New Member Here from Michigan (Meerschaum Pipe Pics Included)

[kft22]

Figured I'd go ahead and introduce myself after lurking about for a bit. I just started pipe smoking a few days ago, with a Dr. Grabow Omega and MM cob, and the Victory Lap sampler from pipesandcigars.com. I'm really liking Scotty's Butternut Burley, with Trout Stream being my second favorite. Haven't tried the Anniversary Kake yet, and I'm not fond of Larry's Blend (though I may need to give it a few more shots before deciding on that sentiment). Just finished smoking my best bowl so far in the Omega (BB) - only had to light it once and it tasted quite good all the way through.
Also, I had been checking out meers on ebay for a few days and finally pulled the trigger on a couple of them. Got the Servi Meer for $27 shipped and the second one for $7 shipped (Gotta love impulse shopping! Especially when it doesn't empty the wallet ). Here are some pics - curious to hear what you all think about them!

 

[uberam3rica]

Looks like those meers were great deals! They're in great condition. I'm in Michigan as well. I live in the thumb, about 30 miles west of Port Huron. Oh and welcome to the forums!

 

[cortezattic]

Hello! And welcome to the forums ...and pipe smoking in general.

Thanks for taking the time and effort to snap those pix and post them here. :clap:

I like the 1st meer -- and it looks like it has only been smoked once. It should be a great smoker.

The 2nd meer looks like it has a replacement stem, which shouldn't matter; but the whole pipe should clean up well.
At the top of the left hand column of this page there is a "Search On Site" box. Search for White Goddess.

 

[zonomo]

First off, welcome to the forums kft22. 2ndly, congrats on figuring out how to post a pic so fast. That's gotta be a world record! I think those pipes are pretty cool. I love the vintage "been used for years" look. You've got a few nice one's there.

 

[crazypipe]

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[kft22]

Looks like those meers were great deals! They're in great condition. I'm in Michigan as well. I live in the thumb, about 30 miles west of Port Huron. Oh and welcome to the forums!

Thanks for the observations, I was unsure of whether I made a couple of boneheaded decisions. Cool to hear you're from Michigan too. You'll have to give me the rundown on the Michigan tobacco scene (shops, events, etc) sometime!

Hello! And welcome to the forums ...and pipe smoking in general.

Thanks for taking the time and effort to snap those pix and post them here.

I like the 1st meer -- and it looks like it has only been smoked once. It should be a great smoker.

The 2nd meer looks like it has a replacement stem, which shouldn't matter; but the whole pipe should clean up well.
At the top of the left hand column of this page there is a "Search On Site" box. Search for White Goddess.

Thank you for the welcome, observations, and the tips! And the time/effort of posting the pics was no biggie - I just copied them off of the ebay pages :P

First off, welcome to the forums kft22. 2ndly, congrats on figuring out how to post a pic so fast. That's gotta be a world record! I think those pipes are pretty cool. I love the vintage "been used for years" look. You've got a few nice one's there.

Thanks, zonomo! I'm looking forward to participating in the forum, and hopefully progressing quickly as a pipe smoker. There's way more to it than I initially thought.

 

[uberam3rica]

give me the rundown on the Michigan tobacco scene (shops, events, etc) sometime!

The only place I know of is Pauls Pipe Shop, it's in Flint on Saginaw Road, by the school. The owner is 100 years old, and it has been in business for 85 years. They have tons of pipes, and a good bit of tobacco. They also have their own line of tobacco and pipes. I have two of their pipes, a Oom Paul, and a Canadian.

 

[kft22]

The only place I know of is Pauls Pipe Shop, it's in Flint on Saginaw Road, by the school. The owner is 100 years old, and it has been in business for 85 years. They have tons of pipes, and a good bit of tobacco. They also have their own line of tobacco and pipes. I have two of their pipes, a Oom Paul, and a Canadian.

Paul's pipe shop's website looks awesome, thanks for the heads up.

 

[uberam3rica]

Paul's pipe shop's website looks awesome, thanks for the heads up.

It's best to go there in person. They have way more in the shop then on the website.

 

[kft22]

Then I guess I'll have to make my way up there sometime. I'm in Howell, so it's not too far away.

 

[uberam3rica]

Then I guess I'll have to make my way up there sometime.

It's definitely worth it. Theres also a great coffee shop about a block down the road called The Flint Crepe Company. They have great coffee and crepes

 

[judcole]

Welcome - I'm from Michigan as well.

As for pipe shops - besides Paul's, there's Campbell's Smoke Shop in East Lansing, Maison Edwards in Ann Arbor, Trader Tom's in Northville, Churchills in Birmingham, and Hill & Hill in Grosse Pointe Farms. Paul's is certainly the biggest.

Jim Simon at Hill & Hill carries only his own blends, but has an extensive selection of estate pipes. I've only been to Trader Tom's and Maison Edwards once each, but they are long-established places - as are all the others. Churchills used to be a full-service tobacconist, and has recently been turned into a bistro/cigar bar, although my son-in-law informs me they do have some pipe tobacco. I haven't been there. Campbell's sells mostly cigars these days, but they still have their own blends, and some tinned stuff. To the best of my knowledge, none of these places are selling relabeled Lane's.

I don't think any of them do e-commerce, although they all do mail-order. (Don't know about Churchills.)

 

[kft22]

Jud, thanks for all the info! I'll have to slowly check most of those places out. I am in East Lansing every day during the week, so I'll definitely check out Campbell's, and I go to Ann Arbor from time to time, so Maison Edwards will be another to check out in the near future. Paul's sounds like it's a pretty awesome place, so that's also definitely on the list.

 

[judcole]

You're quite welcome. Campbell's is in the first block of M.A.C., on the left side coming from Grand River. "The store with the red door."
Oh, and as to Larry's Blend - if you smoke a few bowls, and decide it's not your thing, put it in a clean mason jar and put it aside for 6 months. You are just starting out, and Larry's is a bit complex for new pipe smokers. A delightful blend, however.

 

[porshcigar]

Hello and welcome form the Chicago Club and Show.
www.chicagopipeshow.com

 

[spyder71]

Welcome to the forums and hello from a fellow Michigander! I'm a Troll, how bout you?

 

[kft22]

Thanks again for the welcomes.
Spyder: I'm also a Troll, way under the bridge. Living in Howell but probably moving to East Lansing this summer.

 

[jeffboyrd]

Greetings from the UP and welcome to the forum.
Do you trolls ever check out Hill and Hill out of Grosse Point? He is quite the tobacconist.

 

[judcole]

Jeff, Jim Simon at Hill & Hill is my B&M. Been going in there for gettin' on towards 40 years, now. He's less than 10 minutes away by car.

 

[jeffboyrd]

That's excellent. My Lady's father was a loyal customer of his for many years. He had a blend that Jim would put together for him, however, he moved to the UP about 10 years ago and was slowly weened off of his special blend. However, this past January I called Jim to see if he remembered the blend, which he did, and I ordered up a pound and surprised my Lady's father with it for his birthday. I also ordered a few ounces of what he called his "most popular" selling blend and I found it to be pretty pleasing. I didn't catch the name of the blend, the name wasn't on the package, however, it reminded me of 1Q. I don't get down state much, however, I will probably be placing an order with him down the road. It must be nice to have a great shop with good people that close by.