Smoker's Print

Another one of our cousins sent me this great old print. What a cool "smoking station".  If I had room in my house I think I would try to make one. -T

Merry Christmas!

Happy Holidays to Everyone from the cousins!

Happy Solstice!

Starting to look like Christmas!

A couple of San Francisco '35s heading to new homes.

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Enrique B-Day Pipe

I'll use any excuse to get another David Enrique pipe- This time I had to turn another year older, but it was worth it. -T

Thanks

So much to be thankful for on this day- family, friends, health, good food - an abundance that I don't have the skill or grace to properly relate, so I'll go small and express my thanks for this 10 year old McClelland Navy Cavendish I opened last night. This is a tobacco I have loved for many years and it just gets better w/ age. A really nice mellow smoke for this day of thanks. -T

The Contraption

The Contraption is what my wife calls this. I was thinking "Smoking Stand" or "Chairside Companion", but she may be right. It has a sort of Berlin 1957 office look to it. Mark and I have talked about a smoking stand for 4 or 5 years, but we never came up with the perfect design. I thought I had it. I sketched a cool Craftsman-looking piece of furniture and started to build it ... then I quickly saw that what I drew would not work in a 3 dimensional world. On the fly I made changes and then more changes until The Contraption appeared. Not something I will attempt to sell. Instead I believe I'll keep it for myself and continue thinking about the Perfect Smoking Stand. -T

In Time for the Holidays!

Another batch of pipe racks heading to Smokingpipes.com  -T


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Worth the Wait

Great transition from blast to smooth! Deer antler and ebonite stem.

A few days before the Chicago Show last spring, Gregor Lobnik sent me an email apologizing for selling his whole production to a dealer. He would not have a single pipe for the Chicago Show. I was disappointed (I almost said devastated, but I'm saving that for whatever the politicians and the power elite throw at us next). I had been seeing photos of Gregor's pipes for months and they looked good- real good. I had set aside money for one ... maybe two ... but now my dreams were dashed away. Fortunately the Chicago Show was as much fun as ever and I had a great time in spite of the Lobnik pipe void, but I still felt slightly disappointed... until now. Gregor sent photos a few days ago of pipes he had been working on and they were available ... for the moment. I acted quickly and am happy to report that I now have a wonderful new pipe from Gregor. It is really charming. It has the potential to be one of those go-to pipes that seem to make their way into your pocket and always be ready for for a walk in the woods or a run up to the grocery store. For me this is the ultimate test for a pipe - how does it fit in my pocket? Will it be a good companion and travel well where ever we go? I'm pretty sure my new pipe will be right there with me where ever I go!-T

International Cousins

Today's work will be heading for Sweden and Germany! Should be ready to travel in a couple of days. -T

Annual Mississippi Camping Trip

Mark and I spent the weekend camping at Tishomingo State Park in northeast Mississippi. We had a great (but chilly) time. It's great to get into the woods. -T

New? Old?

A new but old looking rack from Mark. This rack looks like it's been in the family for generations. Nice job Mark! -T

The Lawnmower Cottage

Two Cousin's friend Chuck came over and helped out w/ the building of the new home for my lawnmower. I think it will lead to bigger and better projects in the future. Chuck and I had a great time building and smoking pipes. -T

The Amazing Axel Glasner!

I have been looking at the German pipe maker, Axel Glasner's work for 2 or 3 years now, but my timing was always a bit off. I never had money at the right time. Also, I had never actually seen one of his pipes. Just photos on the internet. I had been told by folks whose opinion I trust, that his pipes were very good, but that's not the same as holding it in your hands. I think this slowed me down when I thought of purchasing one. But recently the stars were properly aligned and Axel posted this beautiful pipe on his website. I had a little money so I emailed Axel and found him very easy to work with in spite of my lack of German. The pipe arrived and I was amazed to see that it was even more beautiful than the photos had led me to believe. The craftsmanship is first rate. The transition from briar shank to bit is incredibly smooth - almost unnoticeable by touch. It's smoking qualities are top notch. It's one of those rare pipes that smoke to the bottom of the bowl using one or maybe two matches. I'm very impressed. I'm pretty sure the stars will align themselves in proper order again in the near future. -T

A Couple of New Racks

Here's a couple of racks I just completed. The Red one has sold, but the golden stained one is available if anyone needs it.
$225 + shipping

-T

David Enrique Again ...and Again

Blasted Bamboo Poker

Mahogany Blast Rhodesian

I'm rationalizing, I know- but I love David's pipes. They smoke really well. I have had pipes by several big name carvers and couldn't get a decent bowl from them. I sold the pipes and assumed the hype around these makers was way overblown. Thinking about it now, I've come to the conclusion that everyone smokes differently. Those pipes probably were great for someone, just not me. David's pipes are perfect for me. They smoke effortlessly. It doesn't matter which of my favorite tobaccos I try, they all smoke really well. I don't know why. I attribute it to magic. Of course I'm no Neill Archer Roan. I don't have his acumen for scientifically searching for cause and effect. There must be a reason. I look at them side by side with other good pipes I have. There doesn't seem to be much difference and yet ... David's are great and the other pipe is just good. I guess I'll stick with my conclusion that they are magic. I mean who wouldn't buy a magic pipe when given the chance? -T
And another thing- Pipe maker Trever Talbert will have a selection of David's pipes on his table at the Richmond Show. Probably good I couldn't make the show this year ....

