Chicago Pipe Show Pix (part 3)
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The stems on those Amorelli's are amazing. I was also drooling over this Scott Thile pix. I've been out of town and missed Part 1 & Part 2, I will back track those threads.
Wayne Teipen makes some really, really beautiful pipes! I've never heard of him before. Awesome pics bigvan, thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the pics, bigvan. Very generous of you to post.
One question for you pipe show veterans: I've never been to a show before, but what are the rules on shopping for pipes -- are you supposed to just pick up a pipe off the table and check it out? I imagine very valuable pipes, like Bo Nordh's or whatnot are off limits (I think I've seen signage to that effect on photos, before), but what if it's just some guy nobody ever heard of, like Wayne Teipen or something :nana: , can you just pick up his pipe and have a look?
One question for you pipe show veterans: I've never been to a show before, but what are the rules on shopping for pipes -- are you supposed to just pick up a pipe off the table and check it out? I imagine very valuable pipes, like Bo Nordh's or whatnot are off limits (I think I've seen signage to that effect on photos, before), but what if it's just some guy nobody ever heard of, like Wayne Teipen or something :nana: , can you just pick up his pipe and have a look?
I think they'll even let you take em for a test drive. You know, smoke a bowl or two, and see if it's to your liking before you commit to the purchase. LOL.
"One question for you pipe show veterans: I've never been to a show before, but what are the rules on shopping for pipes -- are you supposed to just pick up a pipe off the table and check it out? I imagine very valuable pipes, like Bo Nordh's or whatnot are off limits (I think I've seen signage to that effect on photos, before), but what if it's just some guy nobody ever heard of, like Wayne Teipen or something , can you just pick up his pipe and have a look?"
On the one show I attended, I politely asked if it was okay to pick up a pipe I was interested in. If the seller agreed, I handled the pipe respectfully, and did fully examine the stem fitment, drilling, etc. Some sellers seemed to like to pick up and hand the pipe to me, and if so, I handed the pipe back to them for table placement. I watched some folks randomly pick up and replace pipes without asking which seemed to be OK on the large shop displays (I still asked at those tables). Mel Friedman, a little crusty anyway, became pretty agitated when folks didn't put pipes back in the same spots that he had them. I tend to try and be overly courteous as a rule and find that strategy worked well at my first pipe show.
Hey Bigvan - I am really enjoying your series on the Chicago show. Many thanks for the effort. It is a lot of fun to read and gaze at all the different pipes.
Anyone know the best place to pick up one of those Amorellis. SP doesn't seem to sell them and Al Pascia has only a couple of Amorelli pipes.
I think another good signal is how the pipes are displayed on the table. One table that sold estate pipes had a lot of pipes on the table, some in boxes, some sitting on sleeves, some bunched up in a larger box, no perceived order with Stanwells here and there and Comoys scattered about. I don't think one has to ask more than, "Can I look at your pipes?" Other tables have everything perfectly displayed with cards giving the information about the pipes and their prices. Cards, not tags. The table might have only 20 or 30 pipes, but everything is very neat and well laid out. At this table I will say hello and see if a conversation is easy to strike up. I'll offer an overall compliment on how nice the table looks and what beautiful examples he has. I'll offer my card and ask for his card (assuming he isn't dealing with a bunch of customers waiting for me to step aside). Now I've established my identify, I've made it clear I appreciate what he has, and then I will ask if I can look at a particular pipe. Usually the dealer will pick it up and hand it to me. I'll ask what he can tell me about this pipe and you usually get a very informed presentation. Things like checking to see if the pipe cleaner will go through with little trouble, I will ask if he can show me or if I can test it myself. That's what I do and it seems to work out fine. Haven't been thrown out of a show yet.
That was the Mel Friedman from Albany. Quite a character.
Good point on tubs estumpf. John Eells had many tubs full of pipes. I didn't ask to root thru those bins!
Good point on tubs estumpf. John Eells had many tubs full of pipes. I didn't ask to root thru those bins!
Bubblehead, Wayne Teipen is an occasional poster here in the forum and a pretty cool guy. He lives just outside of Indianapolis and I believe a machinist by trade, so he knows all about engineering and tight tolerances. His pipes are excellent and fairly priced. He's going to be VERY big in the not too distant future and his prices will be twice what they are now.
And I agree with Al, most makers want you to inspect their work, but I always ask first.
And I agree with Al, most makers want you to inspect their work, but I always ask first.
Hey guys, thanks for the kind words. And, thanks for sharing photos of my work, JJ. We've had several long conversations but never about what I do at my "real" job. We usually talk pipes which is much more interesting. I'm actually a Registered Nurse by trade and have worked as a hospital administrator for the past several years. I'm what's called the House Supervisor at the hospital I work at and oversee and coordinate the operations of and am the clinical resource for the hospital. That entails a lot of things too boring to go into detail about. I'm also specialty trained to perform ultrasound guided vascular access which takes precision and a steady hand. My favorite thing that I do at my job is inserting PICC lines which is an IV catheter that I insert in the vein in the upper arm that extends to the superior vena cava (or even better, the atriocaval junction) which is the major vessel just before the heart. God has blessed me with an extraordinary talent for this and I enjoy it very much. That being said, I'd give it up if I could make a living making pipes full time. Maybe in 20 years when/if I retire. :D
Anyway, just thought I'd clarify my trade. I'm mostly an autodidact at pipemaking but I've always been a fast learner at most things and good with my hands.
As for me, don't hesitate to pick up my pipes at shows. Heck, I don't even mind if folks pull them apart and inspect them. As far as I'm concerned, I make them to be handled and smoked. Consider that an open invitation to whomever reads this. Of course, I can only speak for myself. It's been my experience at shows that it's common courtesy to ask first at least with all but the big bin pipes.
Thanks again for the kind words.
Anyway, just thought I'd clarify my trade. I'm mostly an autodidact at pipemaking but I've always been a fast learner at most things and good with my hands.
As for me, don't hesitate to pick up my pipes at shows. Heck, I don't even mind if folks pull them apart and inspect them. As far as I'm concerned, I make them to be handled and smoked. Consider that an open invitation to whomever reads this. Of course, I can only speak for myself. It's been my experience at shows that it's common courtesy to ask first at least with all but the big bin pipes.
Thanks again for the kind words.
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