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'''Mark Tinsky's [http://www.amsmoke.com/ American Smoking Pipe Co.]'''
[[File:Mark tinskyIII.jpg|thumb|Mark Tinsky, courtesy Doug Valitchka]]
[[File:Curt Rollar.jpg|thumb|thumb|Curt Rollar, courtesy Doug Valitchka]]
[[File:AmericanMarkTinsky.jpg|thumb|Mark Tinsky in his workshop, courtesy Doug Valitchka]]


[[File:AmericanMarkTinsky.jpg|thumb|left|Mark Tinsky in his workshop, courtesy Doug Valitchka]][[File:Curt Rollar.jpg|thumb|250px|Curt Rollar, courtesy Doug Valitchka]][[File:Mark tinskyIII.jpg|thumb|Mark Tinsky, courtesy Doug Valitchka]][[Image:marktinsky1.jpg|thumb|P&T 2006 pipe, Sunrise]]In an article, called [[Go West]], which originally appeared in the French Pipe Mag, Erwin Van Hove has this to say about Mark Tinsky: "His more than reasonable prices, and his good-natured personality, have made Mark the favorite of many Americans. It is difficult to find an amateur who does not possess at least one pipe made by the American Smoking Pipe Company, that Tinsky founded in 1978 with his friend Curt Rollar. In 1990, after the departure of his associate, Tinsky continued on by himself building a solid reputation using quality briar from Greece and stem blanks imported from Italy, offering collectors a vast assortment of models and finishes. In short, his pipes are beautiful and well-made pieces that produce a taste beyond reproach. Neither off-the-shelf nor haute couture, they are solid hand mades for an affordable price. And by the way, it is Mark’s pleasure to carve the pipe of your dreams as he readily accepts commissions. Also noteworthy is a future changing of the guard of sorts, as his son Glenn has inherited his father’s talent, and, at the age of 16, is selling his own creations."
In an article, called [[Go West]], which originally appeared in the French Pipe Mag, Erwin Van Hove has this to say about Mark Tinsky: "His more than reasonable prices, and his good-natured personality, have made ''Mark [Tinsky]'' the favorite of many Americans. It is difficult to find an amateur who does not possess at least one pipe made by the American Smoking Pipe Company, that Tinsky founded in 1978 with his friend ''Curt Rollar''. In 1990, after the departure of his associate, Tinsky continued on by himself building a solid reputation using quality briar from Greece and stem blanks imported from Italy, offering collectors a vast assortment of models and finishes. In short, his pipes are beautiful and well-made pieces that produce a taste beyond reproach. Neither off-the-shelf nor haute couture, they are solid hand mades for an affordable price. And by the way, it is Mark’s pleasure to carve the pipe of your dreams as he readily accepts commissions. Also noteworthy is a future changing of the guard of sorts, as his son Glenn has inherited his father’s talent, and, at the age of 16, is selling his own creations."


 
== Mark Tinsky / Pipe Maker (in his own words) ==
 
== Mark Tinsky/ Pipe Maker (in his own words) ==
About the most frequently question asked of me, is, "how did you get into pipe making?" I usually plant my feet, make sure my bowl is lit, and say, "It's a long story, are you sure you want to hear it?" If the response is favorable I proceed.
About the most frequently question asked of me, is, "how did you get into pipe making?" I usually plant my feet, make sure my bowl is lit, and say, "It's a long story, are you sure you want to hear it?" If the response is favorable I proceed.


