Klein
From Pipes, Artisans and Trademarks, by José Manuel Lopes'
Reiner Klein started Klein pipes in 1983. Klein was joined four years later by the artisan, and current owner of the brand, Rüdiger Lutz Will, (R.L. Will) who was born in 1938. Rüdiger's father was the owner of a tobacco factory. A pipe collector, member of the Académie Internationale de la Pipe and smoker since his youth, he started working with his fater in 1960. Eight years afterward he was making pipes in his free time, and in 1972, worked for Nicolai Borg, the industrial designer responsible for the the Volkswagen look.
In 1987 he created the R. Will Pipe Studio, and bought Reiner Kein's equipment and the brand, which was linked to the firm until 1997. Rüdiger makes classics, but "following the veins of the wood", and uses handmade stems; mainly cumberlands, but also acrylics. He produces 200 pipes a year with the stamp: Reiner PAD / Pipe Art Design.