News from the September 2011 Meeting
Our last meeting had 27 members in attendance as well as 2 guests. We are now up to 70 paid members. Our newest member is George Dibos. George is one of the premier pipe restorers working today.
GKCPC PIPE TOBACCO
We have two different club tobaccos left over from the show that we are selling for $10 a tin. These tobaccos were blended, tinned, and donated to the Club by McClelland Tobacco. They are limited editions of only 50 tins each.
If you would like to have them shipped to you just add $5 if you live in the contiguous 48 states. If you buy four tins the shipping is free. Email me for a shipping quote if you live elsewhere.
Both tins have the classic “Smokin’ Joe” logo on the front.
The Virginia is very robust and satisfying. It is a blend that should cellar well.
The other tobacco is a rich Oriental tobacco with a mixture of Cyprian and Syrian Latakia blended with some Basma and mature Virginia. Very rich and satisfying.
You can pay by PayPal, check or cash. If you use PayPal just send it to admin@gkcpipeclub.com and list what you want. Be sure the shipping address is correct.
Next Meeting
Our next meeting will be Thursday, October 20, 2011 at Cigar & Tabac. The time will be 8PM. We have a real change of pace program lined up for you. John Johan will be doing a standup comedy routine centered on his “Rural Genius” routine.
We will also have our club tobaccos for sale as well as taking deposits on the 2012 Pipe of the Year.
Secondhand Smoke
By Joe Ketcherside
Our hobby is engaging because it touches us in so many ways. Sometimes it’s about the pipe. Sometimes it’s the carver. Sometimes it’s how long we keep the tobacco burning.
Other times it’s the mood we create when we relax with our pipe. I’m sure all of us have a favorite chair for a smoke, or a time when we light up regularly.
I made my first trip to Bennett Spring State Park when I was 14, over 42 years ago. I had fished for bluegill and catfish many times, but this was my first introduction to something very special. This is a trout park, where a 2-mile stream branch is regularly stocked with Rainbows. You have special lures, and if you are really into it you learn to fish with a fly rod instead of a spinning rod.
The stream runs through a deep valley to the Niangua River. Until recently there was only one TV channel with signal, no cell phone service, and the only pay phone in the parking lot had no data jack. Pagers didn’t even reach there. It was just us and the fish.
In the early years as we returned regularly, I got up at the crack of dark with all the other go-getters, stood shoulder to shoulder along the best fishing holes, and rigged my spinning rod with marabou jigs or spinners. Caught them like crazy when I wasn’t tangled up in someone else’s line. Jostling for a spot in the semi-dark, freezing in the cold water.
I started smoking a pipe my first year of college. The ritual was relaxing and forced one to adopt a measured pace. And I kept making the trip back to Bennett at least once a year for nearly every year that has passed. But my style of fishing changed.
As I became more skilled with a fly rod, I realized I could catch fish just fine in the middle of the day when they “weren’t biting”. It took a little more patience, but there were fewer people on the river so I could move around as I wanted. With a pipe smoldering and the water rushing over the rocks, life was serene. Time slipped by with the stream and the only thing on my mind was the drift of a dry fly and the split-second when it taken.
When I was young these were usually family trips. As my own family grew, all 4 boys became proficient with a fly. We spent many summer vacations stalking Rainbows. Before the older ones married, their future brides accompanied us on these trips to prove their mettle. And yes, the missus is as sharp with a rod as any of the men in the family though she insists “Momma don’t clean fish”.
A few years ago, well after the older boys had married and our lives got so busy that we didn’t travel together anymore, we managed to get the whole group together for a few days at Bennett. I had long-since switched from aromatic tobaccos to the Virginia/Perique blends I now favor. But for some reason I grabbed a few grams of my old favorite, Diebel’s Black and Gold.
As we stood below the dam with the boys just downstream from me, I packed an old fishing pipe with the aged aromatic and lit it up. I cast a few times, then looked to the left where son number two was fishing. He had a big smile. He leaned over and said “Dad that smells great. It brings back memories of all the times we have been here. I always remember smelling your pipe, hearing the water rushing, and being together.”
