The Pipes Magazine Radio Show – Episode 115
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Kevin Godbee - Nov 25, 2014
- 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 Jonathan Lavezzo. Jonathan has taken his experiences as a pipe smoker, woodworker, and cabinet maker to be able to offer some of the most reasonably priced handmade pipes one can buy. In “Pipe Parts”, Brian will talk about how to date a Dunhill pipe … and not in a romantic way. 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, MeerschaumStore.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.
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Pipe Maker Jonathan Lavezzo
MoonshinePipes.com
Moonshine Pipes Facebook
Written by Kevin Godbee
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Ok, so it’s that time of year, as we all know. Family feasts, houses, yards, and big trees festooned with lights and dangling ornaments, just high enough to keep the cats from reaching a paw into the greenery. It’s also the time of year when your pipe-smoking-significant other makes vast hints about a new pipe. That’s to be expected since he or she was a good boy or girl during the year. Yes, ladies smoke pipes, too. Oh, you want an example? Okay, try Actress Greta Garbo, Millicent Fenwick, Mary Frith, and my late grandmother (who died when she was 93) dipped snuff and smoked a cob occasionally. So now that we have settled that the gentler side of life will puff a pipe too, let’s move on to the upcoming biggest holiday of all. Of course, that huge event is brought to us by the hefty fellow in a red suit, puffing his pipe all the way in a sled filled with presents, being led by a reindeer with a red nose. Or some such. That’s Santa Claus, of course. Becoming a bit more serious, Christmas is such a wonderful time for families and friends. It’s also quite special for pipe puffers. For many of us, this brings up a nostalgic look back to our pipe-smoking or cigar-smoking friends who have died during the current year. A great journalist pal whom I often joined in a local brick-and-mortar pipe and cigar shop. I puffed my pipe, and occasional cigar, as he enjoyed a cigar. He died in October and will be missed. On the happier side of things, Christmas is also a time when mind workers of the world renew their collections with fresh additions. Pundit included. A French passion has overtaken Pundit, from reading more Albert Camus, a heavy cigarette smoker, as were many French intellectuals of a certain time. Instead of cigarettes many of us prefer the more relaxed enjoyment of pipes for that “calm and objective judgment” in the comings and goings of the world. This brings me to French pipes. While visiting France once in the long ago, I happened by a “Tabac” shop in Paris, Tabac Des Vosges. I purchased a beauty of a Chacom bent. I also later bought a Ropp made from ancient briar. To learn more about the dawn of briar pipes and beginnings, take a peek at a well-done piece by Davin Hylton in Pipe Line on April 12, 2023, on Saint-Claude, France, the birthplace of briar. Also in the long back when, on a cold Christmas afternoon, Pundit wandered into an Atlanta bricks and mortar pipe shop to look around. There, resting in an enclosed glass counter was an exquisite Comoy. An older gent, smoking a beautiful bent, asked me if I wanted to look at that pipe. It had a $100 price tag. A college student working for a grocery store chain to help with college tuition at the time, Pundit didn’t have one hundred cents, let alone a C note! I declined and found a $5 basket pipe. A Christmas tradition had just begun. Since that early time, Pundit has made it a holiday ritual to either reward himself, or a special friend, with pipe or tobacco. A Claudio Cavicchi would be nice. Just sayin.’ And now for a couple of December-born Pipe Smokers of the Past: Joseph Rudyard Kipling was born on Dec. 30, 1865, and died on Jan. 18, 1936. I always prefer to believe the best of everybody; it saves so much trouble—Rudyard Kipling. Martin Van Buren, born Dec. 5, 1782, and died July 24, 1862, U.S. President, 1837-1841 As to the presidency, the two happiest days of my life were those of my entrance upon the office and my surrender of it—Martin Van Buren. And one more note to recall a deceased World War II veteran who loved William Somerset Maugham, the author. Maugham, a pipe smoker, was born in Paris, France, on Jan. 25, 1874, and died on Dec. 16, 1965. One cool afternoon as the veteran and I talked while sitting in his backyard patio, he looked off into the distance as if studying something. Nothing in particular. Just looking. He turned to me and said if I wanted to learn about life, “read Somerset Maugham.” I did. It wasn’t until late in life that I discovered how easy it is to say, ‘I don’t know’ –W. Somerset Maugham And now a Parting Shot: Any day with an old friend with pipes and tobacco is a good day.
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Hi Brian,
Kids! Boy friends, Girl friends- Get the shotgun ready!
Dating Dunhill pipes, dating any pipe is important to appreciate the history of the pipe. Now, to find a 1949 birth-year Dunhill.
