Chicago Pipe Show 2010 Pre-Show

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:

2010 Chicago Pipe Show – Pre-Show Part 2

Chicago Pipe Show 2010 Day 1 Update

Chicago Show “Hands On” Pipe Making Seminar

Artisan Pipe Maker Bob Gilbert Interview

Report on the Chicago Pipe Show

2010 Doctor of Pipes Award Dinner

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.

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.