Strano

Al Strano spent his professional life serving the Wally Frank Ltd. as a pipemaker and foreman. His rarely seen own freehand pipes are of exceptioal quality. He passed away in 2000.

His son, Joe Strano, operated a small pipe shop in Ridgewood, Queens, NYC called Northampton Tobacconist. He was a very talented pipemaker, too and spectators could watch him working on his handmade pipes or doing repairs in the window of his store. Joe Strano also sold private label pipes – the bulk of these were supplied by Weber Pipe Co. in Jersey City, NJ. And he is furthermore famed for his own tobacco blends; his Tom's #1 blend is still idolized as amazing.

Northhampton Tobacconist store closed in the late 1970’s.

Please add further information![[Category: United States] The above posting is wrong. Al Strano was National Brand Manager of Walley Frank Ltd. He died March 1, 1998. After he left Wally Frank he did a number of other things including real estate sales before buying Hildebrandts, a eating establishment in 1974(?). It is still owned by his family and has been the subject of articles in the New York Times among others. It is renowned for its chocolate and ice cream. I don't remember my brother Al ever repairing , much less making a pipe. The information about my brother Joe is correct except he is Al's older brother. He owned Northampton and was known for his pipe repairs and pipe making skills. Joe invented precision pipe repair tools which he used and sold to other pipe repair stores. People sent him pipes to repair from all over the world. Joe now lives in Allentown PA and is talking lately about getting back to pipe repair.