Chicago Pipe Show Pix (part 6)

[bigvan]

OK, I think I've dragged this out long enough. Time to wrap this up.
Silver Tower Pipes - I don't believe these are available yet. They're designed by Todd Johnson and are made in a factory, currently in China but according to Todd they'd like to make them here in the US if they can find the right place. Stay tuned...


A slightly higher end line by Todd (but not as high as his signature line)


Todd Johnson





I'm a sucker for a 7 day boxed set, let alone if they're all Dunhill Shells


And another 7 day boxed set, this one by Jimmy Craig of Ashton.


Brian, being the serious guy that he is.


Ultimate Pipe Case by Neil Flancbaum of Smokin' Holsters


Brad Polhman




A Polhman set of smooth and blasted Oom Pauls


Mary McNeil of McClelland


Russ Cook Pipes




NASPC made an appearance


So many Dunhills


J&J Pipes


Bamboo "corncobs"


Michael Linder


Royal Oak Pipes - these pipe are by carver James Aydlott who has been apprenticing with Michael Linder. This is another guy to watch.


A HUGE Magnum billiard by Royal Oak


And that's it. I have a few more candids that were taken in the smoking tent, and I'll post those eventually, but it was a great show.
My Thoughts: As many of you know, I'm primarily interested in pipes made by North American carvers and in my humble opinion this is the year that several very good carvers (Abe Herbaugh, Andy Peterson, Wayne Teipen)stepped up their game. Their work has SIGNIFICANTLY improved. These are the pipes to buy now, before their makers raise their prices. As always, masters like Rad Davis, Scott Thile, Michael Butera, Jeff Gracik and Brad Pohlman brought simply stunning work with them. Yes, they can be quite pricey but as several members can attest, they are quite worth it.
I met up briefly with Kevin but didn't have much time to hang out I'm afraid. Next time, Kevin, I promise.
There were a LOT of people I would have liked to meet, like the guys at J&J pipes and the Pipe Guys, but I'm hoping I get the time at a future show.
It was great meeting some of the forum members for the first time; Dan, Chris and Nicole, I look forward to seeing you at future shows.
So the take-away from all this is: pipe shows are good.
Cheers,
JJ

 

[gwtwdbss]

Wow, those are some stunning pipes and look at all of those pipe cleaners Brian has! Thanks for the pics!

 

[blade]

Simply amazing pipes from the show. Thanks for the pix.

 

[mhasman]

Thank you for sharing photos!

It was my first time pipe show to visit, it was amazing!

 

[captainbob]

I arrived on Sunday and missed many of the displays that you took pictures of. Thank You!

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

[dnietosi]

Beautiful! Are those in the first picture bamboo shanks?
Also that "natural" lovat looks amazing!
Grrrrrr no money in the pockets after my crash with Strambach! PAD and TADs will need to wait!

 

[cortezattic]

Thanks so much for all the pix. :clap:

The effort you put out is not lost on us, believe me; I know what a PITA this can be, and your coverage is greatly appreciated.

You've really raised the bar this year!

 

[4dotsasieni]

Yowza! Those are great pix & pipes; makes me sorry I didn't go, but on the other hand, I'd probably be a whole lot poorer if I had.

 

[kashmir]

Thanks for posting all of these. It was fun pursuing the Chicago show vicariously in these threads. Mighty fine pipes on display. Now, if I could only find a job that would permit me to afford these, I'd be all set.

 

[bigvan]

Regarding those "Silver Tower" pipes by Todd Johnson... I don't know how much they're going to sell for, but assuming they're priced similarly to other factory pipes like Peterson or Savinelli, would you pay for a pipe designed by Todd but made in a Chinese factory?

 

[docwatson]

Bigvan said,

Regarding those "Silver Tower" pipes by Todd Johnson... I don't know how much they're going to sell for, but assuming they're priced similarly to other factory pipes like Peterson or Savinelli, would you pay for a pipe designed by Todd but made in a Chinese factory?
My reply

NO

 

[tbradsim1]

Big Van thank you for your extra work to inform us, it is really appreciated, but to your query about buying a pipe made in China even under an artisan from the US the answer is that is a huge mistake , maybe for Global consumption , but for the US and me the answer is NO.

 

[allan]

Bigvan
That was a monumental project and clearly a work of love.
Thank you for all of your efforts. I feel like I was at the show even though i couldn't go.
Allan

 

[numbersix]

Thanks bigvan for these pics - they were a blast to look at. Wish I could have gone, but right now would be impossible.

but assuming they're priced similarly to other factory pipes like Peterson or Savinelli, would you pay for a pipe designed by Todd but made in a Chinese factory?

Not me. The reason is due to the various reports of Chinese manufacturers using toxic chemicals, etc. I think if the hope is to compete with Savs and Petes, he'd have to work very hard proving that they are much better than those brands (if charging the same price) to make up for the fact that they are made in China.

 

[simnettpratt]

Wow. Thanks bigvan! Now I have to go find the other five threads you made; awesome job dude! Some of those I could see affording one day, I guess. Weirdest pipe has to be the bamboo corncob with the bowl apparently made out of an octopus' tentacle.
Also agree, I would not buy a 'high end' Chinese pipe. I already have some stuff from China. An old boss of mine visited the country, and he said it was hard to get used to certain conversations neccesitating furtive whispering in the corner. Firefox had a cool add on for a while - it would route your surfing through Chinese servers, so you couldn't look up anything about Tiannamen Square, Tibetan independence, Falun Gong (a Buddhist/Taoist type religion) and anything else deemed 'harmful'. Some researchers from Harvard estimated that about 13% of forum posts were blocked.
Don't forget the upcoming American pipemaker lonestar on this site. They're as gorgeous as some in the photos, and you can still afford them because he's not famous yet
HEY! Just went and looked at your first post and there are lonestar's (Ryan Alden) pipes! I did not know he was represented at the show; sweet!

 

[nismo270r]

Great pics again JJ, thanks for all the work on posting everything!

 

[estumpf]

Great pictures and commentary.

 

[ssjones]

I know it's a hassle uploading all those pictures and adding descriptions - so Thanks Bigvan! I think that I said it earlier, I have to find a way of getting to Chicago next year. I can usually get an employee discount on a Marriott hotel, so only free time is holding me back.

 

[bigvan]

My pleasure guys.
As far as Chinese made pipes, I agree with the rest of you. But an associate of Todd's said that they're hoping to eventually start making them in the Nashville area. If they can swing that, I think it would be a HUGE boost for the American pipe making scene.

 

[dino]

Thank you, bigvan. This was the first of our shows I’ve missed in nearly two decades. I was hoping some folk would post a few pictures. But damn, van, you really captured the show. I felt as though I were there. I am so familiar with the venue, that the only thing missing was the smell of open tins of tobacco and the hum of the crowd. Thanks again, for bringing the show to me.

Dino from Chicago