Funny how little things that become a part of us are so significant to those around us. I guess that not all second-hand smoke is bad.
2012 Pipe of the Year
We are taking reservations for the 2012 Pipe of the Year from Thomas James.
The dimensions of the pipe are:
Length: 5 inches
Width: 2 inches at widest point
Height: 2.15 inches at point (highest point on the pipe)
Chamber .75 x 1.50
All measurements are approximate and will vary from pipe to pipe.
This is a sensational pipe from a great young carver at an attractive price. If you are interested in one of these let me know. A $100 deposit would be appreciated.
I need to make a correction from the last newsletter. I had mentioned that Jerry Crisswell and Carl Staudenmyer would like to be relieved of the duty of finding us a Pipe of the Year. Can’t swear to exactly what I was smoking that day but I was wrong in that statement. What I really should have said was that if any of you know of a carver you think we should consider for 2013 be sure to let Carl and/or Jerry know who it is.
Lampe Berger
I am not sure how many of you have heard of these devices but that are absolutely marvelous at dispersing scents through an enclosed area. They are especially good at removing/covering the smell of tobacco.
A Frenchman, Maurice Berger, patented this device in 1897 and his company still exists today. It consists of a jar, a wick, a catalytic burner, a snuffer cap and an ornamental cap.
They can be quite attractive and women generally adore them.
They can get somewhat large or very small. They can be very plain or very ornate. They can be cheap ($20) or really expensive ($$$).
The real big expense with these gizmos is the fuel. It can run $20 a liter. Fortunately you can make your own fuel at about $2 a liter provided you follow one simple rule: You have to buy 91% alcohol. Anything else won’t work. 91% alcohol is not every where but it isn’t hard to find either.
To keep your home or office smelling great you really should get one of these things. They are amazing.
Pipe Show Online
by Cam Schutte
The initial version of www.PipeShowOnline.com was launched early in 2005. The goal was twofold:
1. Give the thousands of pipe enthusiasts who aren’t able to attend a pipe show the opportunity to experience one “virtually”.
2. Give the vendors participating in the site a boost in market awareness and increased traffic to their sites (and hopefully increased sales as well).
Since then, there have been several versions as technology advanced and my skills in website development improved. But, with hindsight, my past “enhancements” actually made the visitor experience for both consumers and vendors far too complex.
That is not to say that the site has not been successful. Through Google Analytics I have tracked consistent page view traffic in the thousands each month, with over 15,000 opt-in’s for updates collected to date. For Altadis USA the site has offered free samples of pipe tobacco for over 5 years. Response to this offer continues to run about 1,200 requests per month! For McClelland Tobacco Company, the site provides an online catalog of products. Views of their pages run about 2,500 per month and this promotion has turned out to be less expensive than mailing printed brochures.
Other clients have included: Peterson of Dublin, McBaren Tobacco, Iwan Ries in Chicago, and a number of pipe makers, dealers, and stores (both retail and online).
NOW in 2011, the site has been greatly simplified. It is built around the concept of a Business Card Directory. By displaying images of Business Cards that click to the vendor’s website, my original goals are achieved better than ever. The cards are displayed by category, which can be likened to an area of an exhibit hall of a show. The individual cards simulate display tables at the show where the products of the vendor are available at the click of a mouse.
Another improvement is the way vendor promotions are priced. To grow this Directory quickly, any legitimate vendor to the industry gets 1 listing for FREE. There are additional paid promotional services available to:
provide listings in multiple categories
improve positioning within a category
have a separate promotional page that can be search engine optimized
include a presence on the home page (includes all of the options)
Comments from visitors have been very positive. They really like the ease of finding and exploring so many resources. I invite every reader of this article to visit the new Pipe Show Online. Likewise, all vendors are encouraged to take a look and evaluate how this functionality might enhance their marketing plan.
Latakia or English Blend
A question I frequently get asked by our younger members is what is the difference between a Latakia blend and an English blend. Most of us today think of them as one in the same, but technically not so. For a great article on subject go to a great article by Bob Tate of pipesmagazine.com
Our last meeting had 27 members in attendance as well as 2 guests. We are now up to 70 paid members. Our newest member is George Dibos. George is one of the premier pipe restorers working today.
