The Pipes Magazine Radio Show – Episode 171
- Homepage
- Radio Talk Show
- The Pipes Magazine Radio Show – Episode 171
- Kevin Godbee
- Dec 22, 2015
- 1 min read
Kevin Godbee
Thank you for joining us for The Pipes Magazine Radio Show—the only radio talk show for pipe smokers and collectors. We broadcast weekly, every Tuesday at 8 pm eastern USA time and are available on nearly all podcast sites and apps. Listen on your computer, tablet, phone and even in the car! Our Featured Interview tonight is with pipe maker John Crosby. John holds a Masters in Fine Art from Purdue University, where he teaches the same. In addition to making pipes, John also does sketches and paintings of pipes as well. In the "Pipe Parts" segment Brian will discuss strange Christmas traditions from around the world. We will have Christmas music and more in this Special Extended Holiday Edition of The Pipes Magazine Radio Show. Sit back, relax with your pipe, and enjoy The Pipes Magazine Radio Show!
Tonight’s show is sponsored by Sutliff-Tobacco.com, CupOJoes.com, SmokingPipes.com, Missouri Meerschaum, 4noggins.com, Cornell & Diehl, and Savinelli Pipes and Tobaccos. Please give them some consideration when making your next pipe or tobacco purchase.
We hope you enjoy our 1-hour show produced just for you—the pipe smoker and collector. The following link will launch a pop-up player. Alternatively, you can download the show in iTunes and other podcast sites and apps after the initial broadcast is complete here.
Written by Kevin Godbee
View all posts by: Kevin Godbee
More Pipes and Tobaccos Articles
8 Responses
Smokingpipes.com Updates
Watch for Updates Twice a WeekSite Sponsors
Recent Posts
Welcome to The Pipes Magazine Radio Show Episode 619. Our featured interview tonight is with Corey Hays. Corey is a 26-year old pipe smoker that is part of our ongoing series of pipe smokers that are under the age of 30. He is from Mississippi and has never lived more than 20-minutes away from The Country Squire Tobacconist. He was influenced to smoke a pipe by reading J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and 20th Century American History. He has been smoking pipes for three years. At the top of the show, Brian will have a tobacco review of a special tobacco that you could only get a pipe show.
Welcome to The Pipes Magazine Radio Show Episode 618. Our featured interview tonight is with AJ Khaled. AJ is a 22-year old pipe smoker that is part of our ongoing series of pipe smokers that are under the age of 30. Interestingly, he wasn’t initially inspired to take up the pipe by The Lord of the Rings, but more so by the author Tolkien himself while he was reading some of his other works. AJ has some really unique custom made pipes where he gave design specifics to and had them made by pipe makers Chris Askwith and Arcangelo Ambrosi. At the top of the show, we’ll have an “Ask the Pipemaker” segment with pipe artisan Jeff Gracik.
The other day, I was having a conversation with a friend about tobacco moisture. He tends to believe that a freshly opened tin presents the blender’s notion of the ideal moisture content for that tobacco, and that’s how it should be smoked. He’s not wrong, but as with so many things in our wacky world, it’s a little more complicated than that. When thinking about ideal moisture content for any specific tobacco, there are criteria for determining “correct” levels that can sometimes be at odds with one another. The proper moisture content for packaging tobacco, for instance, may not be the ideal moisture for smoking it. By way of background, let’s have a very brief and simplified look at the life of our beloved leaves once they’ve left the curing barns. Whole leaves or strips, the lamina of the leaves with the midrib removed, are boxed or baled quite dry for storage and transport. Before the tobacco can be worked, it has to be conditioned to a moisture level that allows it to be handled without shattering. There are various ways to accomplish this, but the end result is leaf that is pliable and easily manipulated without breaking. It can then be pressed into soft cakes that are cut into ribbons, or blended in stacks destined to be turned into plugs or flakes. At this point, it’s too moist to be considered “finished,” and has to go through a redrying stage. Since all of these steps may take place over a matter of months, or even years, tobacco can go through several conditioning/redrying cycles before it becomes the finished product. When it’s time to package a blend, the moisture level of the tobacco may have to be adjusted once again. If it’s too damp, there’s an increased risk of mold blooms, either within the sealed tin, or when spores are introduced after the tin is opened. This is never a good thing, so there’s a fairly hard upper