Recent content by Sobranie759

Yes indeed another great pipe maker as well as a super guy. I visited his shop a few times. Rich was also a great musician. He will be missed.

Hugh was a great guy. He told me he was originally from Philadelphia. I am not sure how long this shop had been there but it was stocked with some wonderful pipes. Hugh also smoked his pipe as we spoke and of course I asked him what blend he was smoking. He responded back "Hackers" one of...

It's the early 90's and I am in LA on business. I have an appointment in Beverly Hills. I had read about Kramer's pipe shop. This was the pipe shop that all the famous Hollywood stars of stage and screen had frequented. This was a shop I could not miss. It is a small quant shop on Santa...

My timeline is fuzzy for sure so we jump back to NJ where I search out a pipe carver In Jersey City or was it Union City, can't remember. His name is Andre Mermet. Andre's pipe factory is like a small two story building in the middle of an industrial area. It actually looked like an old house...

As you may be able to tell from my posts, I enjoyed visiting shops but also tobacco blenders and pipe makers. It is the mid eighties and I hear of a pipe show on the west coast. This is the first time I ever heard of a pipe show. One of the pipe stores that was involved with the show was...

It's funny ( or not ) that when you get a little older it is easier to remember things pretty clearly from the past like way back. So, I will continue in the 80's, I may take a stab at what year exactly, but my accuracy is circumspect. I find myself in Englewood NJ visiting potential clients...

The late 70's brought my first two daughters into my life. I also changed careers and joined a family business. The extent of my traveling was to the store to purchase diapers and formula. I worked long hours to build the business and spend time with my girls...all three. It was at this time...

I think it was 1974 ( it is hard to remember the exact year ) I had been purchasing pipes and tobaccos from Smoker's Haven in Columbus. I find out about a small pipe producer in Vermont called The Briar Workshop. This was a small group of pipe carvers that hand made pipes with a Danish flair...

I have seen what you described too many times. However, I was never witness to this behavior in a pipe shop. I have seen this in clothing stores and antique stores, to name a few. Every hobby seams to have an elite group of "know it alls". If I can't learn from them ( and most have nothing...

In 1973 my wife and I went to London. BOAC airlines had a special price $750.00 for 2 people for two weeks. Air, hotel, breakfast and 3 tickets to London's Broadway shows. It was a great trip. I bought only one pipe from Astleys on Jermyn Street. It was a freehand I can't remember the price...

Peretti I understand makes pipes downstairs I would guess some of their pipes are made elsewhere. Tashkent is wonderful and I alternate between Omega, Tashkent and #8 Slices . Cambridge Flake is still a good smoke but I enjoyed it more when it was made by McClellands. Peretti's is a great shop.

Iwan Reis is Chuck Levi not Chuck Levin.......my apology

Before I discuss Barry Levin, I wanted to take you on a side trip to Chicago and Iwan Reis. It was the mid 70's and when I visited this great old shop, I was again in wonder of all the pipes in this store. The pipes on display were all beautiful and the owner Mr Levin was very knowledgable. I...

To clarify, I really never made it out to Columbus to visit Smoker's Haven. I can't tell you how much I regret not going. Upon my return to NJ after the factory manager handed me his tin of "Pure Pleasure" I called Smoker's Haven. I was curious as to the other house blends they offered as...

Rudy It is unfortunate that so many great pipe shops are now history. I have visited Boswells fine shop many times and I have enjoyed their pipes and house blends. I like Railroad Station which is a very nice medium light english. I do know of Mission Pipe Shop but unfortunately when I was...