2007 The Year in Pipes - & new pipes
eng...@sympatico.ca
I trust everybody had a great Holiday season. And now to my annual
year in pipe report.
This past year the, 2007, the pipe shows were all over the map. St,
Louis, was certainly down and a shrinking show. The New York March
show was fairly quiet and this past December show cast doubts as to
its future viability. I don't think the non-smoking in the main hall
is the only reason for NY shows downward spiral. It needs some solid
promotion. There are certainly lots of pipe smokers amongst the 15
million people living in the area.
Chicago was one of the busiest and best Chicago's ever. Milwaukee a
small but solid show is always a pleasure and Columbus was certainly a
busy show in 2007. What 2008 will bring for Columbus with some smoking
restrictions I will not hazard a guess, except to surmise that I think
Columbus will remain one of the must shows for the aficionados.
Richmond this past year, I did not attend, but from all reports, I
heard it was fairly quiet. It has not been a robust show for many
years now. Kansas City seems to go from strength to strength. And its
future growth will be interesting. So, we have a mixed bag of the
state of pipe shows. The why's of them are almost imponderable. I
think overall, the key is promotion and the front line for promotion
is the local retailers getting the word out. If the local B&M's don't
spread the word then a show has little chance of success. We can
contrast St. Louis and Kansas City, as the two cities are only 2 hrs
apart by car. St. Louis is pretty much in a downward spiral and Kansas
City is upward. At Kansas City, there are lots of local retailers who
support the show. In St. Louis, they are near invisible. So overall, I
conclude that it is up to the local pipe club, to make sure the local
B&M's are on side.
Pipe wise- British pipes continue to hold their own, with Dunhill,
Ferndown and Ashton being the most prominent among the quality makers.
Ian Walkers Northern Briars, a newer maker, is steadily building a
solid reputation and if anything they are under priced for the quality
of briar, workmanship and smokability. Upshall another quality British
pipe is basically not marketed and its owner, Moti, runs it as hobby.
That is a shame as they are good pipes, albeit somewhat overpriced.
Italian pipes are in a peculiar position. Many once vibrant brands are
fading or dying, examples are Don Carlos, Il Ceppo and Viprati. Ser
Jacopo once a premium brand is now a discounted line. Even though for
all the previous there is nothing wrong with their quality. While
Castello goes from strength to strength and Cavicchi less well known,
hold their own nicely. Some of the aforementioned fading Italian
makers have become stale, with nothing new in shapes or finishes &
that probably accounts for much of their decline. Also, young Italians
are not going into the pipe making trade. Presumably, like many
Europeans, they prefer to be bureaucrats for the EU. One cannot blame
the rising Euro for it all.
The Danish pipe makers on the upper end continue to have a loyal
following and they keep coming up with new ideas. The 2dn grade Danish
makers seem to be fading while a rising young star like Lasse
Skovgaard keeps improving & his following is growing. The German pipe
makers, who are in many ways akin to the Danes, have a steady
following. When we see the new pipe maker Frank Axmacher, who has some
real originality to his designs without veering off into the weird, it
is encouraging.
The American pipemakers are all over the map. I include Canada with
the USA. Larry Roush, one of the most original makers anywhere
continues to sell his pipes as soon as they are made, and JT Cooke
can't keep up with demand. His sandblasts are probably the best there
are. While other makers sell well, Rad Davis and Jody Davis for
instance, but others I think, as indicated at Kansas City, where some
didn't sell a single pipe, have become a bit overpriced. Up in the
North, Colm Magner has vanished from pipe making, which is a shame,
John Calich keeps turning them out and Michael Parks is busy, albeit
some of his recent pipes are somewhat bizarre to my taste. Overall,
there seems a trend to simpler less complicated shapes in pipes.
Classic British shapes and tasteful continental variations there off.
So many pipe smokers seem to be in search of the perfect smoke. Some
mythical Holy Grail combination of a brand or make of pipe with a
particular tobacco that will give the perfect smoke. I don't believe
there isn't such a thing. They key is very simple. A good quality pipe
with the best tobacco you can lay your hands on. Any pipe is improved
by quality tobacco. And you smoke will be affected but what you last
are and/or drank, or are drinking while you smoke. If you are smoking
a quality pipe with fine tobacco but drinking some cheap second rate
coffee, e.g. Tim Horton's, at the same time, don't expect a good
smoke.
Tobacco Wise - well we have suffered over a year of Dunhill being made
by Orlick and it certainly isn't the same pipe fuel it was. Hopefully
it will improve. McClelland brought out their Grand Orientals that I,
and others, found somewhat lacking in character. This surprised me as
McClelland's makes many fine tobaccos that I enjoy. C&D keeps bringing
out new blends; they have over 200 blends available, and have moved to
they terrific new premises. So, some growth in the business is good to
see.
Overall, the dark maniac forces gained in the anti smoking campaign
and their pro nanny statism, but we seem to be holding our own, so
far.
