Even though the Chicago Pipe Show officially starts today, on Saturday, May 1st, lots of things have already happened. The Chicago Pipe Show is in it’s 15th year. It has long ago become the largest, most prominent pipe show in the world.
It has grown so large that even though the official show is on the weekend, there is a “pre-show” that starts on Wednesday. After the official show ends, there is a “post-show” on Monday. We arrived on Tuesday, and spent 10 hours on Wednesday inspecting and logging 515 Estate Pipes, but more on that later.
Here are photos of various aspects and activities from the pre-show days.
For more of our coverage of the 2010 Chicago Pipe Show, Click on the following links:
The Conference Room Table in Our Suite
We needed a “sweet suite” to accommodate the sale of 515 estate pipes from a prominent Hollywood celebrity. PipesMagazine.com was chosen by his estate to broker the sale since we have contacts in the industry. We are not at liberty to name the celebrity at this point.
Here’s some more pictures of our two-story suite at the beautiful Pheasant Run Resort. The Living Room The King Size Bed The Whirlpool Tub Pipesmagazine.com Sexy Secretary Looking Upstairs from the Conference Room The Library More of the Library in the Resort Pheaston Run has a Replica of Bourbon Street in New Orleans Bourbon Street The Participants in the Pipe Making Workshop The Participants in the Pipe Making Workshop Pipe Making Workshop Pipe I Wonder What This One Will Look Like When it is Done? Sand Blast Machine Alex Florov, Brian Ruthenberg, Rex Poggenpohl, Jeff Gracik Dunhill Estate Pipes in our Room We Inspected Hundreds of Dunhill Pipes It was a lot of work, but still fun dealing with hundreds of Dunhills Brian Levine & Sykes Wilford of SmokingPipes.com Logging Pipes
We spent 10 hours sorting and logging pipes into spreadsheets. We started at 1:30 pm and went straight until 7:30 pm. Then we took a three hour break for dinner and smoking. We resumed our work at 10:30 and finished at 1:00 am. It's a Tough Job, But Somebody's Got to Do It Welcome to the Chicago Pipe Show 2010 Bob Tate & Kevin Godbee in Our PipesMagazine.com Shirts Kevin Godbee, Mike "Doc" Garr, Bob Tate Pre-Show Pipes for Sale Beautiful Grain on this Pipe Gorgeous Bird's Eye Try Not to Drool Bob Tate Inspecting Pipes Joel Shurtleff of TheBriarPipe.com We are in Pipe Heaven Bob Gilbert aka Staffwalker on PM.com I Feel Like a Kid in a Candy Store Bob Tate & John Tolle - Everyone Should have a NASPC Membership More and more Pipes! Russ Ouellette & Bob Tate Laurita Bonita Had to Go Home for the weekend and let the boys play Headin' Home in PipesMagazine.com Style Bob Gilbert's Pipes The Smoking Tent A Haze of Smoke Jeff A. Burt-Gracik's Pipes Jeff Gracik
Publisher & Founder of PipesMagazine.com
Certified Master Tobacconist (CMT) #1858 from TobacconistUniversity.org
My grandfather didn't smoke a pipe, but my uncle and some of my elementary school teachers did. In 1998, my neighbor Sam invited me out, and we ended up back at his place where there was a cigar humidor, and pipe rack on the coffee table. I had my first cigar, and then decided to try pipes too. I love the elegance and relaxation of smoking a pipe. In 2002, I started learning how to make websites, do SEO, and create content. I had a cigar content site and forums from 2005-2008 when it was bought out. In 2009, I launched PipesMagazine.com, which is now the largest, busiest community forums, and article content site for pipe and tobacco enthusiasts. We have one of the longest running pipe and tobacco focused podcasts since 2012 with lifetime industry veteran, Brian Levine.
Kevin,
I know that she’s taken, but that secretary!
Phooey on pipes!
The Show looks fantastic ! Wish I were there ! Thanks Guys for letting us share in what went on . Thanks Again .
Thanks for the vicarious peek.
Wow, wow and wow. Looks great and wish I could be there too. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for sharing the pics! Cool stuff and good times 😀
Thanks guys, that Bob Gilbert makes some really beautiful pipes, doesn’t he? For what it’s worth, you guys do a hell’va job covering the various shows and it’s appreciated!!
Someday I’ll make it to the show. Lived in N. Chicago from 1984 to 1987, wherein my ex threw out my pipe collection. Never made it to the show then, either, if it existed. Anyway, I have now rebuilt my pipe collection to 35 pipes, and will start to post them on my new web site, http://the-pure-epicurean.com
Very cool preview to the show. I lived about 5 miles from the Pheasant Run and now i’m down here in Fla drooling at all that pipe euphoria LOL!!!
what an amazing show..i’m so impressed with what pipe magazine have done.i hope one day i’ll be there.
Hey Guys,Thanks for keeping everyone updated on what’s going on in the pipe smoking world. Now if we could just get you to do a weekly podcast that won’t die in 6 months or a year that would be great.