[[Image:65thtinsky.jpg|thumb|300px|Bent Apple by Mark Tinsky, Courtesy [http://www.smokershaven.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=3748 Smokers Haven 65th Anniversary set]]][[Image:marktinsky2.jpg|thumb|300px|P&T 2006 pipe, Tanblast]]
Sometime late in high school a buddy of mine got a job cleaning briar for a neighbor pipe hobbyist named Jack Weinberger. He wasn't a good worker and was pretty soon fired. Another buddy and my future partner, Curt Rollar, immediately applied for the job and got it. At first all he did was clean the tops and sides of the briar so Jack could more easily read the grain of the wood. As Curt was a good worker he stayed on while he went to college and soon became a pipe maker himself as Jack turned his hobby into a business. All my friends envied Curt's cool job as we worked at various menial teenage jobs at the time. As we had a good source of pipes (the 2cds) we started smoking pipes. Curt eventually liked making pipes so much he took it up full time.
[[Image:marktinsky3.jpg|thumb|300px|Black and Tan Volcano]]Sometime late in high school a buddy of mine got a job cleaning briar for a neighbor pipe hobbyist named Jack Weinberger. He wasn't a good worker and was pretty soon fired. Another buddy and my future partner, Curt Rollar, immediately applied for the job and got it. At first all he did was clean the tops and sides of the briar so Jack could more easily read the grain of the wood. As Curt was a good worker he stayed on while he went to college and soon became a pipe maker himself as Jack turned his hobby into a business. All my friends envied Curt's cool job as we worked at various menial teenage jobs at the time. As we had a good source of pipes (the 2cds) we started smoking pipes. Curt eventually liked making pipes so much he took it up full time.


Curt and I were avid bicyclists. We spent many summers touring the Eastern USA. Our dream, however, was to ride our bikes to Alaska. We lived in NJ. at the time. We accomplished this in 1974. I went back to school at Montclair State College, and Curt went back to work for Jack. Each summer after that we planned a major excursion. One year we rode to Nova Scotia. The following summer Curt hiked most of the Appalachian Trail before succumbing to a Giardia infection. I rode to the Gaspe Peninsula. These were only side trips, however as our new dream was to ride around the world.
Curt and I were avid bicyclists. We spent many summers touring the Eastern USA. Our dream, however, was to ride our bikes to Alaska. We lived in NJ. at the time. We accomplished this in 1974. I went back to school at Montclair State College, and Curt went back to work for Jack. Each summer after that we planned a major excursion. One year we rode to Nova Scotia. The following summer Curt hiked most of the Appalachian Trail before succumbing to a Giardia infection. I rode to the Gaspe Peninsula. These were only side trips, however as our new dream was to ride around the world.
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One morning, while still in Yugoslavia, we decided we would make full time careers as pipe makers in our own business that we would establish when we got back. That morning, American Smoking Pipe Co. was born. We wanted a name that would distinguish ourselves from the overwhelming majority of pipe makers who were European. We were proud to be American pipe makers and we would make our mark when we returned. Our return was sooner than expected but we felt we had accomplished what we had wanted and it was time to move on to fresh challenges. One of our major misconceptions was that we would work only during the winter and leave the summers for bicycling. Needless to say that once we were in business for ourselves our bicycling days were over.
One morning, while still in Yugoslavia, we decided we would make full time careers as pipe makers in our own business that we would establish when we got back. That morning, American Smoking Pipe Co. was born. We wanted a name that would distinguish ourselves from the overwhelming majority of pipe makers who were European. We were proud to be American pipe makers and we would make our mark when we returned. Our return was sooner than expected but we felt we had accomplished what we had wanted and it was time to move on to fresh challenges. One of our major misconceptions was that we would work only during the winter and leave the summers for bicycling. Needless to say that once we were in business for ourselves our bicycling days were over.