GKCPC PIPE TOBACCO
We have two different club tobaccos left over from the show that we are selling for $10 a tin. These tobaccos were blended, tinned, and donated to the Club by McClelland Tobacco. They are limited editions of only 50 tins each.
If you would like to have them shipped to you just add $5 if you live in the contiguous 48 states. If you buy four tins the shipping is free. Email me for a shipping quote if you live elsewhere.
Both tins have the classic “Smokin’ Joe” logo on the front.
The Virginia is very robust and satisfying. It is a blend that should cellar well.
The other tobacco is a rich Oriental tobacco with a mixture of Cyprian and Syrian Latakia blended with some Basma and mature Virginia. Very rich and satisfying.
You can pay by PayPal, check or cash. If you use PayPal just send it to admin@gkcpipeclub.com and list what you want. Be sure the shipping address is correct.
Next Meeting
Our next meeting will be Thursday, October 20, 2011 at Cigar & Tabac. The time will be 8PM. We have a real change of pace program lined up for you. John Johan will be doing a standup comedy routine centered on his “Rural Genius” routine.
We will also have our club tobaccos for sale as well as taking deposits on the 2012 Pipe of the Year.
Secondhand Smoke
By Joe Ketcherside
Our hobby is engaging because it touches us in so many ways. Sometimes it’s about the pipe. Sometimes it’s the carver. Sometimes it’s how long we keep the tobacco burning.
Other times it’s the mood we create when we relax with our pipe. I’m sure all of us have a favorite chair for a smoke, or a time when we light up regularly.
I made my first trip to Bennett Spring State Park when I was 14, over 42 years ago. I had fished for bluegill and catfish many times, but this was my first introduction to something very special. This is a trout park, where a 2-mile stream branch is regularly stocked with Rainbows. You have special lures, and if you are really into it you learn to fish with a fly rod instead of a spinning rod.
The stream runs through a deep valley to the Niangua River. Until recently there was only one TV channel with signal, no cell phone service, and the only pay phone in the parking lot had no data jack. Pagers didn’t even reach there. It was just us and the fish.
In the early years as we returned regularly, I got up at the crack of dark with all the other go-getters, stood shoulder to shoulder along the best fishing holes, and rigged my spinning rod with marabou jigs or spinners. Caught them like crazy when I wasn’t tangled up in someone else’s line. Jostling for a spot in the semi-dark, freezing in the cold water.
I started smoking a pipe my first year of college. The ritual was relaxing and forced one to adopt a measured pace. And I kept making the trip back to Bennett at least once a year for nearly every year that has passed. But my style of fishing changed.
As I became more skilled with a fly rod, I realized I could catch fish just fine in the middle of the day when they “weren’t biting”. It took a little more patience, but there were fewer people on the river so I could move around as I wanted. With a pipe smoldering and the water rushing over the rocks, life was serene. Time slipped by with the stream and the only thing on my mind was the drift of a dry fly and the split-second when it taken.
When I was young these were usually family trips. As my own family grew, all 4 boys became proficient with a fly. We spent many summer vacations stalking Rainbows. Before the older ones married, their future brides accompanied us on these trips to prove their mettle. And yes, the missus is as sharp with a rod as any of the men in the family though she insists “Momma don’t clean fish”.
A few years ago, well after the older boys had married and our lives got so busy that we didn’t travel together anymore, we managed to get the whole group together for a few days at Bennett. I had long-since switched from aromatic tobaccos to the Virginia/Perique blends I now favor. But for some reason I grabbed a few grams of my old favorite, Diebel’s Black and Gold.
As we stood below the dam with the boys just downstream from me, I packed an old fishing pipe with the aged aromatic and lit it up. I cast a few times, then looked to the left where son number two was fishing. He had a big smile. He leaned over and said “Dad that smells great. It brings back memories of all the times we have been here. I always remember smelling your pipe, hearing the water rushing, and being together.”
