Pipe Racks!

Chris Asteriou!

Back in the Spring at the Chicago Pipe Show I asked Chris to make a couple of pipes for me. One was a panel billiard like one I had seen him post on Facebook. It was a very elegant pipe that looked like it should have belonged to some minor royal figure in a 1930's movie.

The second pipe I requested was a copy of a 1930's Comoy that Chris owns. It's a smallish billiard with a good size bowl.

To cut to the chase- they have arrived and all I can say is WOW! Chris is an amazing pipe maker. Incredible skill and attention to every detail. The only problem with these pipes is that they are too good for the likes of me! -T

Missing

I'm a little shocked at how long it's been since I posted anything here. I suppose I've been busy and verbiage doesn't come easy for me so even a couple of lines is major work and requires more thought than I am comfortable with. But I will try to do better. -T

Bing, Anders & Martin

I sent this picture of Bing Crosby in Holiday Inn to friends and pipe makers Vollmer & Nilsson. I asked if they thought they might be able to make a similar panel billiard for me. They wrote back that they hadn't made one before but would try. Well dang, they did a fine job. They made 2 trying to get a smooth, but both needed to be sandblasted. I didn't especially want a smooth and was happy to leave that decision to the brothers.Anyway- I love this pipe. It smokes great- so great I have smoked it more than once a day several times since I picked it up in Chicago. And I think even though it is a blast, V&N captured the essence of the original. That might be because they listened to Bing croon while they made the pipe. Martin tells me Anders has 6 1/2 hours of Bing on his ipod. I went to the right guys for this one. -T

More from The Pipe Show

Friday Pre-Show Show

Friday

Neil Flancbaum of Smoking holsters fame  

Steve Liskey w/ "My" pipe

Tom Richards, Juergen Moritz, Klaus Zenz and Frank Axmacher

The Show 

Seattle Pipe Club Soiree

Gitta and Wolfgang Becker

Gerasimos Minetos and Chris Asteriou

Photos from the Pipe Show

Here's a few.

Check in at Pheasant Run

Carvers and pipes

Cases full.

More

and more

Drunken Salmon at VinoThai

Steel drum?

Jon Guss- I think he's tired.

Neill Roan and Chris Asteriou

The smoking tent

Back in Memphis!

Made it back safe and sound. Show photos soon. -T

Crossing the bridge.

Chicago Pipe Show!!!

Getting ready to head to Chicago!

Well, St Charles anyway ...

Hope to see you there!

Paint 'em Black

A couple of layers of undercoats -T

Yesterday's Work

Today's Work

Pipe Racks Everywhere

The work space is getting a little cramped.

Cold

I know it's winter and it gets cold in winter- so no news here, except it is too dang cold to work outside. It was 16 when I got up this morning and it still hasn't made it up to 20 yet. That's cold enough to numb your fingers in about 10 minutes. Numb fingers and power tools don't go together - so no work today. -T

Cleaning

Dusting my pipe rack is something I apparently avoid for long stretches. It was dusty and full of cobwebs. I need to do better ... -T

Trying to keep them in order so I'll know where to put them back

It's clean for now

An Evening Out

Out w/ my pipe smoking buddies. -T

1st Rack of 2014

The Mr. Gray pipe rack was a popular one this holiday season and it's the 1st rack of the new year. -T