Seriously, thanks for all your hard work.
Nelson
SHPC Boston
Tonight on The Pipes Magazine Radio Show, we welcome longtime pipe smoker and collector Mark Berman. Mark began smoking a pipe in the late 1960s while studying engineering at Kansas State University, starting—as many did—with aromatic tobaccos before moving on to Virginias, VaPers, and classic English blends. His first brand-name pipe was a Savinelli, followed by a Dunhill, and by 1999–2000 he attended his first pipe show. Today, Mark owns an extraordinary collection of roughly 1,500 pipes, focusing primarily on American makers. His collection is so impressive that he has exhibited pipes at shows simply to share them, not sell them. At the top of the show we’ll have an Ask the Pipemaker segment with renowned pipe artisan Jeff Gracik.
Our featured guest tonight is Jon David Cole. Jon David is the Owner/Tobacconist at The Country Squire in Jackson, MS, and the accompanying online store. Brian and Jon David will talk about their favorite customer interactions, and after 55 years, The Country Squire is moving to a new location that will include a full cocktail lounge. This is a colossal undertaking that is quite interesting to hear about. They will be expanding their shipping, blending, and smoking lounge. They are moving into a standalone building which will ensure against complaints of smoking from neighbors. The soft opening is expected in February 2026.
Our featured guest tonight is longstanding pipe collector Tom Pfaeffle. Tom is a long-time member of the pipe collecting community and enthusiast whose experience spans decades of engagement with briar pipes, tobacco culture, and pipe show attendance. His great-grandfather smoked a corncob pipe, and he started smoking and collecting pipes in the 1970s. Pipe shows were quite different then with few to no pipe makers, and lots of hobbyist showing their collections that weren’t for sale. At the top of the show in Pipe Parts, Brian will discuss what are referred to as “magic pipes”. This is in response to a question sent in by one of our listeners.
Our featured guest tonight is Austrian pipe maker Chris Ruetz. He is an artisan pipe maker from Tyrol, Austria, who discovered his love for pipes at 16 and later crafted his first one from cherrywood on his living room table, sparking a lifelong dedication to the craft. Since 2021 he has been a full-time maker under the name Ruetz Pipes. His work is known for its organic forms, and creative surface combinations, making each piece a unique smoking experience and artistic expression. At the top of the show we will have an Ask the Tobacco Blender segment with Jeremy Reeves. Jeremy is the Head Blender at Cornell & Diehl, which is one of the most popular boutique pipe tobacco companies in the USA, and one of the only pipe tobacco producers making product in the US.
Welcome to The Pipes Magazine Radio Show Episode 691. On tonight’s show Rick Newcombe reminisces about Danish pipe making legend Jess Chonowitsch. Jess passed away on November 28, 2025. The impact he had on artisan pipe making is immeasurable. Rick is likely one of the first American pipe collectors to meet Jess going back to the year 1995. He has also been one of the biggest promoters of Jess’s work over several decades and has tons of great stories to celebrate the life of this “Great Dane” pipe artisan. Chuck Stanion does a great job of telling Jess Chonowitsch’s story on SmokingPipes.com. At the top of the show in Pipe Parts, Brian will discuss the pipes he acquired this past year.
Welcome to The Pipes Magazine Radio Show Episode 690. Our featured guest on tonight’s show is artisan pipe maker JD Wolf. JD just started smoking pipes a little over a year ago, and he started making them at about the same time. His impetus for becoming a pipe maker came from the problem that his preferences in artistic handmade pipes were out the reach of his budget. He strives to make precise smoking instruments that are also a handcrafted piece of art that the “average workingman” can afford. At the top of the show in Pipe Parts, Brian will have a holiday gift giving guide for pipe smokers.
Kevin,
I know that she’s taken, but that secretary!
Phooey on pipes!
The Show looks fantastic ! Wish I were there ! Thanks Guys for letting us share in what went on . Thanks Again .
Thanks for the vicarious peek.
Wow, wow and wow. Looks great and wish I could be there too. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for sharing the pics! Cool stuff and good times 😀
Thanks guys, that Bob Gilbert makes some really beautiful pipes, doesn’t he? For what it’s worth, you guys do a hell’va job covering the various shows and it’s appreciated!!
Someday I’ll make it to the show. Lived in N. Chicago from 1984 to 1987, wherein my ex threw out my pipe collection. Never made it to the show then, either, if it existed. Anyway, I have now rebuilt my pipe collection to 35 pipes, and will start to post them on my new web site, http://the-pure-epicurean.com
Very cool preview to the show. I lived about 5 miles from the Pheasant Run and now i’m down here in Fla drooling at all that pipe euphoria LOL!!!
what an amazing show..i’m so impressed with what pipe magazine have done.i hope one day i’ll be there.
Hey Guys,Thanks for keeping everyone updated on what’s going on in the pipe smoking world. Now if we could just get you to do a weekly podcast that won’t die in 6 months or a year that would be great.
Seriously, thanks for all your hard work.
Nelson
SHPC Boston
Very nice