== American Smoking Pipe Co./ The Early Days: ==
<div style="clear:both"></div>
 
== American Smoking Pipe Co. ==


[[File:AmericanCR01.jpg|thumb|An early example made by Curt Rollar, and the American Smoking Pipe Co. logo, courtesy Doug Valitchka]]We returned full of hope for our new business. Hope, unfortunately, doesn't alone get you started making pipes. By this time my parents had moved to Fla., so I lived in my tent in Curt's backyard. I don't know what the neighbors' thought but as it was a beautiful fall, I was content. By this time Vic Steinhardt had separated from Jack and was running his own company. We worked for him in exchange for briar. Briar can take up to 4 months to received and up to a year to dry so we needed dry wood in order to begin. A few months after returning Curt's grandmother died, (1978). She had been living on a 50 acre rundown farm in Frenchtown, NJ. The family wanted us to live there, as caretakers, until they could sell the place. Not ones to look a gift horse in the mouth I moved from my tent to a large rambling farmhouse. What a neat place this was. Curt's grandfather had been in the egg business for a time and had put up many barns and coops that were now falling down. One of our jobs was to demolish these barns. We sold off the old barn board siding, the large oak beams, and used some of the lumber to refurbish a more modern tool shed where after installing a Franklin stove, we established our first shop.
=== The Early Days ===
[[File:AmericanCR01.jpg|thumb|An early example made by Curt Rollar, and the American Smoking Pipe Co. logo, courtesy Doug Valitchka]]
 
We returned full of hope for our new business. Hope, unfortunately, doesn't alone get you started making pipes. By this time my parents had moved to Fla., so I lived in my tent in Curt's backyard. I don't know what the neighbors' thought but as it was a beautiful fall, I was content. By this time Vic Steinhardt had separated from Jack and was running his own company. We worked for him in exchange for briar. Briar can take up to 4 months to received and up to a year to dry so we needed dry wood in order to begin. A few months after returning Curt's grandmother died, (1978). She had been living on a 50 acre rundown farm in Frenchtown, NJ. The family wanted us to live there, as caretakers, until they could sell the place. Not ones to look a gift horse in the mouth I moved from my tent to a large rambling farmhouse. What a neat place this was. Curt's grandfather had been in the egg business for a time and had put up many barns and coops that were now falling down. One of our jobs was to demolish these barns. We sold off the old barn board siding, the large oak beams, and used some of the lumber to refurbish a more modern tool shed where after installing a Franklin stove, we established our first shop.


With what money we had left from our trip we purchased a bandsaw and drill press from Sears and commissioned a machinist to make sanding discs and shafts to mount polishing wheels on. We used the lumber from the barns and old motors we found around the property to make tables and sanding and polishing set ups. It was a cold winter though. The tool shed was uninsulated and the stove inefficient. The farm house wasn't a lot better either! I guess we suffered a bit for our art that year. Some time that Spring our first wood order came in. We were so excited. Using the wood we had gotten from Vic, we had our first pipes ready for sale in July of 1979. Our first thought was to call on customers we knew from Jack's. Not many were as accepting as we expected. By then JHW was a name in pipe making and an easily salable pipe. By this time the quality had slipped as Jack had gone back to hiring high school students and he himself was incapable of making them himself. We found out that a recognizable name is a very important in selling pipes.
With what money we had left from our trip we purchased a bandsaw and drill press from Sears and commissioned a machinist to make sanding discs and shafts to mount polishing wheels on. We used the lumber from the barns and old motors we found around the property to make tables and sanding and polishing set ups. It was a cold winter though. The tool shed was uninsulated and the stove inefficient. The farm house wasn't a lot better either! I guess we suffered a bit for our art that year. Some time that Spring our first wood order came in. We were so excited. Using the wood we had gotten from Vic, we had our first pipes ready for sale in July of 1979. Our first thought was to call on customers we knew from Jack's. Not many were as accepting as we expected. By then JHW was a name in pipe making and an easily salable pipe. By this time the quality had slipped as Jack had gone back to hiring high school students and he himself was incapable of making them himself. We found out that a recognizable name is a very important in selling pipes.


