Silver Gray Interviewed By Simon Of LCS Briars on YouTube

[Mike N]

Interesting and thoughtful interview of a great pipe maker on YouTube this evening.

It was interesting to hear about the making of her fluted, multi-hole button and to learn that Silver seldom uses a lathe on the briar. She indicated that Jeff Gracik has selected her as one of the three contestants at the next Battle of the Briar in Chicago. I can’t to see it. The cauldron bamboo pipe she made for the last Smoking Pipes Exposition was one of my favorites.

One thing that surprised me— unannounced, semi-regular inspections of their shop in Oregon by the FDA. Although not all pipe makers are “registered” as required by FDA regulations, Silver indicated compliance registration is a prerequisite to have your pipes offered on SmokingPipes.com. The FDA inspectors check everything from the fire extinguishers in the shop to what dyes are used on the briar. Seriously.

 

[Scottmi]

not finding with with a simple search.. can you say what episode/when it was released?

 

[Zamora]

I'll have to check this out. I always liked her work

 

[Mike N]

not finding with with a simple search.. can you say what episode/when it was released?

Released Sunday January 19, 2025, titled “My chat with US carving queen Silver Gray.” No episode number.

 

[Waning Embers]

not finding with with a simple search.. can you say what episode/when it was released?

Only took a second to find on YouTube.

 

[burleybreath]

There's a Gestapo for pipe makers? Wow.

 

[Waning Embers]

There's a Gestapo for pipe makers? Wow.

They got hit with the deeming along with blenders. A few carvers retired over it.

 

[Roach1]

Great Interview. Simon also has Interviews with Per Jensen and Lee von Erck posted. Worth the watch.

 

[Roach1]

Only took a second to find on YouTube.

Search London calling with Simon on YouTube.

 

[Elric]

...compliance registration is a prerequisite to have your pipes offered on SmokingPipes.com.

Ok, this is odd. SP sells all kinds of country-unknown miscellaneous estates but leans on their (US?) artisans? Are estates treated differently? Not trying to sound snarky, genuinely curious.

 

[Roach1]

Only took a second to find on YouTube.

Search London calling with Simon on YouTube.

 

[fireground_piper]

Ok, this is odd. SP sells all kinds of country-unknown miscellaneous estates but leans on their (US?) artisans? Are estates treated differently? Not trying to sound snarky, genuinely curious.

Yeah that’s an odd statement. Maybe the claim is or was something that was going to be required before everything died down?

If looked through the registrations before and there were definitely brands on SPC that are not in the registration database.

 

[RL Bucktails]

There's a Gestapo for pipe makers? Wow.

It is insanity

 

[fireground_piper]

Ok, this is odd. SP sells all kinds of country-unknown miscellaneous estates but leans on their (US?) artisans? Are estates treated differently? Not trying to sound snarky, genuinely curious.

Though I will say, I just did a search (it's been a few years, I think I last was browsing around in 2022) and most pipe makers that have a profile for new pipes from the US do indeed have FDA registrations today. I've so far only found 1 who does not and that individual currently does not have any pipes for sale under their profile.

I am curious on the estate aspect, I've never dug much into those semantics. The registration listings are specifically for manufacturers.

There's also a lot of US makers not on SPC which I never realized and many of them that I've searched aren't registered.

 

[Mike N]

Our small town has several vape shops. I wonder how many of those glass pipe makers are registered, or is there a double standard?

 

[fireground_piper]

Our small town has several vape shops. I wonder how many of those glass pipe makers are registered, or is there a double standard?

It probably depends on if they are blending/manufacturing/labelling or just retailing? You can search by any operation by state: TRLM-NG - https://trlm-ng-rlsite.fda.gov/establishments

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

Our small town has several vape shops. I wonder how many of those glass pipe makers are registered, or is there a double standard?

Vape shops by and large are simply retail, so not a double standard, just a different standard if they aren't actively manufacturing/blending/and so forth that the FDA regulates.

 

[Mike N]

It probably depends on if they are blending/manufacturing/labelling or just retailing? You can search by any operation by state: TRLM-NG - https://trlm-ng-rlsite.fda.gov/establishments

I was referring to the makers of the glass pipes from China, not the local retailers. Although we all know what they are used for they are often marketed as tobacco pipes.

 

[fireground_piper]

I was referring to the makers of the glass pipes from China, not the local retailers. Although we all know what they are used for they are often marketed as tobacco pipes.

The regulations only apply to US manufacture. China manufacture isn't covered.

 

[Waning Embers]

Search London calling with Simon on YouTube.

No interest myself I just posted it for Scott.