Show Off Your Petersons Here!

[AroEnglish]

Some observations from my visit to the Peterson factory last Wednesday, in no particular order:

• It’s a factory in the sense that individuals perform specific steps of the pipemaking, rather than the entire pipe. Yes, stummels are fraised by machine and stems are preformed, but both are refined and finished by hand. The same can be said about Missouri Meerschaum’s factory. Not much is automated.
• The silverwork is virtually all by hand. The shank caps start as hallmarked rings and are formed over basswood forms which Jason custom makes on the lathe for almost every tray of pipes. A silver bowl cap takes 90 minutes to make from scratch from a sheet!
• They definitely DO NOT dip-stain anymore. The stain is applied by a foam brush, with the exception of the black stain on pure black pipes, which is sprayed. If the mortise is darkened, it’s due to heat from the machining process, not stain.
• Draft holes are drilled early in the process.
• In a system pipe, the stummel is mounted to a lathe where the shoulder of the shank is shaped, and mortise and moisture well are all formed simultaneously.
• The stamps are all applied by hand, one letter and digit at a time. There are, of course, many stamps which incorporate logos and letters together.
• Rustication is labor-intensive. It’s not cheaper to make them, except that they don’t waste briar that’s not appropriate for other finishes.
• Each fraised bowl is carefully examined both dry and wetted during a process where they are sorted into grades.
• Yes, of course there are some fills in many of the pipes. This helps keep Peterson pipes a good value.
• There are a few cool new offerings in the works!! Sorry, but I can’t share anything more.
• Vulcanite is getting hard-to-get. There is now a single European manufacturer of Vulcanite rods.
• Glen and Company are continuing to make positive changes to the production processes, bringing improved quality and cost-efficiency.
• If you’re going to Dublin and have a few extra hours, get in touch with Glen Whelan and it’s likely that you can tour the factory. This is something they did in the past, but paused during their move and COVID-19, but the opportunity is again available.

Wow, thanks for all of this information. I'm guessing we’ll see more acrylic stems which I’m not sad about. It does seem like their acrylic stems are chunkier at the bit and I hope they will become thinner/more like the vulcanite bits as the process is refined.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

Wow, thanks for all of this information. I'm guessing we’ll see more acrylic stems which I’m not sad about. It does seem like their acrylic stems are chunkier at the bit and I hope they will become thinner/more like the vulcanite bits as the process is refined.

Not disagreeing but I’ve found the chunky at the bit part to be true with some shapes and not the case with others, particularly non-Plip, but I have some Plips that are fairly “svelte”.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

Thanks in very large part to @ashdigger, nine 9’s has been achieved with the addition of the Tawny System Standard 307 meerschaum and an unsmoked 307 System Standard 0 from I think the FreeState era.

 

[Ahi Ka]

Thanks in very large part to @ashdigger, nine 9’s has been achieved with the addition of the Tawny System Standard 307 meerschaum and an unsmoked 307 System Standard 0 from I think the FreeState era.
View attachment 245544

 

[AroEnglish]

Thanks in very large part to @ashdigger, nine 9’s has been achieved with the addition of the Tawny System Standard 307 meerschaum and an unsmoked 307 System Standard 0 from I think the FreeState era.
View attachment 245544

Oort that is a lovely photo of some lovely pipes. I’m guessing that the dark 9BC is the favorite because of its positioning (at least it’s my favorite of your set).

 

[The Amish Tyrant]

PPN is on deck? Any intel on when or what? I reserved some but didn’t know they were knocking on my door

As to the PPN, committing to a pipe unseen never did sit well with me.

I’ll share my photos of the PPN pipes in the larval stage after they’re announced.

The 2023 PPN pipe will be revealed in tomorrow's blog with a link to change or cancel your order (allowing those on the wait list to get on the order list).

I'm looking forward to the reveal and am kinda kicking myself for not jumping on the last one during the small window of opportunity I had (someone backed out last minute and I waited a day too long to pull the trigger on ordering).