I have heard of Jonathan Levezzo and moonshine pipes from facebook, but have not seen his work, except through photographs. I like his approach of making a nice pipe at a decent price. The pipes on his website look very nice. The bulldog shape has always been one of the harder pipes to make. Your interview brings back memories of my Dad who made beer and wine. I remember one jug of Tomato wine he made that tasted like Harvey’s Bristol Cream sherry. I like Johnathan’s attitude and he will be a pipe maker to keep an eye on.
White Christmas, heck, according to the weather map, you may have a white Thanksgiving. Bing is always good for a music selection.
OMG, a RAVE – Brian, I am thankful we have people (you and Kevin) in our hobby that enjoys hosting the pipe podcast and bring us a plethora of great information. Happy Thanksgiving.
Great show, keep up the good work!
I haven’t been here much lately, but still haven’t missed a show!
I too will be investigating a birth year Dunhill in the near future. Hopefully I will be able to bring it on the cruise! Pipedia.org and Pipephil.eu are two of my favorite websites. I am always using those for reference.
I really enjoyed the interview with Jonathan. I think that it is cool that he is making a super affordable handmade pipe. This guys gets what it is all about. I am nonplussed about using molded stems. Hell, even GBD had pipes with molded stems. Pre-transition pipes to boot!
I loved the music choice. Always been a Bing fan. The only other pipe that has a shaped named after a person (at least that I know of) is the Oom Paul otherwise known as the Hungarian.
I am thankful for this podcast. It may seem cheesy or corny, but I can’t tell you how much I enjoy it. I look forward to it every week. Thanks, gents. I hope your Thanksgiving was great!
I haven’t been here much lately, but I haven’t missed a show!
I am glad you mentioned Pipepedia.org and Pipephil.eu. I always use those sites for reference. There is so much information there. I too will be looking for a birth year Dunhill. Hopefully I will be able to bring it on the cruise.
I enjoyed Jonathan’s interview. I think it is awesome that he is making handmade pipes for under $100. This is a guy that really gets it. I wish him all the luck in the world in what he is doing. As for the molded stems, even GBD made pre-transition pipes with molded stems.
I loved the Bing selection “Count You Blessings”. I have always been a Bing fan. The Oom Paul is the only other pipe that I know of that was named for a person.
I am thankful for the whole pipe smoking community! I am especially thankful for this podcast. It is one of the highlights of my week. Not only do you do a great job, you are doing a great service. Thank you.
I hope your Thanksgiving was a great one!
Brian, great show yet again. That was a concise summary of Dunhill date codes. I have a birth year Dunnie but am lucky that I’m an England 26 (some homework for those of you who don’t know the date codes 😉 and they’re not that expensive as the patent years! I’ve seen Mr. Lavezzo’s pipe and it’s good to see people have an affordable artisan option outside of factory pipes. You may or may not remember “The Dagners” on youtube from your Joe Case interview but I believe they are a catalyst of the poker shape. They have quite a following of the younger pipe community members. The son, Jayson Dagner, is a big fan of pokers and pretty much launched Joe Case’s career and popularized the Jake Hackert poker. The Dagner Slayer is one of Joe’s popular shapes. And…it’s a poker 😉 Also, for new carvers, I would say it’s comparatively easier to carve (considering the work it takes to get a billiard or bulldog done right). Loved listening to Bing serenade us this week. They don’t make music like they used to. Have a Happy Turkey day. Your friend in Japan, Andrew. P.S. You need to try GQ BurPer Kake!
Great show Brian. “He hates these cans” is a reference to the only good Steve Martin movie, “The Jerk”.
Really good discussion of Dunhill Dating. I wish there was a chance in hell of me remembering it.
Very pleasant interview. I had never heard of Jonathan Levezzo. I did go to his site to look at his pipes and was disappointed to see he had none for sale and wasn’t likely to anytime soon. Obviously business is good. Don’t see how he can really support himself with pipes selling from $75 – $150. You would have to make and sell 2 pipes a day just to get by.
The Lovat might be considered a shape named after a person.
You can never go wrong with Der Bingle as a musical guest. Kudos for passing on the tired “White Christmas” and going with the wonderful “Count Your Blessings”.
You can never go wrong taking a little time and counting your blessings.
Oh, and the Ramses is another named after a person pipe.
I have been listening to the show for about a year now. Look forward to it every week. One of the best interviews of a down to earth pipe maker in my estimation. Thanks. Looking forward to adding one of his pipes to my collection.
Good to hear of another up and coming pipe maker. Who says the U.S. never makes anything anymore.
Bing Crosby is my favorite crooner. “Counting Your Blessings” is a wonderful segway song for this time of year.
You have given me a couple of missions now. Finding a birth year Dunhill, and looking into a Moonshine Pipe. I like Johnathan’s business model to keep prices down and getting new people excited about pipe smoking.
Hope that more people with these skills get involved in making pipes. But you are right there are very few blenders. Not too long ago there were tobacconist in all the larger towns now you may have to travel quite a ways to get to a true tobacco shop.
Great show,
Brian