize..... unless there
are doubts. Just say that you like the personal nature of a hand made
pipe and be done with it. No need to romanticize or conjure metaphors.
Unless that is your want. See....it keeps going back to you. BTW....my
takes keep going back to me too. ;>}
Kim
JtN©
I always thought it was just because you were some sort of Elitist
Snob. ;-)))))
JtN ©2009
Jeff Folloder (TES)
You nailed it perfectly! It is about me. It's about how *I* choose a
pipe. A lot of folks buy a pipe based upon what somebody else says they
should try or buy. In the end, it's about an individual choice. Some
folks love Dunhills or Radice pipes. I derive more enjoyment out of
pipes that are made by somebody whose company I enjoy. And if you have
ever held or smoked a pipe made by Trever Talbert, then you know that
his pipes do, indeed, have a soul. An evil, malevolent soul...
Jeff Folloder (TES)
> I always thought it was just because you were some sort of Elitist
> Snob. ;-)))))
>
> JtN �2009
There is that...
Briarroot
Mojo is good, but...
My 'collection' consists mainly of machine-made pipes, therefore it is
*I* who imbue each of my pipes with soul. My old briar friends, who
have seen me through thick and thin, who have accompanied me on tours
through the ages of human history and literature, or on virtual voyages
across thousands of light years in my imagination, are *not* soulless! ;-)
Regards,
Tim Parker ... McClelland's: #2010 Classic Flake in a basket billiard
--
"To take from one, because it is thought his own industry and that of
his fathers has acquired too much, in order to spare others who have not
exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first
principle of association: the guarantee to everyone the free exercise of
his industry and the fruits acquired by it." - Thomas Jefferson.
Jeff Folloder (TES)
> My 'collection' consists mainly of machine-made pipes, therefore it is
> *I* who imbue each of my pipes with soul. My old briar friends, who
> have seen me through thick and thin, who have accompanied me on tours
> through the ages of human history and literature, or on virtual voyages
> across thousands of light years in my imagination, are *not* soulless! ;-)
Well put... I guess I am lazy. I like my pipes pre-filled with soul.
And maybe some rhythm and blues...
Mike Stanley
"Jeff Folloder (TES)" <je...@folloder.com> wrote in message
news:6PidnQ8rYKfWZ4bX...@posted.oplink...
Jeff;
What about those Dunhill 5102s and Dukes?
Mike Stanley
Richard Evans
of those are Boswells with a couple of Nordings. I buy them because
they have character (not soul) and I've not paid over $150 for one.
Most are in the $60 - $120 range.
I might go as high as $200 for an exceptional one, but for the most
part I'd rather have three new pipes for that price than just one.
Jeff Folloder (TES)
> Jeff;
> What about those Dunhill 5102s and Dukes?
> Mike Stanley
>
>
You're about the 20th person to ask! I'm keeping those sets since I put
so much effort into building them. The others have been undergoing a
slow winnowing.
Mike Stanley
Oh it wan't in inquiry to buy Jeff. It was a serious question. I know you
spent quite alot of time and effort building that collection. I feel much
the same way you do. I have taken far more enjoyment in making my own pipes
than I ever did in smokng the finest factory made pipe I ever possessed. I
doubt very much I'll ever be able to have the finaces to buy pipes by
Talbert or Jody Davis or the many Danish artisans. I should include Michael
Lindner and Roush and Butera in there too to be fair. That being said, I
know that, even with my limited talent and experience, I find a little
"soul" in each of these pipes I make and smoke. And, I'm quite sure that
folks like those mentioned above put a little of their heart and soul into
their pieces. as well as a substantial amount of talent combined with the
finest raw materials.
My question is do you find these Dunhills *never* had "soul" or did that
become apparent after smoking some of the wonderful artisans in your
collection?
I've had a couple of Dunhills in my day and I never felt they smoked any
better or worse than a mid range GBD personally. I don't think I'm alone
when I say that much of Dunhill is marketing. And, I don't think marketing
gives "soul" of anything more than image.
Kind of hard to explain.
Mike Stanley
mingk...@aol.com
> "Jeff Folloder (TES)" <j...@folloder.com> wrote in messagenews:VaOdneRJx8K7toHX...@posted.oplink...
>
> - Show quoted text -
Mike, Jeff, I think that once you get to know the men/women who make
these pipes you do indeed see them in their work. We come to recognize
their hand, their style, and their vision, and we can't help but
relate that to the men/women who make them, folks who are our friends.
That aspect is very important to me. It isn't necessarily anything
concrete that I can always, if ever, put my finger on, but is is a
very real aspect of the enjoyment of the pipe for some of us. Price
may or may not be high, but being a handmade object, it often is on
the higher end, at least at retail, and fif it wasn't a gift.
Art
Mike Stanley
<mingk...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:bb5b7871-154a-4bb2...@c9g2000yqm.googlegroups.com...
On May 26, 2:13?pm, "Mike Stanley" <mstanl...@neo.rr.com> wrote:
> "Jeff Folloder (TES)" <j...@folloder.com> wrote in
> messagenews:VaOdneRJx8K7toHX...@posted.oplink...
>
>
>
>
>
> > Mike Stanley wrote:
>
> >> Jeff;
> >> What about those Dunhill 5102s and Dukes?
> >> Mike Stanley
>
> > You're about the 20th person to ask! I'm keeping those sets since I put
> > so
Art
I agree Art. It's so subjective...what "floats one's boat" But something
made by hand seems to "work" for me. It's not something easily compaired or
contrasted in simple words. Maybe it's just as simple as knowing the origin
and the history of an item. Especially something so personal as a pipe, or a
tamper.