 

[ashdigger]

The 2023 PPN pipe will be revealed in tomorrow's blog with a link to change or cancel your order (allowing those on the wait list to get on the order list).

I'm looking forward to the reveal and am kinda kicking myself for not jumping on the last one during the small window of opportunity I had (someone backed out last minute and I waited a day too long to pull the trigger on ordering).

I got the email.

I pre-ordered two. Will probably only actually get one.

 

[scloyd]

I got the email. I pre-ordered one.

Last year I ordered one and after it arrived another PPN popped up on SPC on the "Fresh pipe" list. I immediately snatched it up. Having two, I sold one to a fellow Pete Geek (a great guy) here on the forum for what I paid. I knew he missed out on the pre-order.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

I got the email. I pre-ordered one.

Last year I ordered one and after it arrived another PPN popped up on SPC on the "Fresh pipe" list. I immediately snatched it up. Having two, I sold one to a fellow Pete Geek (a great guy) here on the forum for what I paid. I knew he missed out on the pre-order.

Haha, make that very great-ful!!!! Puppy wakes up at 4 tomorrow I may not tell her to go back to sleep - looking forward to the reveal.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

I got the email.

I pre-ordered two. Will probably only actually get one.

Was there an email I missed today? Or did I just not get a pipe?

 

[ashdigger]

Was there an email I missed today? Or did I just not get a pipe?

The email was attached to the super secret squirrel farmer smoke signals.

 

[ashdigger]

360. Announcing the PPN Pipe of the Year: The XL5BC of Sherlock Holmes

Whew! I know it’s seemed like a long wait this year, but it’s almost over. The PPN 2023 Pipe of the Year should be ready to ship out in about a month. I just got a photo that says it all from Craig…

petersonpipenotes.org

It’s out!! I’m in!!

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

LOL, I was joking the other day with a wedding to pay for next year (already started, haha), I’d probably have to slow down on some pipes unless Peterson came out with something cool in a Sherlock Holmes - it’s like a twofer! I have an original “Original” and haven’t ever thought about getting another version of the shape - this is perfect, IMO. As for slowing down, just saw the link to the Xmas pipe on here ……. guess my daughter will be carrying dandelions instead of flowers!

 

[AroEnglish]

360. Announcing the PPN Pipe of the Year: The XL5BC of Sherlock Holmes

Whew! I know it’s seemed like a long wait this year, but it’s almost over. The PPN 2023 Pipe of the Year should be ready to ship out in about a month. I just got a photo that says it all from Craig…

petersonpipenotes.org

It’s out!! I’m in!!

Hmm, not sure about this one. Love the BC stem, the stain, the finish, but I’m on the fence about the shape.

 

[simong]

An Old English 124.

 

[scloyd]

• First use of the “BC” or short-tapered wear-gap stem on a System in about 100 years (seriously)
• First time the “XL5BC” stamp has been used
• First time the Deluxe Sandblast System has appeared with this stain and finish

I'm in.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

No Holmes stamp on the band, assuming this is because it’s not part of the “official” line? No biggie, my only nitpick now I’ve looked closer. Classic shape - my original can be a hot smoker, will be interesting to compare!

 

[The Amish Tyrant]

Hmm, not sure about this one. Love the BC stem, the stain, the finish, but I’m on the fence about the shape.

Agreed, sigh.

The XL5s/315 shape doesn't make me feel warm and fuzzy on the inside. Everything else is spectacular. I can see myself not reaching for it often enough to justify the purchase.

Need to mull this over.

 

[ssjones]

I'm just not that big a fan of the wear-gap stem. I know, blasphemy. I can feel you all throwing your empty tobacco tins at me, stop it!)

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

I'm just not that big a fan of the wear-gap stem. I know, blasphemy. I can feel you all throwing your empty tobacco tins at me, stop it!)

Bring out the monster!!!!