On-line tobacco sales. As many of you know we were cut off from
processing MasterCard with 15" notice. They told me that it was
because we were selling tobacco on-line. Even though it was clearly
stated what we sold when we signed up with them 6 years ago. After
many, too many, talks with the CC processors, I got the real story.
When tobacco began to be sold from Indian reservations, states and
provinces quickly noticed a drop in the amount of sales tax they
collected. So, they encouraged the anti-smoking lobbies to pressure
the credit card companies. The ostensible reason was that minors were
ordering cigarettes on-line. Even though, I was told, the amount was
miniscule regarding minors. The result was on-line sales of tobacco
were no longer honoured by MasterCard, Visa it depends on the issuing
bank, so far. The exceptions are sites that are part of a B&M. And
that is only because they can't tell whether a sale originates from
the physical shop or the site. MasterCard told me that soon they will
be able to tell the difference with some new algorithms, particularly
with the new no swipe cards, and then no on-line credit card purchase
of tobacco will be possible. But the same credit card issuers are only
to happy to honor on-line processing for any kind of pornography. So,
in essence it has nothing to do with health issues. It has all to do
with governments making the number of places you can smoke and or buy
tobacco fewer and fewer while at the same time making sure they
collect every tobacco tax dollar they can. Talk about hypocrisy.
Fortunately, we have a new credit card processor in place and will, as
soon as the new shopping cart is installed, will be able to accept
MasterCard, VISA, Amex and Discover, but for tobacco on-line only
VISA. We can now accept telephone orders for all cards.
On a more humorous note, we got new sofa and it came with a warning
that when smoking I should be careful not to set it on fire. As "
upholstery can burn rapidly and give off toxic gas and thick smoke".
Also, "keep children away from matches and lighters". So, I will, of
course be extremely careful, when lighting my Castello with a blow
torch not to set it or myself on fire. Is their some general
presumption among the mass population that all smokers are idiots? If
so, then I guess Einstein, Eisenhower, Bing Crosby, Jacques Cousteau
etc. were all misguided fools, and only non-smokers are intelligent.
(My rant for the week).
I would like to wish you all health, happiness and a prosperous 2008.
New In Pipes - This week we added some more fabulous Castellos
including some fine smaller ones, an Old Antiquari KK, a stubby
Billiard Castello KKKK and Sea Rock KKK.
Ferndown - we got in some more this week including 2 very rare 1*
Barks. I haven't had any 1* for over a year. Les Wood told me there
are very few small blocks left in his stock and as he plans to retire
in a few years, he isn't buying any more wood. So, 1* barks will get
even scarcer.
Ashton - it's been a while since we had new Ashton's and we added a
dozen new ones. All are drilled correctly and it's a good variety,
including a wonderful LX Sea Urchin, a Calabash, a panelled bent
Bulldog and more.
London Castle - G. Huybrecht - we got in a few of the last of these no
longer made pipes. We have around two dozen bowls left in England to
be stained and stemmed. So very soon we will come to end of the 90
year old make. With no more ever available. If you want a smaller
older style English pipe from Algerian briar, with no fills, then
these are for you.
Smoke Well
Be Well
mark tinsky
Maxim
You are fuck'n Bonehead! Can t you put the add prefix in your
thinly disguised advertising bullshit. You should be banned, kill filed
excommunicated, drawn and quatered and drug thru the mud. MT
max s
I thought I was the only one who didn't like him.
max
davesix...@yahoo.com
Be nice, anyone who takes the time to pen and post their thoughts on
this troll infested dying site should be welcomed. This site was the
go to place for info. Perhaps AD: would have been in order, but any
post other than 46 degrees, smoking such n such in a this and that,
drinking coffee or the AD: crappy overpriced pipes and ugly tampers is
most welcome. You need not agree with every thought but the man
supports the shows and has a pretty good idea what's happening in pipe
world. His Compton's tobac I've tried is very good stuff. Art forgot
an AD: on his post too. 10 degrees on the big river tonight Royal
Warrant EMP in Castello. Wine
Joe
>
> Be nice, anyone who takes the time to pen and post their thoughts on
> this troll infested dying site should be welcomed. This site was the
> go to place for info. Perhaps AD: would have been in order, but any
This is not a "site". It is a newsgroup.
> post other than 46 degrees, smoking such n such in a this and that,
> drinking coffee or the AD: crappy overpriced pipes and ugly tampers is
> most welcome. You need not agree with every thought but the man
> supports the shows and has a pretty good idea what's happening in pipe
> world. His Compton's tobac I've tried is very good stuff. Art forgot
> an AD: on his post too. 10 degrees on the big river tonight Royal
> Warrant EMP in Castello. Wine
Forgetting an AD: here and there is understandable. Never using it is
just ignoring the etiquette of the group. And personally, I won't buy
from someone that advertises here but doesn't participate, ever. That
makes it spam, IMO.