Funny how little things that become a part of us are so significant to those around us. I guess that not all second-hand smoke is bad.
2012 Pipe of the Year
We are taking reservations for the 2012 Pipe of the Year from Thomas James.
The dimensions of the pipe are:
Length: 5 inches
Width: 2 inches at widest point
Height: 2.15 inches at point (highest point on the pipe)
Chamber .75 x 1.50
All measurements are approximate and will vary from pipe to pipe.
This is a sensational pipe from a great young carver at an attractive price. If you are interested in one of these let me know. A $100 deposit would be appreciated.
I need to make a correction from the last newsletter. I had mentioned that Jerry Crisswell and Carl Staudenmyer would like to be relieved of the duty of finding us a Pipe of the Year. Can’t swear to exactly what I was smoking that day but I was wrong in that statement. What I really should have said was that if any of you know of a carver you think we should consider for 2013 be sure to let Carl and/or Jerry know who it is.
Lampe Berger
I am not sure how many of you have heard of these devices but that are absolutely marvelous at dispersing scents through an enclosed area. They are especially good at removing/covering the smell of tobacco.
A Frenchman, Maurice Berger, patented this device in 1897 and his company still exists today. It consists of a jar, a wick, a catalytic burner, a snuffer cap and an ornamental cap.
They can be quite attractive and women generally adore them.
They can get somewhat large or very small. They can be very plain or very ornate. They can be cheap ($20) or really expensive ($$$).
The real big expense with these gizmos is the fuel. It can run $20 a liter. Fortunately you can make your own fuel at about $2 a liter provided you follow one simple rule: You have to buy 91% alcohol. Anything else won’t work. 91% alcohol is not every where but it isn’t hard to find either.
To keep your home or office smelling great you really should get one of these things. They are amazing.
Pipe Show Online
by Cam Schutte
The initial version of www.PipeShowOnline.com was launched early in 2005. The goal was twofold:
1. Give the thousands of pipe enthusiasts who aren’t able to attend a pipe show the opportunity to experience one “virtually”.
2. Give the vendors participating in the site a boost in market awareness and increased traffic to their sites (and hopefully increased sales as well).
Since then, there have been several versions as technology advanced and my skills in website development improved. But, with hindsight, my past “enhancements” actually made the visitor experience for both consumers and vendors far too complex.
That is not to say that the site has not been successful. Through Google Analytics I have tracked consistent page view traffic in the thousands each month, with over 15,000 opt-in’s for updates collected to date. For Altadis USA the site has offered free samples of pipe tobacco for over 5 years. Response to this offer continues to run about 1,200 requests per month! For McClelland Tobacco Company, the site provides an online catalog of products. Views of their pages run about 2,500 per month and this promotion has turned out to be less expensive than mailing printed brochures.
Other clients have included: Peterson of Dublin, McBaren Tobacco, Iwan Ries in Chicago, and a number of pipe makers, dealers, and stores (both retail and online).
NOW in 2011, the site has been greatly simplified. It is built around the concept of a Business Card Directory. By displaying images of Business Cards that click to the vendor’s website, my original goals are achieved better than ever. The cards are displayed by category, which can be likened to an area of an exhibit hall of a show. The individual cards simulate display tables at the show where the products of the vendor are available at the click of a mouse.
Another improvement is the way vendor promotions are priced. To grow this Directory quickly, any legitimate vendor to the industry gets 1 listing for FREE. There are additional paid promotional services available to:
provide listings in multiple categories
improve positioning within a category
have a separate promotional page that can be search engine optimized
include a presence on the home page (includes all of the options)
Comments from visitors have been very positive. They really like the ease of finding and exploring so many resources. I invite every reader of this article to visit the new Pipe Show Online. Likewise, all vendors are encouraged to take a look and evaluate how this functionality might enhance their marketing plan.
Latakia or English Blend
A question I frequently get asked by our younger members is what is the difference between a Latakia blend and an English blend. Most of us today think of them as one in the same, but technically not so. For a great article on subject go to a great article by Bob Tate of pipesmagazine.com