Recently, I contacted American pipe maker Steve Weiner and asked him to provide some personal background. He obliged with the following: I started smoking a pipe in 1979, and began collecting shortly thereafter. My tastes ran mostly towards the Italians; Ascorti, Jacopo, Castello, etc. Eventually, I ran across the pipes of Mike Butera, and got to know Mike a little at pipe shows. Mike was the first pipemaker I had ever met, and I began to pick his brain about how pipes are made. In 1989, I inherited some tools and equipment from my grandfather. This inheritance, along with the information I had gotten from Mike, gave me the urge to try my hand at making my own pipes. I worked at it for a while, and then in August of 1990, I flew to Houston and spent a day with Mike in his workshop. This proved to be an extremely valuable experience, and I will always be indebted to Mike for sharing his knowledge with me. I have been making pipes full time since January, 1997 and I attempt to make 200 to 250 pipes per year. Most of my pipes are sold through shops and at shows, but I'm always happy to deal direct with anyone who wishes to contact me. Right now I am working mostly with Italian plateau briar, but I'll use Grecian, Corsican, etc. when I can get good pieces. I use black Lucite stems almost exclusively, with the occasional white lucite and vulcanite cumberland thrown in. I treat the unfinished pipe after it has been drilled to help remove any remaining resins. This process, along with the pre-carbonized bowl, helps the pipe break in quickly.
Part Two: Tom McCranie.
In a letter received a short time ago, Tom McCranie, owner of the pipe Mecca known as McCranie's Pipe Shop, was kind enough to share a few thoughts about his life as a pipe smoker and as a shop owner. Tom is retired now, but is still keenly interested in the shop, which is now managed by his able sons. He told me he began smoking a pipe at age 14, just because he wanted to. His first tobacco was Half and Half. He recalled that his mother confiscated his pipes after she found out he was smoking. She told him she'd give them back when he turned 21, which she did--but Tom had acquired others long before then. Both Tom's sons smoke pipes and started solely because they really wanted to. Tom said he had wanted to do something different with his life ever since he was in his twenties, but wasn't sure what that would be; he knew he wanted to accomplish something before he turned 40, though. He became a builder because his father was one. Over a 15 year period, Tom built 150 commercial structures in Florida. But that promise he'd made himself kept at him--he didn't know he's end up establishing one of the most respected pipe shops in the country, but he knew it was getting to be time for a change. At 38, Tom quit the building business and opened a pipe shop. He moved his family to Charlotte, NC. Tom had a rough time of it the first five years and didn't make one cent most days, and maybe $20.00 on another day. Yet he knew he would eventually succeed and have a good shop. Tom doesn't view the 70's as the Golden Age of pipe smoking, as some people do, but feels the late 50's and early 60's deserve this description. And Tom thinks another golden age is coming, indeed, is almost upon us. He sees a steady increase in pipe popularity starting now and moving well past 2000. Tom favors the European pipe makers and thinks they will always be the best. Tom concluded his remarks by stating that he views his pipes as good friends; he says he will continue to enjoy the art of pipe smoking. And anyone who has had the god fortune of meeting tom McCranie, even for a brief period, hopes he stays around to enjoy those pipes for many years to come.
Part Three: Sam Learned; Highlights from Sam Learned, Custom Pipemaker.
Our current hardcopy newsletter carries a lengthy piece by pipemaker Sam Learned which is an excellent story, particularly when it comes to describing his "apprenticeship."
Sam credits Jim Margroum for "training" him, Ed Burak fior offering practical advice, and fellow carvers Chenowitsch, Ivarsson, and Taylor for inspiration; he also gives appreciation to fellow Americans Tinsky, West, Weiner, and Mickles for their friendship and encouragement. This surprises no one who has met Sam, as I have on a few occasions, and through email sessions; he's the kind of guy who always gives credit where credit is due. And that leads me to his wife, Colleen who, along with his pipemaking skill, is his best asset. Travelling companion, fellow show participant, website maintainer, and Sam's number one fan, Colleen is one of he friendliest people you'll ever meet. Sam mentions his Danish and Italian Horn Style pipes, his freehands, and his Mules as pipes he's proud to offer the public. I have two of his pipes, and they're great.
Sam was an attorney in York, PA--and still practices--when he became interested in pipemaking, and if his caseload is light these days, it is the pipe buying public who gain by it. Sam's philosophy about pipemaking, pipe smokers, and people in general is summed up in a paraphrase of the final paragraph of his piece: The most important thing I have learned in making pipes is that each pipe smoker is as different as the briar wood from which pipes are made; the important thing for each smoker--and therefore to me--is that quality that makes an individual's pipe special to him, something comfortable and cherished, to warm his heart and hand, and bring forth the fragrance and glow of a favorite tobacco. Creating such objects is what pipe making is all about.