--
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
davesix...@yahoo.com
Joe
What profile?
Piperest
Puffer
at 2 shows. He always has a great presentation and is always knowledgeable
and professional. I personally think he has a true passion for pipes and is
an asset in an age where all of us who carve, trade, sell, wheel or deal,
etc, etc, need to work together against the anti smoking movement.
<eng...@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:6f9957ac-2466-4af7...@z17g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
Briarroot
> On 2008-01-26, davesix...@yahoo.com <davesix...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> Look at his profile
>
> What profile?
>
Dave63 is a Google Goof (tm), not that there's anything *wrong* with
that. ;-)
He probably thinks this is a web "site" and sees it infested with
trolls. Those who understand what a Usenet newsgroup is, use
newsreaders with filters that can eliminate 99% of the actual trolls and
any off-topic subjects which they find displeasing. Dave also seems to
think this "site" is dying, but over the past seven years I have seen
this newsgroup being continually being reborn with an influx of new pipe
smokers, many of whom have become regular participants.. ASP is dead,
long live ASP! <chuckle>
As for Maxim Engel, he may be a great guy and a wonderful representative
for our hobby, but he *has* been known to harvest email addresses from
ASP to send unsolicited advertising. I don't happen to mind those
emails since they've always been about pipes and tobacco and they've
sometimes even contained show reports. Others however, may have taken
offense at being added to his mailing list without their permission. In
any case, such behavior *is* considered bad netiquette and is a minor
abuse. Tsk, tsk!
There are several individuals or businesses who seldom or never post
anything except advertising. I don't consider this spamming as long as
their ads are topical, they don't post too frequently, and they respect
the conventions by using the 'AD' prefix. YMMV
Regards,
Tim Parker ... GH Scotch Flake in a basket billiard
--
"Any attempt to replace a personal conscience by a collective conscience
does
violence to the individual and is the first step toward
totalitarianism." - Herman Hesse
Brian Barcus
>
> any off-topic subjects which they find displeasing. Dave also seems to
> think this "site" is dying, but over the past seven years I have seen
> this newsgroup being continually being reborn with an influx of new pipe
> smokers, many of whom have become regular participants.. ASP is dead,
> long live ASP! <chuckle>
>
The traffic level is just enough to keep it interesting without being
impossible to keep up. My own participation is spotty but I do read at
least once a week. Even with years of puffing behind me I still learn
new things here.
> There are several individuals or businesses who seldom or never post
> anything except advertising. I don't consider this spamming as long as
> their ads are topical, they don't post too frequently, and they respect
> the conventions by using the 'AD' prefix. YMMV
>
I'll second that too. (Damn, I am starting to sound like the old AOL
"me too" newbies). Most of the time I like to skip the advertising but
occasionally it is fun to shop. Well behaved advertisers never bother me.
--
"But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty
gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg."
-- Thomas Jefferson, 1782
eng...@sympatico.ca
I wonder if you would be a better pipe maker if you spent more time
making pipes instead of being the ill mannered, officious, self
appointed morality police officer of the ASP.
Maxim
mingk...@aol.com
Yes, possibly for only the second time in almost ten years.
There is a difference between forgetting it and ignoring it.
Art
Scott Curtis
>> Email Address Harvesting Wise - well we have suffered over a year of Dunhill being made
>> Buggery - This week we added some more fabulous Castellos
>> including some fine smaller ones, an Old Antiquari KK, a stubby
>> Billiard Castello KKKK and Sea Rock KKK.
>>
>> Spammer - we got in some more this week including 2 very rare 1*
>> Barks. I haven't had any 1* for over a year. Les Wood told me there
>> are very few small blocks left in his stock and as he plans to retire
>> in a few years, he isn't buying any more wood. So, 1* barks will get
>> even scarcer.
>>
>> Bullshit - it's been a while since we had new Ashton's and we added a
>> dozen new ones. All are drilled correctly and it's a good variety,
>> including a wonderful LX Sea Urchin, a Calabash, a panelled bent
>> Bulldog and more.
>>
>> Wanker - G. Huybrecht - we got in a few of the last of these no
>> longer made pipes. We have around two dozen bowls left in England to
>> be stained and stemmed. So very soon we will come to end of the 90
>> year old make. With no more ever available. If you want a smaller
>> older style English pipe from Algerian briar, with no fills, then
>> these are for you.
>>
>> Smoke Well
>> Expect some spam to hit your email tomorrow.
>>
>> Maximhttp://www.pipes2smoke.com
>
>I wonder if you would be a better pipe maker if you spent more time
>making pipes instead of being the ill mannered, officious, self
>appointed morality police officer of the ASP.
>
>Maxim
I think it's very amusing that you quoted your entire original post
while responding to Mark who quoted nothing form the original post.
I'm just sure you wanted to make sure your AD got read in case
somebody missed it the first time.
MCS
Nick
around here.
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