Dock
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 15, 2007
- Messages
- 1,934
- Reaction score
- 10
Below was taken directly from Marty Pulver's "Pulver's Pipes" website.It's regarding James Norman a New Jersey based pipe importer and retailer....
________________________
Tues. June 10, 2008
Immediately below this introduction is a commentary
that was written on June 5th. If you care to see more on
this issue, you can continue reading, because following
those paragraphs are others, lifted whole from the
on-line newsletter of the Sherlock Holmes Pipe Club of
Boston MA. The experience of some members of that
club help confirm some of my darker suspicions
regarding the James Norman company. Although the
segment taken from the SHPC is readily available on-line
(March, '04 issue, I believe) I hope I am not acting in
undue haste by printing their copy without asking
permission. If my use of their material is not welcome, I
apologize profusely, and will immediately take it off my
site.
This issue is not likely to die here. Other avenues are
being pursued. Counterfeiting pipes has been done
before in this hobby, and it is not a welcome abuse of
our normal good and trusting natures.
Before we get to that dark side, I do want to say that
I've posted the last of the photographed pipes. More
will be shot later this month. Do not allow my laziness to
seduce you into thinking that I have no more pipes to
present. To view the most recently listed pipes, go to
the Italian page (Paolo Becker and DG) & the Danish
page (Kurt Balleby).
One of the attitudes that my import/distribution partner
David Field has long brought to his business is a strong
sense of responsibility to the families that make the
pipes he represents. When we started doing some work
together, about 5 or 6 years ago, I told him that I would
not be able to conduct myself in the same way. I thought
that I'd function as though buying pipes from Bruto
Sordini, maker of Don Carlos, say, was no more than a
business to me. That approach did not last long as I
quickly understood that there is a level of concern that
comes along with being the conduit through which a
family is trying to make a living. Representing craftsmen
is a much deeper job than just being a businessman.
With that in mind, allow me to tell you of an
importer/distributor who clearly does not feel the same
way as do David and I.
For a good number of years, the firm James Norman,
Ltd. of Van Brunt Street in New Jersey has been the
exclusive importer/distributor of Armellini pipes. the
founder of the firm, Mauro Armellini died about two years
ago, and the firm now resides in the hands of his
daughter, Vilma, and her son, Matteo. They both make
pipes and their small, entirely hand-made output is their
sole income.
The name of the proprietor of James Norman, Ltd. is
Cem (pronounced Kem, and I forget his last name) and it
appears as though he is intent, for a few extra bucks, on
taking advantage of this vulnerable, distant family in the
meanest, lowest way imaginable in our hobby...he is not
buying pipes from Armellini, but rather having knock-offs
made with the Armellini name stamped on them. In short,
he is cheating the Armellinis and he is cheating the pipe
buying public.
I know this because I've been corresponding with the
Armellinis, both Vilma and Matteo. James Norman, Ltd.
has not purchased a pipe since Sept., accordng to
Matteo and he has noticed pipes on the web advertised
as Armellini pipes which have 'absolutely' not been made
by Armellini.
As you can imagine, he is out of his mind with anger at
his family name being thus misused, nor can he and his
mother live on air alone as no money is coming in from
their would-be U.S. importer.
I might be a little less credulous of this account by
Matteo, if I had not seen an example of the James
Norman style of doing business on my own, and before
this claim by Matteo Armellini. During a pipe-selling trip,
David Field and I stopped into a shop, where the clerk
showed me some of the pipes they carry, one of them
being Kriswell, of Denmark. I've been around a fairly
long time, and I know a Kriswell when I see one. These
pipes were stamped Kriswell, but they were not, nor
could they have ever been, Kriswells. In fact, I think the
company has been out of business for 20 years or so.
When I asked the clerk where he got those ugly,
machine made, standard-shaped dogs, he said, "James
Norman."
If Armellini were in the U.S., and had some resources,
they could get a 'cease & desist' order issued against
James Norman, and maybe more, but a small, poor firm in
Italy has little opportunity to bring such a suit, from such
a distance. I will help if I can. I don't know how, yet, but
there's often a way.
For your part, all I can say is to be careful about any
Armellini pipes you might be tempted to buy...they just
might be fakes.
Marty
Ken Mecklenburg....Revisited.
