Made in North Carolina: Sparta Still Packs a Pipe

[briarfriar]

From yesterday's News Observer of North Carolina, a story on the Dr. Grabow factory in Sparta, NC.
Click here.

 

[colorduke]

Nice story,thanks for sharing.

 

[teufelhund]

Very cool... Nice read and thanks.

 

[rickpal14]

I get to Charlotte often for business and have been meaning to carve out a day to visit the factory. Going to have to make it happen soon!

 

[rigmedic1]

A fine article about a fine company. I still have one of my first pipes, Dr. Grabow Viscount author shape, and still smoke it. I would recommend a Dr. G. to any new pipe smoker.

 

[crazypipe]

Very nice story thank you , they have always made a great pipe . ::

 

[shaintiques]

Interesting. Sounds like Grabows aren't really machine made after all

 

[ejames]

Interesting. Sounds like Grabows aren't really machine made after all.
Partly machine,hand finished Dave. As the article says,the pipes go through 40 steps. I'd say at least half (maybe more) of those steps are done by hand.

 

[numbersix]

Great article - thanks for sharing. Interesting that the manager lamented:
“So if they smoke a pipe, it’s got to be a $200 Stanwell. ... We are Budweiser.”
Pretty honest assessment, but maybe too honest?

 

[mso489]

Great story. A skillfull portrait of the factory, its machinery, and staff. George Hoffman, the

Raleigh pipe shop guy, is my local independent tobacconist. To his credit, though he doesn't

carry Dr. Grabow, he always has Missouri Meerschaum on hand, and other basket pipes and

mid-levels for his college student and graduate student clientele. He does rely on pipe sales

for his shop, so he has to encourage some upgrading. He carries a good variety of tobacco,

from pricey tins to Granger he'll sell you by the ounce out of the can, to various Lane,

McClelland, and other bulk tobaccos. His shop is a classic in homey general store surroundings.

It's like going to visit your pipe smoking uncle.

 

[Perique]

I thoroughly enjoy my Grabow pipes. Especially my Savoy.
(I should qualify that by adding "after I burnt off or caked over the nasty bowl coating"
A great value IMO.

 

[mso489]

I love my Dr. Grabow bulldog Royalton, a beautifully shaped design made with a lot of care.

I have always suspected the Dr. Grabow staff who make the pipes smoke and collect them.

 

[olewaylon]

Sort of a sad read. thanks for sharing, made me fill my Grabow toniht.

 

[gwtwdbss]

Great article. thanks!