United Pipe Clubs of America (UPCA) Annual Meeting

By Bob Tate

During our time at the 2010 Chicago Pipe Show, we sat in on the annual meeting of the United Pipe Clubs of America (UPCA). The meeting is not open to the public, only of the representatives of Pipe Clubs can attend. We were invited to the meeting by Michael “Doc” Garr (Docgarr), Vice President of UPCA, so that we could cover and report on it. Here is a little bit about the UPCA, who they are, and what they do. [From their website]:
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2010 Doctor of Pipes Award Dinner

By Bob Tate

2010 Doctor of Pipes Award - Cigar and Pipe Dinner

On Saturday night of May 1, after the first official day of the 2010 Chicago Pipe Show, we attended the Cigar and Pipe Cocktail Party, Dinner and Doctor of Pipes Award Ceremony that was held in the New Orleans Ballroom on Bourbon Street at the Pheasant Run Resort. The Cocktail Party was 6:30-7:00pm and the dinner was 7:00-9:00pm. The tickets for the dinner were $65.00 each and were well worth the price of admission.

For the Cocktail Party, they served bacon wrapped scallop hors d’oeuvres while we all stood around chatting on Bourbon Street. At 7:00, they opened the doors to the ballroom to admit the attendees of the dinner. Upon entrance to the dinner, they were handing out ‘goodie’ bags. The bags contained a selection of about 10 various premium cigars, pipe cleaners, a tin of E. Hoffman Spilman Mixture, and a one ounce sample of Hearth & Home Larry’s Blend. Everyone was standing and sitting around socializing and having a few drinks waiting for dinner to be served.
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Artisan Pipe Maker Bob Gilbert Interview

By Bob Tate

During our time at the 2010 Chicago Pipe Show, one of the people that we had the chance to meet up with was Artisan Pipe Maker Bob Gilbert (Staffwalker). Bob is a very nice and accommodating guy and he also does some outstanding work. Bob Gilbert is from Denton, Texas and has been making pipes for almost four years. His pipes are very attractive and he puts a lot of effort into his work. Not only are his pipes attractive, but they are made with precision engineering. Kevin and I both acquired a pipe from Bob and they smoke great.

The stems are made from Ebonite and they meet up flawlessly with the shank of the pipe. The draft hole is dead center on the bottom of the bowl and a pipe cleaner runs all the way through with out any problems. He leaves a 1/32” space between the tenon and the mortise and he also drills them wide enough to accept fluffy pipe cleaners. His pipes are also very affordable. I have seen pipes that look as good as his pipes sell for double and sometimes triple what he prices his pipes at. Bob Gilbert does not currently have a website, but you can still get in touch with him.
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2010 Chicago Pipe Show - Pre-Show Part 2

By Bob Tate

I arrived in Chicago on the afternoon of Thursday April 29, to cover The 2010 Chicago Pipe Show held by the Chicagoland Pipe Collectors Club (CPCC). Kevin picked me up at the airport and we drove back to the Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, IL. and I checked into my room. The resort had accidentally booked me in a handicapped room (everything was made shorter to be assessable and I am 6 feet tall) so I had to change rooms and Kevin upgraded me to a suite next to his.

Dowstairs Sitting Room