A request was made at this past meeting to reconsider
having Ken Mecklenburg of James Norman, Ltd. return
for another visit. Late last year a vote was taken to not
have Ken return because a few bad experiences
members had with both the quality of some of the pipes,
Design Berlin in particular, and also with some customer
service issues. Personally, I thought Ken brought a nice
selection of pipes that were reasonably priced but the
Design Berlin pipe I purchased took longer to break in
than any pipe I've owned. So long that I almost gave up
on it. But at long last, it has started to smoke better. (I
give myself and A+ for sticktuitiveness).
Dock Perry's Design Berlin exploded while he was
smoking it. I know that sounds crazy but it really
happened. A possible explanation may have been that a
plastic wood type filler had been used inside the bowl.
After reading the instructions on a tube of Plastic Wood
it said "may explode under high heat". Hello, we're
smoking a pipe here!!! Anyway, Steve Gutz's concoction
of honey and ash seemed to take care of the problem...
at least for now (Ebayers beware!). The fact of the matter
is, you might expect something like that to happen to a
pipe you get on Ebay or maybe at a flea market but you
don't really expect to go through that kind of aggravation
for a new pipe made by a reputable company.
Now were was I... oh yeah, taking another vote. Pros and
cons were expressed by members and the vote was
taken. The final vote, which had to be taken twice, was 7
to 6 in favor of not having Mr. Mecklenburg return. Since
that time however, there has been a new development.
Dock Perry who was originally opposed to Ken's return
has had a "change of heart" and has submitted the
following explanation for inclusion in the newsletter.
"The long drive home from Mansfield while driving a car
with a broken radio gives one ample time for reflection. I
pondered over the nights controversy surrounding the
possible visit from Ken Mecklenburg of James Norman
Pipes. True it was I that objected loudest about the
presence of the man at our club. My own dealings with
his company have been less than satisfactory as many of
you all know. My own fear was that another member
could also have a similarly bad experience, should they
have a problem with a pipe they purchase. My Italian
upbringing instilled in me the rare ability to hold a
grudge like Joseph Stalin. The thought being never give
someone a chance to screw you twice. However, as I saw
at the meeting there are a substantial group of members
who want to purchase from Mr. Mecklenburg. As
"Brother Editor" pointed out to me, "It's capitalism at it
truest." "If he's there, just don't buy his pipes." I totally
appreciate the solidarity I received from my club friends
but I wish to change my vote in favor of James Norman's
return. There's little sense in black listing them forever.
That wouldn't be in the club's best interest, in my
opinion. Perhaps we can take another vote at our March
meeting. Sincerely, Dock J. Perry
____________________
Best,
D.J.
________________________
Tues. June 10, 2008
Immediately below this introduction is a commentary
that was written on June 5th. If you care to see more on
this issue, you can continue reading, because following
those paragraphs are others, lifted whole from the
on-line newsletter of the Sherlock Holmes Pipe Club of
Boston MA. The experience of some members of that
club help confirm some of my darker suspicions
regarding the James Norman company. Although the
segment taken from the SHPC is readily available on-line
(March, '04 issue, I believe) I hope I am not acting in
undue haste by printing their copy without asking
permission. If my use of their material is not welcome, I
apologize profusely, and will immediately take it off my
site.
This issue is not likely to die here. Other avenues are
being pursued. Counterfeiting pipes has been done
before in this hobby, and it is not a welcome abuse of
our normal good and trusting natures.
Before we get to that dark side, I do want to say that
I've posted the last of the photographed pipes. More
will be shot later this month. Do not allow my laziness to
seduce you into thinking that I have no more pipes to
present. To view the most recently listed pipes, go to
the Italian page (Paolo Becker and DG) & the Danish
page (Kurt Balleby).
One of the attitudes that my import/distribution partner
David Field has long brought to his business is a strong
sense of responsibility to the families that make the
pipes he represents. When we started doing some work
together, about 5 or 6 years ago, I told him that I would
not be able to conduct myself in the same way. I thought
that I'd function as though buying pipes from Bruto
Sordini, maker of Don Carlos, say, was no more than a
business to me. That approach did not last long as I
quickly understood that there is a level of concern that
comes along with being the conduit through which a
family is trying to make a living. Representing craftsmen
is a much deeper job than just being a businessman.
With that in mind, allow me to tell you of an
importer/distributor who clearly does not feel the same
way as do David and I.
For a good number of years, the firm James Norman,
Ltd. of Van Brunt Street in New Jersey has been the
exclusive importer/distributor of Armellini pipes. the
founder of the firm, Mauro Armellini died about two years
ago, and the firm now resides in the hands of his
daughter, Vilma, and her son, Matteo. They both make
pipes and their small, entirely hand-made output is their
sole income.