Mike Stanley
Jeff Folloder (TES)
> My question is do you find these Dunhills *never* had "soul" or did that
> become apparent after smoking some of the wonderful artisans in your
> collection?
The Dunhills and other machine made pipes that I have owned were just
fine, but I never made that connection as I have done with pipes made by
folks I know. It just *feels* better.
Mike Stanley
Makes sense to me.
Mike Stanley
>
Jeff Folloder (TES)
> On Tue, 26 May 2009 14:42:01 -0400, "Mike Stanley"
> <msta...@neo.rr.com> wrote:
>
>
>>Mike, Jeff, I think that once you get to know the men/women who make
>>these pipes you do indeed see them in their work.
>
>
>
How else do you think Trever makes his red stain???
Mark McKay
"NFW"....I have one...Tinsky worth every penny...have a nice core of
reasonable "machine made" pipes...so I put the SHMBO on notice...she
will now be buying me "expensive" pipes for my birthday and
Christmas...lol...we will see how that works out....maybe I'll use
Jeff's soul thing on her....I can see her eye's rolling now....anyway
Jeff...I get what your saying...prob gonna start leaning that way
myself...might just be a thing with the hobby....as you grow into
it...you want more...I have come light years in 6 short months...and I
still don't know much....:)
Joe
> Briarroot wrote:
>
>> My 'collection' consists mainly of machine-made pipes, therefore it is
>> *I* who imbue each of my pipes with soul. My old briar friends, who
>> have seen me through thick and thin, who have accompanied me on tours
>> through the ages of human history and literature, or on virtual voyages
>> across thousands of light years in my imagination, are *not* soulless! ;-)
>
> Well put... I guess I am lazy. I like my pipes pre-filled with soul.
> And maybe some rhythm and blues...
>
;-)
Ya Know, I prefer hand-made pipes, too. Most of mine are of that Ilk,
but I don't have a lot of expensive pipes. I guess expensive is a bit
of a relative term, but you can get a handmade Tinsky or Rad, or a
Boswell for that matter, for a pretty fair price.
I also prefer to buy pipes from the folks I "know". While I've not
met any of them, I have spoken to the Boswells, and I am trying to get
a collection together with pipes from every pipemaker that posts here
(not just ads, but their personality, their soul, so to speak.)
I might be considered strange (almost a guarantee), but If I suddenly
had a couple grand earmarked for pipe purchases, I'd buy a pile of
Tinskys, Rads, Geigers, and so on, before I'd even consider buying a
single Eltang or pretty much any of the great Danes... Sure the
pipes are beautiful, but they don't have that extra bit for me...
And thanks, Jeff. IMO, this is a good topic. Much better than
"mid-afternoon, before dinner but after nap smoke", or whatever is
posted 25 times a day... ;-)
--
Joe - Linux User #449481/Ubuntu User #19733
joe at hits - buffalo dot com
"Hate is baggage, life is too short to go around pissed off all the
time..." - Danny, American History X
Briarroot
> Briarroot wrote:
>
>> My 'collection' consists mainly of machine-made pipes, therefore it is
>> *I* who imbue each of my pipes with soul. My old briar friends, who
>> have seen me through thick and thin, who have accompanied me on tours
>> through the ages of human history and literature, or on virtual
>> voyages across thousands of light years in my imagination, are *not*
>> soulless! ;-)
>
> Well put... I guess I am lazy. I like my pipes pre-filled with soul. And
> maybe some rhythm and blues...
>
But certainly... no funk!
<ducks>
Regards,
Tim Parker ... Gawith-Hoggarth: Scotch Flake in a basket billiard
--
"The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of the blessings.
The inherent blessing of socialism is the equal sharing of misery." -
Winston Churchill
mingk...@aol.com
> On Tue, 26 May 2009 14:42:01 -0400, "Mike Stanley"
>
> >Mike, Jeff, I think that once you get to know the men/women who make
> >these pipes you do indeed see them in their work.
>
Amen to that, it happened to me yesterday. 36 grit with a razor sharp
edge moving at 3400 rpm will quarantee that. I have a pair of Kevalr
gloves that I had to use when starting out with this tool that have
the fingertips torn off by hits.
And that leads to one other thing, and that is watching someone as
they progress over the years, watching their work refine and style
develop. Heck, anyone who has been around ASP for a good while had a
front row seat to that watching Rad grow in his craft. I've always
said that the process is as important as the result, and when you
witness the process the result can come to have more meaning...or
not. That's the great part of this pursuit, as Mike Stanley said,
it's all so subjective. There's no right or wrong, and the
opportunity to share what floats our boat, as Jeff and others have
done, and what we do every day here at ASP and at other forums, is
also a good part of the experience.
Art
nick.m.c...@gmail.com
freind. Be it an expensive pipe or a cheapee. Its like taking home a
piece of that person and being able to converse with them whenever you
feel like it. To me, each pipe has a soul or a song. Some are more
strongly felt, others have just a whisper. Having said that, i can
hear of feel that presence in a pipe made by some one whom I know.
The connection between pipe and me is stronger when i can think on the
person who made it and hear his or her words in my head.
Having said that, I'll readily admit that most of my pipes are in the
"expensive" range. Perhaps not all, but most of 'em are.
Perhaps we simply project the good feelings we have for the maker onto
a particular pipe. I really don't know. The results are the same
though. A pipe made by a friend, feels like a friend. And that's
more than enough for me.