Sometimes you just get lucky. I ran across this Peteron Plato on eBay, with a buy it now price of $200.00.
Being a cheap so and so, I have never spent more than $100.00 on a pipe, but a $400.00 pipe at half price looked like a sweet deal, and the Better Half had won at the casino, so I took the chance. It was worth the price!
The Plato is extremely light for its size; the chamber is about 7/8" across and about 2" deep, so it holds a great deal of tobacco. The shank is drilled like a system pipe, with a small moisture reservoir. The push stem is very similar to a system pipe as well, with a wide opening at the base that tapers to the button (fishtail). The "P" logo is inlaid silver, and is uniquely shaped for a Peterson logo. The only stamping on the briar is on the left side of the shank, an arched "Peterson" over "Dublin", and used the early P logo style for P. Otherwise, the bowl is smooth except for the rim and end of the shank, which are carved rough. There is no metal or filter in the airway.
My first smoke in it was Sterling White Tail Aromatic, which has a caramel room note. I used the gravity feed method, as it is a loose tobacco, and tamped lightly before striking the first light. The draw on this pipe is amazing, yielding copious mouthfuls of creamy white smoke. The tobacco was very very mild at first, and I was aware of the room note until about halfway through the bowl, and there was no bite with this pipe. About midway, I tamped once, and the smoke attained a slight peppery note that remained for a few minutes, and I could pick up a coffee nut taste that was cool on the tongue for the remainder of the bowl. At 3/4 the tobacco died, I tamped and lit again, smoking the remainder in about another 10 minutes. The bowl was only slightly warm by the finish, and the gray/black ash was dry at the base and cleared easily. The moisture chamber was damp, but without the typical teaspoon of liquid I usually get in my XL315 system pipe.
So, I got a tasty 40 minute smoke with only 2 lights (wood matches), and the pipe performed admirably throughout. Some credit of course should go to Jack Peterson for the splendid tobacco, yet I have smoked the White Tail Aro in a few smaller pipes, and did not have as rich as experience as in the Plato.
BTW, as light at the pipe is, it is not a good clencher, as the bit is smallish and the leverage is tilted to the bowl.
I believe it was well worth the price I paid.
Being a cheap so and so, I have never spent more than $100.00 on a pipe, but a $400.00 pipe at half price looked like a sweet deal, and the Better Half had won at the casino, so I took the chance. It was worth the price!
The Plato is extremely light for its size; the chamber is about 7/8" across and about 2" deep, so it holds a great deal of tobacco. The shank is drilled like a system pipe, with a small moisture reservoir. The push stem is very similar to a system pipe as well, with a wide opening at the base that tapers to the button (fishtail). The "P" logo is inlaid silver, and is uniquely shaped for a Peterson logo. The only stamping on the briar is on the left side of the shank, an arched "Peterson" over "Dublin", and used the early P logo style for P. Otherwise, the bowl is smooth except for the rim and end of the shank, which are carved rough. There is no metal or filter in the airway.
My first smoke in it was Sterling White Tail Aromatic, which has a caramel room note. I used the gravity feed method, as it is a loose tobacco, and tamped lightly before striking the first light. The draw on this pipe is amazing, yielding copious mouthfuls of creamy white smoke. The tobacco was very very mild at first, and I was aware of the room note until about halfway through the bowl, and there was no bite with this pipe. About midway, I tamped once, and the smoke attained a slight peppery note that remained for a few minutes, and I could pick up a coffee nut taste that was cool on the tongue for the remainder of the bowl. At 3/4 the tobacco died, I tamped and lit again, smoking the remainder in about another 10 minutes. The bowl was only slightly warm by the finish, and the gray/black ash was dry at the base and cleared easily. The moisture chamber was damp, but without the typical teaspoon of liquid I usually get in my XL315 system pipe.
So, I got a tasty 40 minute smoke with only 2 lights (wood matches), and the pipe performed admirably throughout. Some credit of course should go to Jack Peterson for the splendid tobacco, yet I have smoked the White Tail Aro in a few smaller pipes, and did not have as rich as experience as in the Plato.
BTW, as light at the pipe is, it is not a good clencher, as the bit is smallish and the leverage is tilted to the bowl.
I believe it was well worth the price I paid.