limit to how much moisture is acceptable at this stage. If the leaf is too dry, on the other hand, things get troublesome in a different way. Dry, fragile tobacco can break into small fragments, even to the point of some of the leaf turning to dust during handling when packing the tins, and when those tins are jostled about during transport. This, again, is not ideal, establishing a lower limit for moisture content. Then, there’s the tobacco’s potential for aging to be considered. In order for these biological and chemical changes to take place, there has to be enough moisture to support the metabolic processes of the microorganisms involved in the various stages of fermentation that begin once the tin is sealed, and to allow for equilibration of various volatile byproducts of those processes. Finally, within the relatively wide window of upper- and lower-boundary conditions, there’s the moisture level for best smokability to be considered. That’s where things can get a little tricky. Different smokers have different preferences, and this is confounded by the fact that different types of tobaccos behave differently when their relative moisture content changes. To my palate, mixtures containing high percentages of latakia or oriental tobaccos generally tend to smoke and taste their best when on the dry side, while blends that predominantly comprise Virginia tobaccos like a bit more moisture to bring out their sweetness. But, this is a very general guideline, and I often find exceptions. Sometimes the same tobacco can be quite mercurial in its presentation depending on how damp or dry it is. The other day, I had a bowl of a latakia and Virginia-rich flake, fresh out of the tin with no drying time, and it was delightful, with the sweetness of the virginias taking center stage. A subsequent bowl, after a bit of drying time, rendered the orientals more forward, softened the sweetness, and polished the sharper edges of the latakia’s flavor profile. Same tobacco; two very different experiences. Additionally, things like ambient air temperature and relative humidity can play a significant role in the way any tobacco burns, but more importantly, how it tastes. (When it’s hot and humid, I generally abandon my latakia mixtures in favor of VAs and VA/perique blends.) If you haven’t experimented with this, it’s a fun thing to play with. Take enough tobacco out to fill your next bowl, and let it sit out for a while – anything from a few minutes to an hour or two, depending on the climate. (For those in tropical zones, this might actually have the opposite result. Yes, there really are people in some parts of the world who keep their tins sealed to keep moisture from getting in, not out.) See how it tastes in comparison to fresh from the tin. When tobacco is on the dry side, a gentle hand when packing is advised. What about when we rediscover an opened, long-forgotten tin whose contents have become all but desiccated? Can it be brought back to life? While the tobacco won’t return 100% to its best form, as some of the volatile components from aging will be lost to the ether, it can certainly be made smokeable again, and might yield some pleasant surprises. Of course, first give it a try as is, and see what it’s like. There are a couple of good ways to bring the moisture level up, and some not so good ways. I don’t recommend spraying it with water, putting apple or potato slices in the tin, or any other drastic measures. Tobacco takes up moisture much more slowly than loses it, and it will take time for all the strands to reach equilibrium, so a gentle approach is advised. My favorite is to put the leaf in a small bowl, cover the bowl with a damp cloth or paper towel, and set a plate on top. Keep an eye on it over a day or two, checking the progress periodically and ensuring the cloth remains damp. This also works […]
Welcome to The Pipes Magazine Radio Show Episode 617. Our featured guest tonight is Jon David Cole. JD is the Owner/Tobacconist at The Country Squire in Jackson, MS, and the accompanying online store. We’ll have JD and Brian talking about what’s new at the store and in the business in general, including Scandinavian Tobacco Group’s acquisition of Mac Baren. At the top of the show, Brian will discuss pipe shows, pipe show organizing, and the Las Vegas International Pipe Show.
Welcome to The Pipes Magazine Radio Show Episode 616. Our featured interview tonight is with Gabe Hall. Gabe is a 23-year old conservative Californian from Bakersfield that is involved in politics part time. He is part of our newer ongoing series of pipe smokers that are under the age of 30. Both his story of starting pipe smoking, and his smoking routine are a little bit different than the usual story. 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.
