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Nørding: Difference between revisions
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Consumer interest in Danish freehand pipes helped Nording expand throughout the 1970s and early '80´s. "They were easier for me to carve," he says, "because nobody in those days knew the free-hands. We were making thousands and thousands of those." The Nording factory at that time reached its peak production, and Nording employed 52 workers. | Consumer interest in Danish freehand pipes helped Nording expand throughout the 1970s and early '80´s. "They were easier for me to carve," he says, "because nobody in those days knew the free-hands. We were making thousands and thousands of those." The Nording factory at that time reached its peak production, and Nording employed 52 workers. | ||
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Things have slowed somewhat since, and currently Nording employs 6 pipe makers, who produce approximately 15,000 pipes a year. They work in the shop that takes up the lower level of the Nording residence. It's spacious, more than 800 square meters, with three main workrooms, several smaller offices, and a large storage area for the 20,000 blocks of briar kept on hand, which comes mainly come from Corsica and Greece. "I don't age it," says Nording. "I allow it to dry properly, so it ages a little during that process, but once it is dry it's fine for pipe making. All this talk about it being necessary for briar to age 30 years or whatever for good pipes, in my opinion, is nonsense. I've seen every stage of harvesting. I've been out digging the briar; I've been to sawmills; I've experienced everything. And I'm telling you, once you can dry a piece of briar without it cracking, it is ready to work." | |||
The stems for Nording pipes are all hand cut, though they are made in an assembly line style, thousands at a time, to save production costs. Free-hands are the least expensive of the Nording line, all given their basic shape on a fraising machine that Nording modified using government airplane parts. After they are roughed out, freehands are given individual shapes on sanding disks, then finished in a variety of colors and fitted with vulcanite stems. | |||
Handmades are given more care and more individuality and feature acrylic mouthpieces, though the main difference is the quality of the grain. About 300 Handmades are produced each month. "The Handmades have become very popular, and demand has been increasing," says Nording, "especially over the last three years." | |||
Collectors have also been enthusiastic about the Nording Hunting Series, which is a specially designed pipe, different every year, with a hunting theme. "I've not yet decided on the year 2002," says Nording. But the immense popularity of the series indicates that there will certainly be one. | Collectors have also been enthusiastic about the Nording Hunting Series, which is a specially designed pipe, different every year, with a hunting theme. "I've not yet decided on the year 2002," says Nording. But the immense popularity of the series indicates that there will certainly be one. | ||
Even with all this, Erik Nording keeps inventing new things. Hundreds of unusual pipe designs, various patents, and knife designs fill his offices. And he is currently expanding a new business in Demnark: Barbecue style catering. "Barbecue is almost unheard of in Denmark," he says. "But it's going to be big." | Even with all this, Erik Nording keeps inventing new things. Hundreds of unusual pipe designs, various patents, and knife designs fill his offices. And he is currently expanding a new business in Demnark: Barbecue style catering. "Barbecue is almost unheard of in Denmark," he says. "But it's going to be big." | ||
[[File:NordingGiantPipe.jpg|160px|thumb|right|Nørding's Giant Pipe]] | |||
Perhaps the most famous of his more unusual achievements, though, is his giant Nording pipe fashioned from hundreds of other pipes and mouthpieces. This pipe has been on display in several public venues, including the Copenhagen airport, and has been named the world's largest pipe by the Guinness Book of Records. | Perhaps the most famous of his more unusual achievements, though, is his giant Nording pipe fashioned from hundreds of other pipes and mouthpieces. This pipe has been on display in several public venues, including the Copenhagen airport, and has been named the world's largest pipe by the Guinness Book of Records. | ||