Part Four: Colleen Learned
I’ve been asked to write about what it’s like to be the wife of a pipe maker who travels from pipe show to pipe show. I better start off by admitting that I really like “pipe people,” so it should not be surprising that I enjoy our trips. Sometimes I’m flummoxed with the preparation and travel, but I always enjoy helping Sam and meeting new people. Ok, so sometimes I forget what pipe show I’m driving to, and occasionally I forget to pack a pipe up in a toeless sock of Sam’s for safe transit. (I have started to wonder if some of the aura of buying a Samuel Learned Pipe doesn’t have something to do with the socks?) This year we attended six shows. We live in York, PA and we drove to all six. The furthest away was Nashville. That was two overnights each way.
The Columbus show was one overnight and one blow out. I remember shows not so much by the city as I do by the events, the people, and the pipes we say goodbye to. We rarely get to explore the city. I even forget what city we are in some times. I attribute my forgetfulness to the scientific fact that pipe shows induce Pipe Show Syndrome, referred to as PSS. PSS is recognizable by bleary red eyes, a fuzzy head, and sore feet. First signs of PSS occur, for me, after about six hours of inhaling multiple aromas of pipe smoke and telling each smoker how wonderful it is as you peer at him or her though the thickening haze. Your ankles begin to swell, your throat begins to close, yours eyes get red, thinking is dulled and you get a glazed look about you. It’s great. You just kind of float along with a smile after it sets in I first became aware of PSS when, after the end of the second day at a show, we packed up, and went outside in the fresh air and sunshine. It was startling. As the fresh air begins to clear your mind you start emerge from PSS and recognize you are no longer in Kansas. Perhaps some of you recognize this condition?
What is Sam like before a show? HYPERTENSIVE. He has a passion about making his pipes. Pipes evolve out of the wood that Sam picks up. He carressingly carves them out. His pipes are not chunky or cut out of a mold. They do not come about from a series of predetermined steps. They emerge from the grain and from his feelings. He might be a little (I'll use the "O" word) obsessive about the whole thing. They must feel right. Yet, technically each pipe is perfectly made, drilled with the 5/32nd air whole. Stem is meticulously worked to complement the pipe. The finish takes about a zillion "top secret" buffing techniques. So, before a show he critiques each pipe from every angle relentlessly. He doesn't sleep as much as I would like. He drives himself. He loves pipe making and wants the most satisfied customers in the industry. He is murder to live with. I love him, what can I say. Once we are on the road Sam then decides to sleep. Hence, I drive. I have the blow- outs; I sing to myself, listen to tapes, arrive dead tired and he looks fresh and rested. Ah, the life of a pipe maker’s wife.
This pipe business is so much in our blood that we nearly had our honeymoon at one of the shows. We were married just before the Columbus show. We zoomed out to Washington State, Sam's birth state. We were married and zoomed back to Columbus to attend the show. This show is always a favorite of ours. So, it was only fitting that we spend part of our honeymoon there. Occasionally, I will be asked where does Sam get his inspiration for pipe designs? I think he is always thinking about pipes. As a for instance, he woke up at 3:30 a.m. two days ago, and went down to his shop and came up at 7:30 with a beautiful "Millennium" pipe. We had been talking about designing a series of pipes to welcome in the new era and he had been shaping up a piece. He had gotten the style so far and stopped but when the final inspiration hit him at 3:30 he responded and off to the shop he went. By the way, it looks something like a Klingon battle cruiser from the Star Trek series. I scanned it into our website, if you want to take a look.
http://members.aol.com/SamTobias/index.html
So, as you might guess, our days and nights our occasionally interrupted by the calls of creativity. When Sam is inspired he works non-stop. I bring down the coffee and take his pulse every once in a while to be sure he is still ok, but otherwise, I think it's important to let the pipe be his priority. In closing I can say this, if Sam's hands are going to be wrapped around anything other than me, I'm glad it's a piece of briar wood!
Part Five: Patrick Callaghan.
We received this piece from Patrick Callaghan, owner of John's pipe Shop in Urbama, Ill, and it offers some interesting insights. We are an old fashioned pipeshop, a little cluttered, a bit eccentric, somewhat inefficient, but with a good helping of character, and characters. We stock over 3,ooo pipes at any one time, with 1,000 or so used re-conditioned “Estate Pipes”...in our collection. We keep everything from clay pipes at $3.95 through $2,000 rare handmade briars, with a grand variety of handcarved meerschaums in between. We have a “kapnismologist”, historian, poet, city councilman, on staff, a splendid fellow that can discuss the lineage of almost every pipe in the shop. I was sent to New York when I started here 26 years ago and trained as a tobacconist under the late Milt Sherman’s instruction (Author of “All About Tobacco”... no longer in print unfortunately. We still custom blend a fine selection of private mixtures, and Mike’s working on a close clone of Sobranie’s old #759 that we’re getting rave reviews on but unfortunately we can’t make enough of yet, due to scarcity of aged virginias and the time it takes to blend and wed in small batches. I’m a member of the two major retail tobacco trade associations, the RTDA and TAA, which has afforded me the opportunity to meet and make friends with some of the top people in the business....pipe makers, cigar makers, tobacco producers, from all over the world...and many of them have visited our shop on their travels through the U.S...and hare a pint or two. We’re on a college campus, so we have the usual assortment of academics that frequent our “philosophy boutique”. I’ve been a police officer for 15 years and this brings in a cross section of the law enforcement and law breaking community, cops, lawyers, judges, parolees, etc. (I recall one time a customer came in for advice to find out why a policeman was looking for him...it turned out that I was the policeman....problem solved...successfull arrest!) We suffer very little shoplifting. A cigar aficionado marketing Professor has joined our staff during this cigar craze...it’s interesting to see us “discovered” after stocking the world’s greatest legal cigars all these years. We were originally part of the Friedman Klinge Cigar Corporation started early this century...I bought this shop from Mr. Klinge’s son-in-law Gene Globig and the shop was named after Mr. Klinge’s grandson, Jon Globig. (ironically Jon decided to choose Forestry in Alaska rather than the tobacco business and I was originally a Forestry Major here at the University before I chose the tobacco business and graduated with an Econ degree in LAS) We still have the finest selection of handmade cigars most of our customers have ever seen...I’ve been to the Dominican Republic and visited the major cigar factories and learned to roll a cigar at the Kelner factory that makes Davidoff’s...but I wouldn’t qualify as even an apprentice grade roller by anyone’s standard. So although we don’t handmake pipes or cigars on premises, we do appreciate the skills of those who do, and love to savor the benefits of their labors in our behalf...and share these discoveries with both those new to the joys of tobacco in it’s properly respected forms, and those “in the know” already. (Doesn't it sound ideal? What a spot for a pipe shop--good smoking, good company, a little culture. Ed.)
