Pipe Smoker Survey 2010
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Kevin Godbee - Sep 5, 2011
- 1 min read
Last year, in September 2010, PipesMagazine.com conducted a survey of 867 pipe smokers. We are not aware of any other present-day market research available for this micro-niche market, with one exception. Dr. Michael Garr is director of the Wilkes University Survey Research Center. He is also a pipe smoker and member of the online pipe community known as "Doc Garr". He is a highly trained and skilled professional in surveys and market research. He conducted a survey a few years ago of 339 pipe smokers.
It is his original survey, along with his assistance and mentoring, that our new study was based on. The reason for the delay in publishing the results is that we desired to produce the final report in a high quality glossy format with striking graphics. Although we used the most professional software for processing the results, it produces what we felt were unsightly charts and graphs. Now, a year later, with only half of the report re-designed to look pretty, we have decided to no longer withhold the results and make them available in their original form. Below is an example of the type of charts we were creating from scratch to look nice.
Aside from looking attractive, another element that will be missing from the raw report is additional analytical and editorial information. For example, we feel it is important to add comments to some of the results, like question number 3, which asks; What / Who influenced you to start smoking a pipe?
Key Point: While the largest portion of respondents (35%) said that they started smoking a pipe out of curiosity, and the smallest amount, less than 1% said they were influenced by advertising to start smoking a pipe. This begs the question – What exactly creates the curiosity to try a pipe? It is worth noting that even if advertising does not influence someone to start smoking a pipe, other numerous studies have shown that advertising does influence brand preferences and where they purchase.
Without further adieu, we bring you the results of the Pipe Smoker Survey 2010 in a downloadable PDF.
You can view and download the Pipe Smoker Survey 2010 here.
Written by Kevin Godbee
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Walking about a rock-strewn riverbank, flyrod in hand and pipe clenched firmly, it came time to just sit and observe life around me. It was a misty morning, coolish, water rushing on its destination to, where? Maybe the Gulf of Mexico, or to join one of Tennesseeâs great river chains. A pensive moment among the hoary rivers. Moss-covered rocks, patched in green rugs and teeming with unknown squiggly activity, caught my eye. As did a blue heron (Ardea Herodias). The given avian sex, male or female, escaped me as I watched this great fisherman bend its lean neck and long dagger-shaped pointed beak close to the waterâs surface. Faster than the eye could follow, the heron stabbed a small fish, leaving me in wonder about what else swam below the rushing mountain stream. Memories of past fly-fishing adventures flooded over me as I smoked my pipe. The peaceful process of pipe smoking presents a more thoughtful approach to life, methinks. The entire script of packing, lighting, puffing, tamping, and relighting, adds to (with many remorseful apologies to Mr. E=MC2) a more thoughtful approach to our existence on this beautiful blue orb floating in the black vacuum of time. Albert Einsteinâs theories of relativity (and, yes, he smoked a pipe tobacco blend named Revelation, shadowing the name of his theories), and quantum mechanics are the basics today for modern physics (Pundit was once overcome with trying to parse physics in Dr. Neill G. Whitelawâs Physics 101 class). The spring 1960 issue of Presbyterian College Magazine has one of the best quotes about Dr. Whitelaw that sticks with the Pundit to this day: âAsk any Presbyterian College graduate of the past quarter-century to name PC’s toughest taskmaster, and his likely reply will be Dr. Neill G. Whitelaw.â Ah, yes. And to add to Dr. Whitelawâs luster in the Punditâs memory is that his classroom was his laboratory. Across the top of the spacious room was a shelf, lined with empty tobacco cans: Half and Half, Granger, Prince Albert, Bond Street, Velvet, Tuxedo, Dial, Four Roses, Dunhillâs Babyâs Bottom, St. Bruno, Carter Hall, and, of course, Revelation. These are just a few names locked away in the Punditâs memory of those days long ago lost in Physics 101, attempting to understand not only Dr. Whitelaw but also his friend, Albert Einstein! And Pundit has always admired Mr. E=MC2âs quotes on the subject of pipes and finding the sublime existence surrounding us: I believe that pipe smoking contributes to a somewhat calm and objective judgment in all human affairsâAlbert Einstein, 1950. A pipe is the fountain of contemplation, the source of pleasure, the companion of the wise; and the man who smokes, thinks like a philosopher, and acts like a Samaritan. And hopefully, the Pundit isnât becoming too Kafkaesque here, but over the years, pipes have become a psychological as well as a philosophical buttress for me. Mayhaps Pundit has been reading a bit too much over the holidays and early weeks of the New Year. Trying to catch up on his education, as it were. Now, this epistle is no Kafka âMetamorphosisâ in which the main character becomes an insect. I have known a mean creature or two across the decades. But I have yet to confront a two-legged insect, except on one or two occasions on lands far, far away. Ahem, and where is this taking us today? The simple answer is this is to get us off and running for a spanking new season of pipes and tobacco. And as we all know, our