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'''Editorial note:''' The following autobiographic article was e-mailed to one of our contributors in context with purchasing a Sven-Lar pipe by Mike Kabik. If you hold the copyright to this article and feel this is an infringement to have it here, please contact one of the Pipedia sysop. --[[User:Sethile|sethile]] ([[User talk:Sethile|talk]]) 20:16, 19 June 2015 (CDT) | |||
"Before I begin spouting off my history and frustration, I want to thank Jeff Loid for his support and interest these past two years following a difficult time of health problems and personal chaos. | "Before I begin spouting off my history and frustration, I want to thank Jeff Loid for his support and interest these past two years following a difficult time of health problems and personal chaos. | ||
In May of 2004, I suffered a heart attack, which certainly has a way of focusing the mind on what is important—family, friends, etc.—and, for myself, setting down my own history in the pipe-making industry as an important record of craft and art in this country. | In May of 2004, I suffered a heart attack, which certainly has a way of focusing the mind on what is important—family, friends, etc.—and, for myself, setting down my own history in the pipe-making industry as an important record of craft and art in this country. | ||
As anyone involved in the arts will tell you, there is a lot of frustration with the arts, in all categories, because much of what is determined to be relevant is determined by elite groups. My frustrations come not from not feeling that I was the “best,” whatever that means, but that I honestly cannot imagine any American pipe maker having produced and marketed more quality pipes during the “golden age” than myself. Sorry if this sounds over the top, but it is a fact, in my mind, that I cannot escape. | [[File:Michael Kabik - Making Pipes.png|300px|thumb|right|Michael Kabik crafting a pipe]]As anyone involved in the arts will tell you, there is a lot of frustration with the arts, in all categories, because much of what is determined to be relevant is determined by elite groups. My frustrations come not from not feeling that I was the “best,” whatever that means, but that I honestly cannot imagine any American pipe maker having produced and marketed more quality pipes during the “golden age” than myself. Sorry if this sounds over the top, but it is a fact, in my mind, that I cannot escape. | ||
In the 1960's, I was working in a plastics factory in Baltimore and trading or selling sculpture I would do at night in my tiny apartment, which I shared with my future wife, Deanna. In 1971, I was approached about a job by one of my relatives, Jay Rostov. In the 1960s, I had helped Jay build Jay’s Smoke Shop and was his first employee. Since that time, he had set up one of the very first freehand pipe-making operations in the U.S. along with his partner, Chuck Holiday, called '''CHP-X Pipes'''. The staff consisted of four full-timers actually making the pipes and perhaps another four in sales and office work. Chuck, who did the actual design and carving, had long since had serious disagreements with Jay and split. Chuck’s replacement from the staff was quitting, and Jay was in a bind. Jay offered me the job, and I gladly accepted. The fellow quitting was supposed to train me for two months but left after two weeks, leaving me with an awesome responsibility. I felt as though the future employment of all these people depended on me as the designer and cutter…and it did. These were very talented people and consisted of one person to do finishing sanding, one for stem design and cutting, and another for staining and buffing. On average, we produced 150 pipes every week. A very creative bunch that was totally devoted to the craft, so much so that occasionally we were asked to forego salary until cash flow was up to snuff. We always agreed, unanimously. | In the 1960's, I was working in a plastics factory in Baltimore and trading or selling sculpture I would do at night in my tiny apartment, which I shared with my future wife, Deanna. In 1971, I was approached about a job by one of my relatives, Jay Rostov. In the 1960s, I had helped Jay build Jay’s Smoke Shop and was his first employee. Since that time, he had set up one of the very first freehand pipe-making operations in the U.S. along with his partner, Chuck Holiday, called '''CHP-X Pipes'''. The staff consisted of four full-timers actually making the pipes and perhaps another four in sales and office work. Chuck, who did the actual design and carving, had long since had serious disagreements with Jay and split. Chuck’s replacement from the staff was quitting, and Jay was in a bind. Jay offered me the job, and I gladly accepted. The fellow quitting was supposed to train me for two months but left after two weeks, leaving me with an awesome responsibility. I felt as though the future employment of all these people depended on me as the designer and cutter…and it did. These were very talented people and consisted of one person to do finishing sanding, one for stem design and cutting, and another for staining and buffing. On average, we produced 150 pipes every week. A very creative bunch that was totally devoted to the craft, so much so that occasionally we were asked to forego salary until cash flow was up to snuff. We always agreed, unanimously. | ||