Part Six: Holger Frickert.
Holger Frickert, born 1949, first made aquaintance with pipe smoking in the mid-sixties during his frequent holiday stays in Denmark, and very soon he started his creative work on pipes by reshaping the ones he had purchased chnaging their appearance to his own taste. Leaving school in 1968 he took up studies to become a dentist. After some terms of study he met Mr. Behrens, owner of the small mail order company DAN PIPE, supplying various handmade pipes they imported from Denmark, among them famous names such as Former or Emil Chonowitsch. This contact would soon be causing a change in Holger Frickert's life, when in 1978 he joined the DAN PIPE. His main task beside managing the sales in both retail shop and mail order division was to plan and to publish their annual pipe and tobacco catalogue including such creative jobs as arranging the picture displays, layouts and writing the catalogue text. Besides he still found time to work on pipes, first doing various repair jobs and finally, having bought some useful machinery, creating his own pipe shapes. Some „lessons" in the pipe workshops of artists like Former, Poul Hansen and Emil Chonowitsch helped him to soon become fit in these skills. His pipe creations were first sold under the name „Handcut by Holger" in the DAN PIPE retail shop only, and as there was a very positive response from the customers, DAN PIPE decided to present his pipes in their 1984 catalogue. Since that time pipes „Handcut by Holger" have found more and more friends among distinctive pipe smokers in Germany and, in the meantime, also worldwide. Holger Frickert is most fond of „classic" shapes following the „english" style, but he also likes the „danish" way of modernizing theses shapes into contemporary designs. He take great care in creating well-balanced shapes, of course still trying to achieve a good balance of shape and grain. But still he takes great care in the aspects of functional parametres such as width of the tobacco hole, thickness of the wood both of bowl and stem, free draught and comfortable bits of the mouthpiece. For, what good is a pipe with the most excellent grain and perfect shape if the simplest of technical aspects have been neglected in favour of mere beauty. In the meantime Holger Frickert has created a large number of interesting shapes, and many of them have also made their way into other producer's ranges such as Lorenzetti, Bartoli, Ser Jacopo and even Stanwell of Denmark. Through all those years briar pipes „Handcut by Holger" have been approved by many „real" pipe smokers who highly appreciate both excellent smoking qualities and harmonious designs.
Part Seven: Martin McGahey.
Some of you may have run across the name of this gentleman while cruising
the Internet. This is a brief letter we received from him recently:
Ron at Pipe and Pouch asked me to pen a few thoughts on my business
for your newsletter, here goes. Our family business was established
in 1880; since that date there have been three generations of McGahey's
at the Helm. The current owner Martin McGahey joined the firm in 1973.
At that time we had a large presence in the city of Exeter with four shops. As trade changed we moved with
current trends and shrank our operation to the main shop at 245 High
street. The shop is a traditional specialist tobacconist with weighing
scales for loose tobacco, complete selection of tobacco products
and all smokers requirements. Mail order has always been an important
part of our business. Exeter is a tourist destination, so many people
who visit then require items sent on. Now thanks to the advent of
e.mail, this service can be conducted anywhere in the world. This
world wide market goes from Dunhill pipes to Falcon pipes, English
blends to English twists and from Snuff to Cigars. Over the years
we have seen many changes in the UK trade. Various strands of the
business have improved, fallen away and then improved again. Pipes
had their day, so did Zippo lighters and Cigars. Currently in the
UK there is a huge market in Handrolling. This market is fueled by
smuggled cheaper tobacco from the continent and general economy measures.
My business endeavors to concentrate on riding these peaks!
Regards, Martin. The Tobacconist,245 High Street,Exeter, Devon, Ex4
3Nz tel 01392 496111...fax 01392 496113