Morning Walk

I packed up my wet weather pipes (a couple of Blakemar and a Peterson) and headed to the trail this morning expecting it to be a little wet. I was surprised to find much of the trail under water. It was bone dry yesterday. A pretty good thunder storm passed through last night supplying more rain than I realized. Fortunately my waterproof hiking boots I got last winter worked well ... at least in water up to 8" deep, unfortunately I walked through some spots that were over a foot deep. It was fun anyway and really makes it seem like fall is just around the corner. -T

Dutch Newton

The big rack is finished- now for the hard part- packing it to ship. -T

Floor Cabinet in the works

Working on one of the larger pipe cabinets. Here it is built but unfinished. I'm about halfway through the multiple layers of paint and varnish now. It should be ready to ship some time this coming week. The humidity is low right now, so hopefully the varnish won't take forever to dry. -T

Adam Remington Pipes

A few days ago I received my 3rd Adam Remington pipe. It's my 2nd commissioned pipe from Adam. I want more. -T

3 Racks Built

Hope to have these finished and on their way by the end of the week. -T

And Now For Something Completely Different ...

Artwork at David Lusk Gallery tonight. The opening is from 6 to 9. Come by if you're in Memphis and are art inclined.

Couple of Classic Cabinets from Mark

These would look good in any smoking room! -T

Today's Progress

Painting and finishing tomorrow - T

Sawdust and Woodchips

It was hard to tell if I was smoking tobacco in my pipe or sawdust today. I'm pretty sure I was breathing sawdust mixed w/ just a tad of air. But that's ok- it was a productive day and I can't ask for much more than that. Power tools and pipe smoking! Hey, that's a good day. -T

Another Darjeeling Variant

The Darjeeling is popular right now. Maybe because it's summer and hot like India ... or at least as like India as these pipe racks are. -T

Another Enrique

Yep, it's true - I have no will power. No self control. I can't resist David Enrique's pipes. When I told him this on Facebook, his reply was, "Yes, I know that Tim! Hehe!". One more pipe maker that knows I am an easy mark. I would look into Pipes Anonymous, but ... I don't think it's a problem ... at least not yet. I mean, I haven't taken out another mortgage or broken into the grandkid's piggy bank or anything ....

Anyway - this pipe is making it's way across the Atlantic and I can't wait. -T

photo swiped from David's website

New Darjeeling Variant

Here's a commissioned cabinet that I just finished, The customer liked the Darjeeling, but wanted a glass door and no storage. I think it turned out ok and opens up some other possibilities for playing w/ the Indian look. -T

Great 4th!

Yesterday Mark and I and our families and friends gathered at my house for our 31st annual 4th O'July celebration. It was another wonderful day. Even the weather cooperated. Slightly overcast w/ temps in the 80s for a good chunk of the day. We ate, played bocce, watch crazy children, smoked pipes and cigars and managed to get totally worn out. I've started resting up for next year. -T

Pictured are my son Corey and grandson Oliver.

Hey Guys- Let's Party!

Mississippi Factory Humming

Mark has been busy down at the Two Cousins' southern facility .

Assembly Line

Working on a couple of exclusive designs for a pipe and tobacco retailer - more on this later. I don't want to put our eggs before the cart. -T

New Pipes from Vollmer + Nilsson

A few months before the Chicago Pipe Show, I emailed our friends Anders Nilsson and Martin Vollmer about some ideas for pipes I wanted them to make. Two were sandblasted versions of Comoy shapes - a saddle billiard and a saddle prince. The 3rd pipe was a copy w/ improvements of an old beat up Dunhill prince I've had for years. The Dunhill has a silver repair band on the shank that gives the pipe an odd look ... that I like. Being to great guys they are, V+N agreed and even seemed enthusiastic about the projects. I picked up the results in Chicago and have been smoking them daily since. Great pipes as usual from the Swedish duo. Thanks Martin and Anders! -T

2 Cousins w/ Wolfgang Becker

Here we are in Chicago w/ our friend Wolfgang Becker. We look a bit crazed. I think we were just tired and excited, not psycho. I'm surprised Wolfgang doesn't look worried. Also here are 2 pipes I got from Wolfgang. I don't need to say anything about them. They are Wolfgang Becker pipes- they're great! -T

Australia!

One of the best things about making pipe racks is coming into contact w/ people from all over the globe. How else would to guys from the southern US do this. I'm sure there are other ways, but for Mark and I this seems to be a good way ... in other words, the easy way. One of the latest pipe racks shipped went to Australia. This was our first customer from DownUnder and we are very excited to receive some photos. -T