2,794
edits
Steve Morrisette Pipes: Difference between revisions
no edit summary
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
Fast forward to early middle age: I switched to smoking a pipe from cigars and rapidly began to build a nice collection of some of the finest briars in the world. [[Teddy Knudsen]], [[Jess Chonowitsch]], [[Tom Eltang]], [[Rainer Barbi]] and later [[Rasmussen]], [[Cornelius Mänz]] and [[Paolo Becker]] all found their way into my rotation. Fabulous shapes with astonishing woods and superb workmanship. I sharpened my eye on these masterworks. I learned what a beautiful, good smoking pipe was. | Fast forward to early middle age: I switched to smoking a pipe from cigars and rapidly began to build a nice collection of some of the finest briars in the world. [[Teddy Knudsen]], [[Jess Chonowitsch]], [[Tom Eltang]], [[Rainer Barbi]] and later [[Rasmussen]], [[Cornelius Mänz]] and [[Paolo Becker]] all found their way into my rotation. Fabulous shapes with astonishing woods and superb workmanship. I sharpened my eye on these masterworks. I learned what a beautiful, good smoking pipe was. | ||
The next phase began when, after having reshaped some cheap pipes and improved their mouthpieces, and made a few pipes from pre- bored blocks, I attended my first Chicagoland Pipe Show. This really opened my eyes to the fine North American pipe makers. At the show I befriended a splendid young fellow by the name of Jeff Gracik. ([[J. Alan Pipes]]) We became pals and spent the show sharing a fine bottle of Bourbon and soaking in all the wonderful sights of pipes and pipe makers. All the while, Jeff was selling his first batch of marvelous little pipes from one the ubiquitous silver briefcases you see at all the shows. Soon after, I visited Jeff at his (then) home in Princeton, NJ, where he was attending school. Jeff took me into his workshop and for two days showed me many aspects and techniques of making a fine, high grade pipe. We worked late into the nights and then spent time poring over the finer details of his pipes and some of my nicer Danish acquisitions. It was a wonderful and very instructive experience. | The next phase began when, after having reshaped some cheap pipes and improved their mouthpieces, and made a few pipes from pre- bored blocks, I attended my first [[Chicagoland International Pipe & Tobacciana Show]]. This really opened my eyes to the fine North American pipe makers. At the show I befriended a splendid young fellow by the name of Jeff Gracik. ([[J. Alan Pipes]]) We became pals and spent the show sharing a fine bottle of Bourbon and soaking in all the wonderful sights of pipes and pipe makers. All the while, Jeff was selling his first batch of marvelous little pipes from one the ubiquitous silver briefcases you see at all the shows. Soon after, I visited Jeff at his (then) home in Princeton, NJ, where he was attending school. Jeff took me into his workshop and for two days showed me many aspects and techniques of making a fine, high grade pipe. We worked late into the nights and then spent time poring over the finer details of his pipes and some of my nicer Danish acquisitions. It was a wonderful and very instructive experience. | ||
At the next CORPS show in Richmond I got to know [[Todd Johnson]] a bit better, having met him there the year before. This revved me up yet again, and I was determined to spend some time with Todd, making pipes. Todd soon very graciously invited me down to his (then) home in Charleston, SC. I spent several days with his lovely family and a lot of hours in the shop with Todd, who very unselfishly shared his vast knowledge and talent with me. Todd taught me the extreme value of using the right tools and how to get the most out of them. It's amazing what you can get out of a guy with a good bottle of Bourbon! I have visited Todd several more times and each visit is another series of revelations. | At the next CORPS show in Richmond I got to know [[Todd Johnson]] a bit better, having met him there the year before. This revved me up yet again, and I was determined to spend some time with Todd, making pipes. Todd soon very graciously invited me down to his (then) home in Charleston, SC. I spent several days with his lovely family and a lot of hours in the shop with Todd, who very unselfishly shared his vast knowledge and talent with me. Todd taught me the extreme value of using the right tools and how to get the most out of them. It's amazing what you can get out of a guy with a good bottle of Bourbon! I have visited Todd several more times and each visit is another series of revelations. | ||