<center><gallery widths=250px heights=185px caption="Early examples and nomenclature, courtesy Doug Valitchka">
<div style="clear:both"></div>
File:AmericanEarlyA01.jpg
 
File:AmericanEarlyA07.jpg
<gallery widths=300 heights=200 mode="packed-hover" caption="Early examples and nomenclature, courtesy Doug Valitchka">
File:AmericanEarlyA11.jpg
AmericanEarlyA01.jpg
File:AmerCR01.jpg|An early example made by Curt Rollar
AmericanEarlyA07.jpg
File:AmerCR08.jpg|Curt Rollar detail
AmericanEarlyA11.jpg
File:AmerCR12-81 07.jpg|Curt Rollar detail
AmerCR01.jpg|An early example made by Curt Rollar
File:AmerCR12-81 09.jpg|Curt Rollar detail
AmerCR08.jpg|Curt Rollar detail
File:AmerCR12-81 10.jpg|Curt Rollar detail
AmerCR12-81 07.jpg|Curt Rollar detail
File:AmerCR12-81 11.jpg|Curt Rollar detail
AmerCR12-81 09.jpg|Curt Rollar detail
File:American10-85CR01.jpg|Curt Rollar example from 1985
AmerCR12-81 10.jpg|Curt Rollar detail
File:American10-85CR02.jpg|1985 Detail
AmerCR12-81 11.jpg|Curt Rollar detail
File:American10-85CR09.jpg|1985 Detail
American10-85CR01.jpg|Curt Rollar example from 1985
File:American7-86CR01.jpg|Curt Rollar example from 1986
American10-85CR02.jpg|1985 Detail
File:American7-86CR07.jpg|1986 Detail
American10-85CR09.jpg|1985 Detail
File:American7-86CR08.jpg|1986 Detail
American7-86CR01.jpg|Curt Rollar example from 1986
File:American7-86CR12.jpg|1986 Detail
American7-86CR07.jpg|1986 Detail
File:American7-87CR01.jpg|Curt Rollar example from 1987
American7-86CR08.jpg|1986 Detail
File:American7-87CR07.jpg|1987 Detail
American7-86CR12.jpg|1986 Detail
File:American7-87CR09.jpg|1987 Detail
American7-87CR01.jpg|Curt Rollar example from 1987
File:American9-88CR01.jpg|Curt Rollar example from 1988
American7-87CR07.jpg|1987 Detail
File:American9-88CR07.jpg|1988 Detail
American7-87CR09.jpg|1987 Detail
File:American9-88CR08.jpg|1988 Detail
American9-88CR01.jpg|Curt Rollar example from 1988
File:AmericanHex03.jpg|Early example by Rollar and Tinsky (1989)
American9-88CR07.jpg|1988 Detail
File:AmericanHex01.jpg|Rollar and Tinsky  
American9-88CR08.jpg|1988 Detail
File:AmericanHex11.jpg|Dual Nomenclature
AmericanHex03.jpg|Early example by Rollar and Tinsky (1989)
File:AmericanHex15.jpg|Rollar and Tinsky Detail
AmericanHex01.jpg|Rollar and Tinsky  
File:AmericanBulldog01.jpg
AmericanHex11.jpg|Dual Nomenclature
File:AmericanBulldog07.jpg
AmericanHex15.jpg|Rollar and Tinsky Detail
File:AmericanBulldog08.jpg
AmericanBulldog01.jpg
AmericanBulldog07.jpg
AmericanBulldog08.jpg
American-StraightBulldog01.jpg
American-StraightBulldog01.jpg
American-StraightBulldog07.jpg
American-StraightBulldog07.jpg
American-StraightBulldog08.jpg
American-StraightBulldog08.jpg
</gallery></center>
</gallery>