Ok, the old Pundit is gonna say this only once. Well, maybe twice: It’s beach time! Some of my happiest pipe-smoking memories were created on the back deck of an original Pawleys Island, S.C., beach house. Listening to the waves dash and flop were pure music, highlighted by the squealing laughter of children frolicking along the beautiful Atlantic shoreline. Now, before you go bellowing about shark attacks, Pundit has his No. 1 Rule about sharks and warning flags, even if no flags are flying on an empty stretch of coastline. Having fished the surf many a day and evening, and even occasionally on a high pier resting on mighty shell-encrusted pilings and stretching out over the aqua-tinted waters, it became apparent that predators with large, sharp teeth prowled menacingly close to splashing bathers So, Pundit Beach Rule No. 1, ankle-deep wading and strolling, only. Make quick swims if it is not too windy, and never if menacing fins are seen cutting the water like the bow of a battleship. Rule adjustments might be needed for kiddies and exuberant beach paddlers in the family. Another necessary adjustment in the rule is no swimming alone. OK, beach lesson over. You don’t have to take Pundit’s word. Check out sea-going pipe-smoking experts: Herman Melville, who knew a thing or two about ferocious whales, and Sir Ernes Henry Shackleton, a famed adventurer who took on frozen seas. No sharks, but the message loudly proclaims oceans harbor many a menace, some large in body with huge teeth and some just frozen solid mountains of floating ice. And while checking up on Pundit, you might enjoy Chuck Stanion’s Herman Melville’s Literary Pipes February 4, 2022, in Pipe Line and his masterful story on the Shipwreck of Shackleford’s Endurance, also in Pipe Line. Now back to Pundit’s time on the beach, in a chair at sunrise on a screened-in deck, seas dancing, pipe in hand. Vacations today seem to be all hurly-burly, hurry, scurry, and worry. Back when a seaside deck beckoned, I packed not only fishing equipment, and some clothes, but also a shoulder bag full of pipes and enough tobacco to survive a voyage with Sir Shackleton. Each morning, noon, and night watch was accompanied by different pipes and different blends. Pipes ranged from Dunhills, Cavicchis, Ser Jacopos, Ashtons, Petersons, and Savinellis. Blends tended to be simple: aromatics and English containing various additives, of course. On rare occasions, I made a Pundit blend, which combined English with Latakia and aros with Virginia. Pundit blends were meh, but there were Cornell & Diehl, Capstan, Samuel Gawith, Three Nuns, Wessex, and the late lamented McClelland, plus a couple of others to save the rare moments. Pundit beach time was also a time for testing THESIS (taste, heat, enjoyment, strength, issues, satisfaction). There is but one way to do this properly and that is to employ a new cob pipe. Cobs give a good overall THESIS, sort of the cheaper version of precious sea-borne meerschaums. Cobs are, in a way, landlocked meers, and provide an excellent idea of how a particular blend will emerge. Ok, enough of experimentation. We are on a beach vacation, right? Observing the sun rising over an orange-lit horizon with a pipe and a cup of coffee is simply put, enchanting. Sun and ocean seem to merge for a brief moment in a blur of beauty. You can find yourself at the beach, leaning back in a chair, letting the morning-salted breeze sweep over you whilst you puff gently in between sips. Ahh, that’s a morning on the beach. There is nothing quite like it in the Pundit’s mind. And now for a couple of thoughts from real experts on sea adventures: Herman Melville is an American author, poet, and novelist best known for “Moby Dick.” But let us not forget Cornell & Diehl’s Melville at Sea tobacco series of blends: Billy Budd, Redburn, and John Marr, other noted works from Melville’s pen as well. It is better to fail in originality, than to succeed in imitation. He who has never failed somewhere, that man cannot be great. Failure is the true test of greatness—Herman Melville. Then there is Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton. Pipes, as mentioned by Chuck in his excellent piece on the great explorer, who relied on his pipe when the going got rough. Through endurance we conquer― Ernest H. Shackleton And finally, a Pipe Smoker of the Past cannot go without mentioning: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, born May 22, May 1859, and died July 7, 1930. If you are struggling to identify Sir Doyle in your mind, then you might be too young to be reading this. Of course, he is the prodigious author of the great detective Sherlock Holmes novels. Holmes and his drama are must-reads on any pipe-smoker’s novel list. ‘Nuff said! It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth—Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Hi Brian,
I see I logged in correctly tonight.
My strange pipe tradition is to smoke my Santa Clause Meerschaum once a year, during the Christmas Season.
John Crosby dove into the deep end of the pool when he visited the Chicago Pipe Show 4 months after starting a pipe. I think he exemplifies the need for a steady job while getting into pipe carving. You don’t get rich quick. It is refreshing to see someone who makes a pipe just for the art in itself. I believe I have seen him at the Chicago show. Anyone who like McClelland #5100 is a friend of mine. Great interview.
Note to Brian – a “boilermaker”, in Pittsburgh, is a shot and a beer i.e., a shot with a beer chaser.
Music – Like old blue eyes, you can’t beat der Bingen at the holidays.
Rant/Rave – I agree
Have a nice Christmas, Brian.