pipes and tobacco blends are both a bit psychological and philosophical, if only in a very basic sense. Iâm positive you possess a pipe or three you consider indispensable to your well-being mentally. I do. Pundit has a rather large galley of best briar friends. This, after years of smoking my beloved pipes, brings me to the question of just how this all happens. What is the precise connection? In the beginning, the pipe can be a bit sour, overpowering for a newcomer to the leaf. Then after break-in and conversations with veteran pipe smokers, the vision and some fresh understanding beam up to the frontal lobe. It takes time for the new pipe smoker to find just the right pipe and a go-to blend of the precious leaf. Revelation, by the by, is a recommendation for rookies of the leaf! Not too strong, not too sweet. Just right. Thatâs the fun part for the frontal lobe, donâtcha see. Reasoning, creativity, and a host of other executive functions filter through that part of the brain. Providing you were blessed with a big brain. Just sayin.â Ok, class, this part of the lecture is complete. A pop quiz comes at the end of this session. And just to prove the Pundit walks the walk and talks the talk (people who know me well say itâs yakity-yak all the time), new pipe orders and tobacco are on their way to the herd and closet. Make no mistake, the Revelation Match is among the orders. And just in case you are interested PipesMagazine.com had an interesting discussion in its forums section a couple of years ago on Revelation and other long-gone blends. As for the Pundit, I enjoy Cornell & Dihel’s Epiphany, a match for the old Revelation. For one of his great in-depth reviews, check out Jiminks on Epiphany. And now for our pipe-smoking author and poet of February: British-American poet, W. H. Auden, born in York, England, Feb. 21, 1907, and died Sept. 29, 1973. Auden was an occasional pipe smoker and won the Pulitzer Prize in 1948. And from one of his poems these words of wisdom: The most important truths are likely to be those which society at that time least wants to hear. Now from the Pundit: Here is to hoping we can enjoy our pipes more in this New Year. Happy pipe, happy life.
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I just read through the full report, and I found it fascinating. I myself did participate in the survey, and it’s interesting to see where my answers fell with regards to everybody else. I was particularly blown away by the average level of education of the members. Probably the highest on average of any self-selected group that I have ever seen.
Looking forward to the 2012 survey to see if there are trends. đ
Simon
Very kewl survey! (Yes, I participated.)
No real surprises, except… that my home state of Texas ranks #1 in number of pipe smokers (or at least of those who responded). I wish I knew where they were hiding. I haven’t seen one in years. :0
Fantastic job Kevin! I just printed off the whole report. Thanks for sharing this with the whole pipe smoking community. This is the best survey I’ve ever seen done on pipe smoking. I wish I had this 25 years ago when I had a store. Thanks Hans
Simon makes an important point. The participants in the survey were self-selected. It is not a random sample and therefore the results cannot be generalized to the entire population of pipe and cigar smokers. I would say that the survey probably captures respondents who take their pipe smoking more seriously than less-serious pipe smokers due to participants had a greater interest in reading on-line sources or belonged to pipe clubs.
Have been smoking a pipe for over 50yrs. Never did smoke cigs., will smoke a good cigar about once a month. Do not remember what got me smoking a pipe. But my mother gave me a Nimrod pipe lighter for my 17th birthday….she said that if I had to smoke a pipe would be better than the other because a pipe smoker took so much time fooling with his pipe that he wouldn’t smoke as much as a cig. smoker!
I’m glad you guys found the information interesting. Thanks Doc for your help. Maybe we’ll get to do the cross tabs next time.
Very interesting and comforting as I actually know no other pipers in my circles but find I fall into the majority in many of the questions. In particular, the common image I grew up with is that pipe smokers are the professor-in-rumpled-sport-coat kind of guy; but the survey does not support that image.
The cross-tab analysis would also be interesting and many of the internet based survey tools do them automatically. Once I input all the survey results and used the feature to generate the tabs. I am sure that is blasphemy to the good doctor who helped you but with my limited understanding of proper surveys it seemed to work.
Well done!
This survey confirmed my limited experience. Thanks for collecting the data and analyizing if for us.
There were a few surprises; but I was dismayed to learn how many pipesters described themselves as political moderates and liberals. đ
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Thanks for publishing a very informative survey.
Very interesting data. I’ll be sure to plug it on my blog and in an upcoming YT video. Thank you for work on this!
Scott
It’s always nice to see such data and information on pipe smoking, since there seems to little of such data available. However, I printed the PDF file and it’s really badly formatted, making it hard to read. There seems to be very little if any page margins and the copy and pie charts/table data are on wrong pages or cut off. To improve the readability of this document, I would advise it be re-formatted.
Despite this minor detail, it’s great information…if nothing else, fun to read.
Happy Puffing!
Very interesting article learned a lot !!