"Someone has emailed me asking where to find this book. I searched the
ASP archives, and couldn't get a good answer. Can someone tell me
where to find it, or if it's still available?"
:
"Sadly, both Herb Wilczak and Tom Colwell, the authors of "Who Made That
Pipe" have passed, and the book has gone with them. Before Tom's death, I
discussed with him an update of the manuscript, and getting it into a
state that could be published on-line. Sadly, this didn't happen. I
don't know who ended up with the original manuscripts, and its unlikely
to ever be "published" again.
The book, photocopied and comb-bound, was really a labour of love for
these guys, both crazy about old pipes. I didn't know Herb, but Tom was a
delightful gentleman, who could get so excited about some unknown old
briar that you'd think he'd found an unsmoked Sixten in a jumble sale. He
is truly missed.
-glp"
:
"Here is a reprint of an article published in the NASPC Newsletter Pipe
Collector. I once offered to Tom Colwell to help organize his book on
computer such that updates, his burning concern, could easily be
accomplished.
.... dennis
WMTP: Memories of Tom Colwell
By Dennis Womack
With the sad passing of Prof. Colwell I can't help but wonder: who now
owns the Copyright to Who Made That Pipe, and is it now gone forever?
In my last article (Pipe Collector Vol. 14, No. 4, August 2006) I
mentioned the following from my early stumbles in rediscovering the
pipe:
"My first, naïve approach to pipe collecting was to acquire one of
every old, past USA brand or maker. Wow, may I mention again how naïve
I was! ... After acquiring about a 100 pipes I came across Tom
Colwell's book, Who Made That Pipe, and I faltered at the sheer
enormity of the under taking I had begun ... I'm not sure I have
enough patience to even write down all the pipes of the world like Tom
and Herb had done, never mind acquiring and cleaning/restoring them. ?
I met Professor Colwell at one of the NASPC shows in Columbus (2003?),
and after browsing through his many boxes of pipes realized that maybe
he and Herb did actually have one of every past USA-made pipe ever
produced! I became forever enamored of the pipe after talking to Tom
in person, and the many other helpful "famous" people of pipes that I
met at that show in Columbus."
I first saw mention of his book on .asp and wrote to Tom for a copy.
Tom was not an email or internet kind of guy, not unusual among our
elder pipesters but maybe a bit uncommon for a former college
professor. Anyway, I wrote him in July 2001 asking to buy his book,
explaining I was a "budding" pipe collector and desired to purchase
his book (I say budding in quotes because I am fairly old, but had
only just got the pipe bug).
Tom sent me the book ($21.45) and a short note of thanks. He bemoaned
the fact that he had hundreds of bits of paper lying around with new
names to add to the book. But he also had no good process for making
updates to the book. Ever the naïve one, (did I mention I was naïve?)
I wrote back with an offer (August 2001):
"I am such a neophyte to pipes I hate to make suggestions, but here I
go. There is quite a large internet group interested in pipes. Would
you mind if I poke around and look for interest on the part of some
sugar daddy to help fund publishing and maintenance? Also, I have some
computer skills and will think about ways to keep a database to make
updates regular and simple."
Tom was upset at my offer. "My answer is I would mind". He believed
the internet contained "hidden dangers" and blasted a "certain XXXXX
{I won't mention any names} of CA, who is currently putting WMTP on
e-bay and getting up to $60 per copy from the unsuspecting". Tom had
apparently sold XXXXX a large number of WMTP supposedly to distribute
to members of his local CA pipe club. He went on to say XXXXX probably
wasn't breaking any laws, but the He and Mrs. Wilczak (widow of Herb,
the coauthor of WMTP) were repelled at what he saw as ripping people
off. Somehow Tom linked this episode with my offer to help to find a
publisher: "Imagine, then, that he {XXXXX} were to get wind of your
{me} search for help, and imagine, too, that he has the money to
offer, the arrangement is not one I would be comfortable with - nor
I'm sure would Mrs. Wilczak".
Tom, ever the gentleman, then let me down softly. "But please
understand I take your search for help idea as a kind offer of
assistance, and it is much appreciated." I had no more contact with
Tom, except for an occasional note to remind my son, then at West
Point, to come to a local pipe club meeting, until the NASPC pipe show
(August 2003?). He remembered our letter exchanges (he wrote the full
page plus letter on a type writer, not being of email persuasion).
At the show he had a table with maybe five or six boxes crammed full
of older generation estates. He traded me a new Stanwell for an old
Kaywoodie (KBB) I brought along. He knew this particular Kaywoodie
lineage from heart, a 1935 era something or other! Pipe picture and
blowup of the unique logo is shown below (I believe this is the pipe,
I didn't keep very good records of which one I traded to Tom). Tom
truly believed the old American pipes smoke better than today's high
grades.
I didn't know Tom well but will miss him. And now I wonder, what
becomes of WMTP? Who has the rights to carry on publishing?
Dennis Womack"