The name of the proprietor of James Norman, Ltd. is
Cem (pronounced Kem, and I forget his last name) and it
appears as though he is intent, for a few extra bucks, on
taking advantage of this vulnerable, distant family in the
meanest, lowest way imaginable in our hobby...he is not
buying pipes from Armellini, but rather having knock-offs
made with the Armellini name stamped on them. In short,
he is cheating the Armellinis and he is cheating the pipe
buying public.
I know this because I've been corresponding with the
Armellinis, both Vilma and Matteo. James Norman, Ltd.
has not purchased a pipe since Sept., accordng to
Matteo and he has noticed pipes on the web advertised
as Armellini pipes which have 'absolutely' not been made
by Armellini.
As you can imagine, he is out of his mind with anger at
his family name being thus misused, nor can he and his
mother live on air alone as no money is coming in from
their would-be U.S. importer.
I might be a little less credulous of this account by
Matteo, if I had not seen an example of the James
Norman style of doing business on my own, and before
this claim by Matteo Armellini. During a pipe-selling trip,
David Field and I stopped into a shop, where the clerk
showed me some of the pipes they carry, one of them
being Kriswell, of Denmark. I've been around a fairly
long time, and I know a Kriswell when I see one. These
pipes were stamped Kriswell, but they were not, nor
could they have ever been, Kriswells. In fact, I think the
company has been out of business for 20 years or so.
When I asked the clerk where he got those ugly,
machine made, standard-shaped dogs, he said, "James
Norman."
If Armellini were in the U.S., and had some resources,
they could get a 'cease & desist' order issued against
James Norman, and maybe more, but a small, poor firm in
Italy has little opportunity to bring such a suit, from such
a distance. I will help if I can. I don't know how, yet, but
there's often a way.
For your part, all I can say is to be careful about any
Armellini pipes you might be tempted to buy...they just
might be fakes.
Marty
Ken Mecklenburg....Revisited.
A request was made at this past meeting to reconsider
having Ken Mecklenburg of James Norman, Ltd. return
for another visit. Late last year a vote was taken to not
have Ken return because a few bad experiences
members had with both the quality of some of the pipes,
Design Berlin in particular, and also with some customer
service issues. Personally, I thought Ken brought a nice
selection of pipes that were reasonably priced but the
Design Berlin pipe I purchased took longer to break in
than any pipe I've owned. So long that I almost gave up
on it. But at long last, it has started to smoke better. (I
give myself and A+ for sticktuitiveness).
Dock Perry's Design Berlin exploded while he was
smoking it. I know that sounds crazy but it really
happened. A possible explanation may have been that a
plastic wood type filler had been used inside the bowl.
After reading the instructions on a tube of Plastic Wood
it said "may explode under high heat". Hello, we're
smoking a pipe here!!! Anyway, Steve Gutz's concoction
of honey and ash seemed to take care of the problem...
at least for now (Ebayers beware!). The fact of the matter
is, you might expect something like that to happen to a
pipe you get on Ebay or maybe at a flea market but you
don't really expect to go through that kind of aggravation
for a new pipe made by a reputable company.
Now were was I... oh yeah, taking another vote. Pros and
cons were expressed by members and the vote was
taken. The final vote, which had to be taken twice, was 7
to 6 in favor of not having Mr. Mecklenburg return. Since
that time however, there has been a new development.
Dock Perry who was originally opposed to Ken's return
has had a "change of heart" and has submitted the
following explanation for inclusion in the newsletter.
"The long drive home from Mansfield while driving a car
with a broken radio gives one ample time for reflection. I
pondered over the nights controversy surrounding the
possible visit from Ken Mecklenburg of James Norman
Pipes. True it was I that objected loudest about the
presence of the man at our club. My own dealings with
his company have been less than satisfactory as many of
you all know. My own fear was that another member
could also have a similarly bad experience, should they
have a problem with a pipe they purchase. My Italian
upbringing instilled in me the rare ability to hold a
grudge like Joseph Stalin. The thought being never give
someone a chance to screw you twice. However, as I saw
at the meeting there are a substantial group of members
who want to purchase from Mr. Mecklenburg. As
"Brother Editor" pointed out to me, "It's capitalism at it
truest." "If he's there, just don't buy his pipes." I totally
appreciate the solidarity I received from my club friends
but I wish to change my vote in favor of James Norman's
return. There's little sense in black listing them forever.
That wouldn't be in the club's best interest, in my
opinion. Perhaps we can take another vote at our March
meeting. Sincerely, Dock J. Perry
____________________
Best,
D.J.