A few stores that knew us did want to see what we had made. In an effort to separate ourselves from JHW style pipes we made more classical shapes than the wild freehands that were the JHW repertoire. We slowly built our inventory and did a lot of knocking on doors to gain recognition in the industry. I'd like to say our pipes immediately took off like wildfire and there was no looking back from there. What really happened was that we went through a very slow building process and we were able to take advantages of breaks when we got them.
A few stores that knew us did want to see what we had made. In an effort to separate ourselves from JHW style pipes we made more classical shapes than the wild freehands that were the JHW repertoire. We slowly built our inventory and did a lot of knocking on doors to gain recognition in the industry. I'd like to say our pipes immediately took off like wildfire and there was no looking back from there. What really happened was that we went through a very slow building process and we were able to take advantages of breaks when we got them.
Line 72: Line 78:
The farm was sold in the end of 1979 and we needed to find a cheap place to live. We had always liked the Pocono's in Eastern Pa. It was also a real cheap place to live so we packed up the shop and moved to Saylorsburg, Pa. A bucolic village that the 20th century had seemed to leave behind. At least on weekends when we looked took the rental. We moved the entire shop in a van. In our next move it took 3 of the largest U Haul trucks. As I said Saylorsburg was real quiet on the weekends, but the following Monday we found out there was a quarry located down the road . When the bog trucks rolled by our little house shook. Our shop though was inside the house in a large basement. This was a real step up in the world for us. It had a two car garage for storage and only cost $240 per month. To supplement my income I opened a karate school at the local YMCA, where I still teach today. In Saylorsburg there were few distractions and we settled down to produce a large volume of pipe making. Our business flourished and by 1982 we had saved up enough money t buy our own house. Its main attraction was a large new shop in back of the house. We moved in October of 1982. This was also the year our mentor, Jack Weinberger died.
The farm was sold in the end of 1979 and we needed to find a cheap place to live. We had always liked the Pocono's in Eastern Pa. It was also a real cheap place to live so we packed up the shop and moved to Saylorsburg, Pa. A bucolic village that the 20th century had seemed to leave behind. At least on weekends when we looked took the rental. We moved the entire shop in a van. In our next move it took 3 of the largest U Haul trucks. As I said Saylorsburg was real quiet on the weekends, but the following Monday we found out there was a quarry located down the road . When the bog trucks rolled by our little house shook. Our shop though was inside the house in a large basement. This was a real step up in the world for us. It had a two car garage for storage and only cost $240 per month. To supplement my income I opened a karate school at the local YMCA, where I still teach today. In Saylorsburg there were few distractions and we settled down to produce a large volume of pipe making. Our business flourished and by 1982 we had saved up enough money t buy our own house. Its main attraction was a large new shop in back of the house. We moved in October of 1982. This was also the year our mentor, Jack Weinberger died.


<center><gallery widths=250px heights=185px caption="Several American Smoking Pipe examples, details, and nomenclature courtesy Doug Valitchka">
<gallery widths=300 heights=200 mode="packed-hover" caption="Several American Smoking Pipe examples, details, and nomenclature courtesy Doug Valitchka">
File:American01.jpg
American01.jpg
File:American07.jpg
American07.jpg
File:American09.jpg
American09.jpg
File:AmericanFreehand01.jpg
AmericanFreehand01.jpg
File:AmericanFreehand07.jpg
AmericanFreehand07.jpg
File:AmericanMT09.jpg
AmericanMT09.jpg
File:AmericanMT10.jpg
AmericanMT10.jpg
File:AmericanMT7 01.jpg
AmericanMT7 01.jpg
File:AmericanZ07.jpg
AmericanZ07.jpg
File:AmericanMT-a01.jpg
AmericanMT-a01.jpg
File:AmericanMT-a07.jpg
AmericanMT-a07.jpg
</gallery></center>
</gallery>


