Hello Group!
Finally decided to join after checking out the site weekly for the last 1.5yrs. Just wonderful information on pipes, tobacco, history, philosophy, etc.
Bit of background. I am 43 and have recently returned to my pipes (and added more via ebay) in January 11'. Had many great uncles and a grandfather who smoked pipes when they were still very popular in the 70s and early 80s. I decided to get my first pipe, a Dr. Grabow, as a sophomore in university in 1988. I always loved the aroma and shapes. The Grabow was okay and the Thrifty drugstore rum and maple mixture was just a scorcher to my mouth so I dabbled around. Finally picked up a decent Italian model (low grade basket pipe) at the original Tinder Box in Santa Monica from Mr. Koplin himself. He was really kind to a young kid like me, and taught me a few tricks in his store. I have kept that pipe to this day but rarely used now because it is ghosted with aromatics that I no longer can stand. I ignored the pipe for 12 years before coming back to it after stumbling across this website in November 10'. What an inspiration! I quickly inter-library loaned through my university (oh yeah, I am a Professor of Geography at a California State University campus) Hacker's and Newcombe's books on pipes and pipe tobacco to really learn about the tradition and blends. Well, I am back as an English/Balkan/Scottish blend pipster with the occasional flake, and now up to six pipes in the garage rack.
Really great to have pipesmagazine.com, Pipes and Tobaccos magazine, and Tobaccoreview.com on the web as a resource. Really valuable for a returning newbee, who only has time to smoke a pipe 3 times a week...outside!
Cheers
Dean