My holiday tradition is smoking my Ben Wade Golden Matt Freehand that I bought 30 years ago at Tinder Box, it was the first high end pipe I ever purchased, it cost $150.00 and I had to put it in layaway and make payments on it. John Crosby was a very interesting individual. Great choice for music, I like the old traditional Christmas songs. Have a Merry Christmas Brian!
Another fantastic show, Brian! Helped me survive yet another session on the Elliptical Machine of Death and Despair this afternoon… I Especially enjoyed the unusual Christmas traditions, along with Bing, and Burl. We have a skeleton crew for Christmas at our home this year too, but looking forward to a more relaxed celebration that will afford. Hope your son finds a way to bless some folks, and finds himself blessed as a result.
I the interview with John Crosby was fantastic! John was very active on the Pipemaker’s forum when I first started making pipes in 2006, and I enjoyed meting him at a show in 2007. I think the first was St. Louis in 2007, but it may have been Chicago that year. I found a lot of encouragement and inspiration from both his pipes and his posts on the forum. Both Kurt Bosi and Tyler Beard helped a bunch of us coming up in those years!
John has his own style, and he found it early on. Always enjoyed seeing him at the pipe shows, and miss him and seeing his excellent pipes! His pipe concept sketches are wonderful too!
Merry Christmas to you and your family, Brian!
Hi Brian, thanks for having me on. It was a great time. See you in Chicago this May!
My holiday tradition is to smoke a 1940’s Kaywoodie Churchwarden that I restored. It only gets smoked twice a year, Christmas and Thanksgiving.
“Krampus” is also a Bavarian (Alpine region) tradition in Germany that my mothers family celebrated. We put out shoes out on Dec 5th in hopes of receiving candy and treats OR switches if we were bad. Somehow, I always came away with treats. A few years ago, I found this ceramic Krampus that goes on our fireplace hearth that evening. My wife hates it and the tradition, so that makes it even more fun!
http://s1295.photobucket.com/user/upshallfan/media/Misc%20Pictures/Krampus_Hearth_zpsfi3l1t4v.jpg.html
The Xmas traditions segment was a lot of fun. I don’t have a smoking Holiday tradition but I have watched “A Christmas Carol” with Alistair Aim every Xmas Eve for some 40+ years. “Family Guy” would tell you Krampus serves the useful purpose of punishing bad children while Santa Claus just wants to spoil them.
A number of years ago at the KC show I met John Crosby, Adam Davidson and Steve Morrisette. Really nice fellows all of whom were just starting to make their way in the pipe world. I can’t remember if I bought my first of two Crosby’s at the show or off his web site. The second I got at the St. Louis Show. I don’t usually care for big bulky pipes so John’s pipes were made to order for me. For small pipes they have a good amount of wood around the bowl which I need. Maybe John will return to pipe making someday.
Loved the Bing Crosby song. Very few of us today realize what a major player Bing was in the entertainment industry in his day. Huge in record sales, huge in the movies, huge on radio, and he didn’t do bad on TV. I have always liked Burl Ives as a singer. I expected to hear “Holly, Jolly Christmas” but the reading of “The Night Before Christmas” as wonderful. Probably the more so because I didn’t get around to listening to the show until Xmas evening.
Your advice to your son was spot on. If you are going to do a job do the best you can with a positive helping attitude. You will feel better and those you help will be very appreciative. And every once in a while you will have a significant impact on someone’s life.
Hi Brian,
The St. Louis Pipe Club would greatly appreciate your mentioning our upcoming Pipe Show and Swap, February 20th, 2016 at the Webster Groves Masonic Lodge. I posted more details in the forum section under radio show and general discussion. Also, anyone interested, that is not on our mailing list, may contact me for more information. The show web site is: pipeshow2016@gmail.com. My name and phone number is: Bob Metzler, 7630 Bracken Circle, St. Louis, MO 63123 314-434-0920. You may also contact a fellow show coordinator, Harry Malin, by text during the day at 314-619-0822 or by phone at that number in the evening.
Hi Brian,
Fantastic show! Our only Xmas tradition is listening to the soundtrack of ‘Charlie Brown Christmas’ by Vince Guaraldi Trio. Now, this year, a funny thing happened – my wife and I forgot to listening to it but our little 2.5 years old daughter put it by mistake in our CD player! It was a surprise to see the songs playing even though we had forgot about it!
The interview with John Crosby was great! I really love art and loved the way he described pipe making. It was very ‘poetic’. For instance, when he talked about the pleasure of polishing the Briar. I listened the whole thing twice!
Great song. I listened it 4 or 5 times again since the show. The closing with ‘The Night Before Christmas’ was very touching indeed.