=== More Recent History ===
=== More Recent History ===
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Change is the one constant you can count in life .Curt had carved out a life for himself. He got married and bought his own house in 1986 and learned kayaking which he is expert at today. In 1990 when I wanted to expand our business, hire employees etc. He decided he wanted to do other things with his life. In my opinion he was the premier pipe maker in the country; he had been making pipes for 20 years at this point and was ready for something new. I was surprised to say the least, but as we had been friends since the 7 th grade this was more important than our business partnership. We amicably settled our business, I retaining sole proprietorship of American Smoking Pipe Co.
Change is the one constant you can count in life .Curt had carved out a life for himself. He got married and bought his own house in 1986 and learned kayaking which he is expert at today. In 1990 when I wanted to expand our business, hire employees etc. He decided he wanted to do other things with his life. In my opinion he was the premier pipe maker in the country; he had been making pipes for 20 years at this point and was ready for something new. I was surprised to say the least, but as we had been friends since the 7 th grade this was more important than our business partnership. We amicably settled our business, I retaining sole proprietorship of American Smoking Pipe Co.


<center><gallery widths=300 heights=200 caption="Example and detail from 1991, courtesy Doug Valitchka">
<gallery widths=300 heights=200 mode="packed-hover" caption="Example and detail from 1991, courtesy Doug Valitchka">
File:American91MT01.jpg
American91MT01.jpg
File:American91MT07.jpg
American91MT07.jpg
</gallery></center>
</gallery>


Soon thereafter, I divorced . It was a rough year. I set up shop in a friends storage shed. It was 12x20' and large enough for two people to work in. She came to work for me as a polisher and I was soon back in business again. I guess I too was looking for a change and I incorporated pipe repair into my work for the first time. Unfortunately, this alienated a couple friends of mine on the East coast who were pipe repairmen who didn't like this encroachment. One, Howard Shulte, still isn't speaking to me today, as John Hayes went with me instead of him. I enjoyed learning pipe repair. Its a lot different than pipe making. Some of its mundane, of course, but there are a lot of interesting problem solving opportunities that I find challenging. As it turns out this was a wise decision.
Soon thereafter, I divorced . It was a rough year. I set up shop in a friends storage shed. It was 12x20' and large enough for two people to work in. She came to work for me as a polisher and I was soon back in business again. I guess I too was looking for a change and I incorporated pipe repair into my work for the first time. Unfortunately, this alienated a couple friends of mine on the East coast who were pipe repairmen who didn't like this encroachment. One, Howard Shulte, still isn't speaking to me today, as John Hayes went with me instead of him. I enjoyed learning pipe repair. Its a lot different than pipe making. Some of its mundane, of course, but there are a lot of interesting problem solving opportunities that I find challenging. As it turns out this was a wise decision.
Line 100: Line 106:
For whatever reasons the bottom of the new pipe market dropped out after 1992. We experienced a recession, anti-smoking laws stiffened, and the older pipe smoking generation was passing on and nothing was taking its place. Pipe smokers continued to smoke and need repair. They were able to smoke in fewer places and there collections became concentrated at home. They just didn't need as many pipes. Gray marketing, inflated prices by the big pipe companies also hurt new pipe sales. The interest in the used market was market was peaking as large estate collections were becoming available. Being able to smoke in fewer areas concentrated pipe smokers collections at home. Smokers didn't feel the need for new pipes as they no longer could be spread around their various habitats.
For whatever reasons the bottom of the new pipe market dropped out after 1992. We experienced a recession, anti-smoking laws stiffened, and the older pipe smoking generation was passing on and nothing was taking its place. Pipe smokers continued to smoke and need repair. They were able to smoke in fewer places and there collections became concentrated at home. They just didn't need as many pipes. Gray marketing, inflated prices by the big pipe companies also hurt new pipe sales. The interest in the used market was market was peaking as large estate collections were becoming available. Being able to smoke in fewer areas concentrated pipe smokers collections at home. Smokers didn't feel the need for new pipes as they no longer could be spread around their various habitats.


