I am not sure this post and the ones that may follow will be of interest. I have visited many a pipe and tobacco shop in the last fifty years.
With the loss of so many shops, I thought it may be of interest to some to recount my experiences in visiting some of the many great shops. A few are still around while others are long gone.
I will start out with a bit of background. I started smoking a pipe at 15 years of age. My Dad smoked a pipe. Many of my friends turned to cigarettes. This was 1964. Of course, I purchased a pack of Lucky Strikes and I was on my way! I did not smoke in front of my parents but they of course knew I was smoking. My Dad sat me down one day and handed me a Kaywoodie with a white finish and pack of London Dock smoking mixture (His blend of choice) . I smoked that pipe, it went to school with me ( no of course no smoking in school ) I learned to enjoy pipe smoking and how not to fry my tongue. Eventually, I switched to Amphora Red. Dad gave me a few more of his pipes and now I was a confirmed pipe smoker and on my way to a career of pipe and tobacco collecting.
My story starts with a visit to Schulte's Pipe Shop in Maplewood New Jersey. It was 1966. I did not drive yet so a friend drove to this shop a few miles from my home. I had passed this store with its bigger than life pipe hanging off the facade of the store. I just had to see what this was all about. I had only viewed pipes and packaged tobaccos at the local drug store.
I walked into the store and my eyes lit up............to be continued............
With the loss of so many shops, I thought it may be of interest to some to recount my experiences in visiting some of the many great shops. A few are still around while others are long gone.
I will start out with a bit of background. I started smoking a pipe at 15 years of age. My Dad smoked a pipe. Many of my friends turned to cigarettes. This was 1964. Of course, I purchased a pack of Lucky Strikes and I was on my way! I did not smoke in front of my parents but they of course knew I was smoking. My Dad sat me down one day and handed me a Kaywoodie with a white finish and pack of London Dock smoking mixture (His blend of choice) . I smoked that pipe, it went to school with me ( no of course no smoking in school ) I learned to enjoy pipe smoking and how not to fry my tongue. Eventually, I switched to Amphora Red. Dad gave me a few more of his pipes and now I was a confirmed pipe smoker and on my way to a career of pipe and tobacco collecting.
My story starts with a visit to Schulte's Pipe Shop in Maplewood New Jersey. It was 1966. I did not drive yet so a friend drove to this shop a few miles from my home. I had passed this store with its bigger than life pipe hanging off the facade of the store. I just had to see what this was all about. I had only viewed pipes and packaged tobaccos at the local drug store.
I walked into the store and my eyes lit up............to be continued............