Hi there!
I am the OP that got this side-show off to a start. Despite no email replies, no answering of the phone, sitting on the order for a long time, I placed another order with 4noggins for $200. It was out the door and on its way in a couple of days. I (and the owner) don't know what happened to my first order - guess it should have "turned left at Albuquerque" (you have to be of a certain age to understand that remark).
Because of my pipe smoking club's experience with them years ago, I didn't want to believe they were a bad company. Based on this, my second order, all is well. I will order from them a third time.
As an aside, I have been watching on YouTube various videos on piper lifestyle, public presentation, etiquette, bearing, manners, and comportment. It made for very good watching. I never realized that smoking a pipe called for such a distinguished life!