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Karlheinz Joura: Difference between revisions
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During the Chicago show, Romeo Domenico, a seller of briar to pipe makers, came over to our table with a big grin on his face. Romeo, who goes by the nickname "Mimmo," was so happy to see Coco! What amazed me was her ability to speak Italian with him as if she were a native. She explained that her boyfriend was Italian and it was easy for her to become fluent. Coco said she and Mimmo first met when her family stayed in an apartment in Italy for several weeks when she was a baby and Mimmo was a teenager, when Karlo was buying briar from Filippo Romeo, Mimmo’s father. He started buying from Filippo Romeo in 1974; hence, some of Joura’s pipes are called "Romeos" because they were made with that very old briar. | During the Chicago show, Romeo Domenico, a seller of briar to pipe makers, came over to our table with a big grin on his face. Romeo, who goes by the nickname "Mimmo," was so happy to see Coco! What amazed me was her ability to speak Italian with him as if she were a native. She explained that her boyfriend was Italian and it was easy for her to become fluent. Coco said she and Mimmo first met when her family stayed in an apartment in Italy for several weeks when she was a baby and Mimmo was a teenager, when Karlo was buying briar from Filippo Romeo, Mimmo’s father. He started buying from Filippo Romeo in 1974; hence, some of Joura’s pipes are called "Romeos" because they were made with that very old briar. | ||
[[File:Fabian-joura.jpg|thumb|left|Fabian Joura sanding the mouthpiece on one of his pipes.]][[File:Fabian-pipe-01.jpg|thumb|A new pipe made by Fabian Joura, who is working with his father.]] | |||
[[File:Fabian-pipe-02.jpg|thumb|A Fabian Joura pipe with a unique and beautiful stain.]][[File:Fabian-pipe-03.jpg|thumb]]In August 2015 I visited the Jouras in Bremen. Coco was in Italy so I spent time with Karlo and his two other children, Kim and Fabian. I first met Fabian when he was an 8-year-old boy. He is now 21 and a college student majoring in physics with the goal of becoming a high school physics teacher and … a pipe maker. Fabian started working with his father three years ago, and he has keen eyes and great hands. His father has taught him every pipe-making trick imaginable, and Fabian’s pipes reflect a professionalism beyond his years. The nomenclature is the name "Joura" in a circle, with an F stamped at the base of the circle. I bought one and am very happy with it. If you are interested in Fabian’s pipes, I’d suggest contacting Kim. | |||
[[File:Fabian-pipe-04.jpg|thumb|left|An older Joura pipe with a replacement mouthpiece by Brian McNulty of Los Angeles.]][[File:Fabian-pipe-05.jpg|thumb|One of my favorite Joura pipes with a replacement mouthpiece by George Dibos of Kansas City.]]When Karlo, Fabian and I were in the workshop, I brought out a handful of my Joura pipes that needed slight tweaks. These were mostly pipes that I had bought on eBay and for which I had new mouthpieces made, and one was an old favorite that I had bought from Josef Ostermann’s pipe store in Vienna years ago, and the mouthpiece had become pretty ragged. Two of the repairs were by Brian McNulty and one by George Dibos. Both are talented Americans who I highly recommend for repairs, and Karlo was very complimentary of their work. Karlo re-stamped the name "Joura” on two of the pipes because it had become faded, and he sanded off a little vulcanite on the saddle of one of the pipes to make it look more like the original. As I watched him work, I was so impressed by his relaxed skill — just an amazing pipe maker. | [[File:Fabian-pipe-04.jpg|thumb|left|An older Joura pipe with a replacement mouthpiece by Brian McNulty of Los Angeles.]][[File:Fabian-pipe-05.jpg|thumb|One of my favorite Joura pipes with a replacement mouthpiece by George Dibos of Kansas City.]][[File:Joura.jpg|thumb|Joura Ad, courtesy Doug Valitchka]]When Karlo, Fabian and I were in the workshop, I brought out a handful of my Joura pipes that needed slight tweaks. These were mostly pipes that I had bought on eBay and for which I had new mouthpieces made, and one was an old favorite that I had bought from Josef Ostermann’s pipe store in Vienna years ago, and the mouthpiece had become pretty ragged. Two of the repairs were by Brian McNulty and one by George Dibos. Both are talented Americans who I highly recommend for repairs, and Karlo was very complimentary of their work. Karlo re-stamped the name "Joura” on two of the pipes because it had become faded, and he sanded off a little vulcanite on the saddle of one of the pipes to make it look more like the original. As I watched him work, I was so impressed by his relaxed skill — just an amazing pipe maker. | ||
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Fabian lives in an apartment across the river from Karlo’s house, and he rides his bicycle to the workshop every morning. Karlo also continues to ride his bicycle every day. After making pipes in the morning, he rides to a restaurant with a view of the river and enjoys a cup of hot coffee while watching the water, contemplating, relaxing and just enjoying his life. | Fabian lives in an apartment across the river from Karlo’s house, and he rides his bicycle to the workshop every morning. Karlo also continues to ride his bicycle every day. After making pipes in the morning, he rides to a restaurant with a view of the river and enjoys a cup of hot coffee while watching the water, contemplating, relaxing and just enjoying his life. | ||
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Karlo is very relaxed today, at 73, making pipes out of desire and not necessity, proud of his talented children, knowing that his legacy will live on. He has been amply rewarded for his tremendous courage to follow his dreams. | Karlo is very relaxed today, at 73, making pipes out of desire and not necessity, proud of his talented children, knowing that his legacy will live on. He has been amply rewarded for his tremendous courage to follow his dreams. | ||
[[File:Joura-family.jpg|thumb|500px|center|Kim, Karlo and Fabian Joura in Bremen, Germany in August 2015. Coco was in Italy during my visit.]] | |||
'''Contact Information:''' | '''Contact Information:''' | ||