<center><gallery widths=250 heights=185 caption="Examples and detail from 1995, courtesy Doug Valitchka">
<gallery widths=300 heights=200 mode="packed-hover" caption="Examples and detail from 1995, courtesy Doug Valitchka">
File:American11-95MT01.jpg
American11-95MT01.jpg
File:American11-95MT07.jpg
American11-95MT07.jpg
File:American11-95MT09.jpg
American11-95MT09.jpg
</gallery></center>
</gallery>


 
<gallery widths=300 heights=200 mode="packed-hover" caption="Examples and detail from 1999, courtesy Doug Valitchka">
<center><gallery widths=250 heights=185 caption="Examples and detail from 1999, courtesy Doug Valitchka">
American03-99MT01.jpg
File:American03-99MT01.jpg
American03-99MT07.jpg
File:American03-99MT07.jpg
American03-99MT08.jpg
File:American03-99MT08.jpg
American9-99MT01.jpg
File:American9-99MT01.jpg
American9-99MT05.jpg
File:American9-99MT05.jpg
American9-99MT07.jpg
File:American9-99MT07.jpg
American1999Xmas01.jpg|1999 Christmas Pipe
File:American1999Xmas01.jpg|1999 Christmas Pipe
American1999Xmas07.jpg|Christmas Pipe Detail
File:American1999Xmas07.jpg|Christmas Pipe Detail
American1999Xmas09.jpg|Christmas Pipe Detail
File:American1999Xmas09.jpg|Christmas Pipe Detail
American1999Xmas11.jpg|Christmas Pipe Detail
File:American1999Xmas11.jpg|Christmas Pipe Detail
</gallery>
</gallery></center>


=== The Present ===
=== The Present ===
[[Image:65thtinsky.jpg|thumb|Bent Apple by Mark Tinsky, Courtesy [http://www.smokershaven.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=3748 Smokers Haven 65th Anniversary set]]]


My current interests include fly fishing, reading, and writing about pipes over the Internet via Alternate Smokers Pipes newsgroup and Pipe Digest. I see a great future in this new form of communication and it has begun to change the way I'm doing business already. I can now deal directly with customers as I could never do before. I've met many interesting people who have used computer programs to design pipes. I plan to straddle the line between retailers and direct sales by protecting a retailers local territory. Its a big country and now with the Internet, a big world! I'm sure there's room enough for me to do business without upsetting too many people. I plan to do further writings about people, stories, and experiences I've had in the pipe industry. I've collected some of my writings on pipes in a section called Musings from the workbench. If you're interested, please look for further updates. Time for a new bowl of tobacco.
My current interests include fly fishing, reading, and writing about pipes over the Internet via Alternate Smokers Pipes newsgroup and Pipe Digest. I see a great future in this new form of communication and it has begun to change the way I'm doing business already. I can now deal directly with customers as I could never do before. I've met many interesting people who have used computer programs to design pipes. I plan to straddle the line between retailers and direct sales by protecting a retailers local territory. Its a big country and now with the Internet, a big world! I'm sure there's room enough for me to do business without upsetting too many people. I plan to do further writings about people, stories, and experiences I've had in the pipe industry. I've collected some of my writings on pipes in a section called Musings from the workbench. If you're interested, please look for further updates. Time for a new bowl of tobacco.


<center><gallery widths=250 heigths=185 caption="Christoper Morley Cabernet series pipe from 2000, courtesy Doug Valitchka">
<div style="clear:both"></div>
File:ChristopherMorley01.jpg
File:ChristopherMorley07.jpg
File:ChristopherMorley08.jpg
File:ChristopherMorley09.jpg
File:ChristopherMorley11.jpg
File:ChristopherMorley18.jpg|Christopher Morley
</gallery></center>
<center><gallery widths=250px heights=185 caption="Capital District Pipe Club's 2009 Pipe of the Year (Sunrise Finish), Courtesy Chip Fadeley">
File:TInsky Poker3.jpg
File:TInsky Poker.jpg
File:TInsky Poker2.jpg
File:TInsky Poker4.jpg
</gallery></center>
''Chip states "I asked for two stems: one regular and one a little larger 41/2".  Instead, I received a cumberland straight tenon military type curved bit wherein the removable shank extension with the star emblem stays in place and the stem itself removes and the churchwarden stem is then inserted. I purchased the dark blue lucite stem, from Mark Tinsky, afterwards. It looks deep black."''
 


