"Saturday at the Old Pipe Shop"

[ssjones]

My pipe friend, Steve Laug has a wonderful blog called "Reborn Pipes". While he typically writes about estates pipe restorations, an occasional "Father Tom" story makes its way to the blog. Steve just posted this short tale, a peek into a morning at an old pipe shop and it is too good not to share! This might be my all-time favorite Steve Laug story. I love his choice of estate pipes and the one being restemmed. Well done Mr. Laug!
http://rebornpipes.wordpress.com/2013/02/12/saturday-at-the-old-pipe-shop/comment-page-1/#comment-1285

 

[bobpnm]

Thank you Al! I enjoyed the story very much! - bp

 

[papipeguy]

Nice read. He's a talented writer. Thanks for posting this.

 

[cynyr]

Al turned me on to Reborn Pipes some months ago, and it has been such a pleasure keeping up with the projects and reading the archives. One of the premier pipe sites on the 'net!
I'd do just about anything to have a Local like the one Steve so vividly describes.

 

[jeffboyrd]

That made my morning. I second your sentiment Cynyr, I too would give anything to have a shop like that today.

 

[bubblehead33]

That was a great read Al, thanks for sharing! Makes me feel like I was born in the wrong time and place....

 

[chakaraka]

Great share and read. Thank you. :clap:

 

[judcole]

Great yarn. Probably the closest thing I have been to like that, recently, is Paul's up in Flint. They do repairs on site, as well as making their Cayuga line of pipes. There's still some old time shops around, but they have to have a lot more emphasis on cigars and so on these days.

 

[crazypipe]

Good read thanks for sharing this. ::

 

[reap]

Thanks for sharing. The only dedicated tobacconist I've been to opened in 1892 but unfortenetly due to current smoking prohibitions and the young fellas working in the shop it was a less then stellar experience and while they had every cigar under the sun pipes were more an after thought. I'd say I miss the old days but I never got to experience them but this article gives a good feeling what it must have been like.

 

[rmbittner]

There's still some old time shops around

For me, it's Jon's Pipe Shop in Champaign, IL. It's a tiny shop, but they carry tons of pipes, including cabinet drawers full of estate pipes (and boxes of estates in back that they'll show you if you tell them what you're looking for). Lots of tinned blends as well. Yes, they also have a good-size humidor, but the men behind the counter are pure pipe guys. (And great, if occasionally curmudgeonly, conversationallists!)
I could spend hours in this place, just hanging out. (Unfortunately, I live six hours -- and two states -- away.)
Bob

 

[cigrmaster]

Great story and thanks for sharing it. A good friend of mine owns Regency Cigar in East Greenwich R.I and he has a really nice smoking lounge in the back. From 1999-2003 I was a regular there spending probably 40 hours a week in the place. I had my cell phone and computer so it was like my own little office. We had a bunch of regulars and it was a grand time. We would watch sports or CNBC only. We talked politics, sports and cigars, we played cards and when I started smoking a pipe in 2000 I took some major ball busting but was always welcomed. It was literally my home away from home and it is the one thing I miss the most since I moved to Florida. It is a shame that we do not have a place like that in every town, the camaraderie is something special and if you ever get a chance to become a regular at a place like that, do not pass it up.

 

[yadan]

Charming and very well told; a pleasure to read while puffing! ::