<gallery widths=300 heights=200 mode="packed-hover">
marktinsky1.jpg|P&T 2006 pipe, Sunrise
marktinsky2.jpg|P&T 2006 pipe, Tanblast
marktinsky3.jpg|Black and Tan Volcano
</gallery>


<gallery widths=300 heights=200 mode="packed-hover" caption="Christoper Morley Cabernet series pipe from 2000, courtesy Doug Valitchka">
ChristopherMorley18.jpg|Christopher Morley
ChristopherMorley01.jpg
ChristopherMorley07.jpg
ChristopherMorley08.jpg
ChristopherMorley09.jpg
ChristopherMorley11.jpg
</gallery>
<gallery widths=300 heights=200 mode="packed-hover" caption="Capital District Pipe Club's 2009 Pipe of the Year (Sunrise Finish), Courtesy Chip Fadeley">
TInsky Poker3.jpg
TInsky Poker.jpg
TInsky Poker2.jpg
TInsky Poker4.jpg
</gallery>


''Chip states "I asked for two stems: one regular and one a little larger 41/2".  Instead, I received a cumberland straight tenon military type curved bit wherein the removable shank extension with the star emblem stays in place and the stem itself removes and the churchwarden stem is then inserted. I purchased the dark blue lucite stem, from Mark Tinsky, afterwards. It looks deep black."''


=== Addendum ===
== Addendum ==
 
With the renaissance in pipe smoking I've gone back to being a full time pipe maker. Certainly, my first love! My biggest problem is trying to wade through my list of custom order pipes. I can never seem to get caught up. Just once in a while I'd like to work on a few of my own designs! I'm not complaining business is great and I'm making pipes again. We'll have to see what the rest of the decade brings but its wonderful to have reached the point where everything I make can be appreciated and quickly sold. While I certainly haven't reached the lofty status of some of the European makers as Curt and I had dreamed of doing 20 years ago; at least nationally I do have some name recognition for which I'm grateful! Maybe the next generation of American pipe makers will put us over the top.
With the renaissance in pipe smoking I ve gone back to being a full time pipe maker. Certainly , my first love! My biggest problem is trying to wade through my list of custom order pipes. I can never seem to get caught up. Just once in a while I'd like to work on a few of my own designs! I'm not complaining business is great and I'm making pipes again. We'll have to see what the rest of the decade brings but its wonderful to have reached the point where everything I make can be appreciated and quickly sold. While I certainly haven't reached the lofty status of some of the European makers as Curt and I had dreamed of doing 20 years ago; at least nationally I do have some name recognition for which I'm grateful! Maybe the next generation of American pipe makers will put us over the top.


*You may also enjoy listening to Brian Levine's interview with Mark on the [http://pipesmagazine.com/blog/radio-talk-show/the-pipes-magazine-radio-show-episode-213/ The Pipes Mazazine Radio Show]
*You may also enjoy listening to Brian Levine's interview with Mark on the [http://pipesmagazine.com/blog/radio-talk-show/the-pipes-magazine-radio-show-episode-213/ The Pipes Mazazine Radio Show]


=== Contact information: ===
== Contact Information ==
  American Smoking Pipe Co
  '''American Smoking Pipe Co.'''
  POB 13
  POB 13
  300 High St. ( only necc. for UPS/Fedex)
  300 High St. (only necc. for UPS/Fedex)
  Wolf Creek MT 59648
  Wolf Creek MT 59648
  E-mail: mailto:mt@MT.net
  E-mail: mailto:mt@MT.net
Website: http://www.amsmoke.com/


[[Category: Pipe makers by nationality]]
[[Category: Pipe makers by nationality]]
[[Category: United States]]
[[Category: United States]]
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