Stolen or Style or Innovation

[cosmicfolklore]

So, something I've noticed over the last decade, is that whenever another Scandinavian pipemaker makes stride forward in fashion design for their pipes, Erik Nording seems to copy that in his designs. I'm not sure if it is just because I love the Scandinavian designs more that I notice them here, or it may be occurring everywhere.

Now, before you take me wrong, I love Erik Nording's work. I've met him three times, and had the pleasure of setting at a table with him when he last visited The Briary and listened his hunting stories and jokes, as we all egged him on. I also have eight pipes by him, and all are favorites.

But, this is just an observation. For all I know Erik is collaborating with these other Scandinavian pipemakers but... to the pipesmoker not "in the know," it sure looks like he quickly steals ideas. And, culturally, this may be ok for his area.

This first pipe is a Nording, newly listed. Does that metalwork look familiar? Pedder Jeppesen didn't invent putting a tad bit of fany metalwork on the stem, but he has become well known for it in his Neerup line of pipes and he did them in this certain way. .




When you see the next one, don't get confused. This is not an Eltang, but it looks like one. Nording also started making these just after Eltang released his similar design.



Maybe it's just a style, like as if some fancy designer, say Jordache, started selling jeans with holes in them, and next thing you know, Levis and Lee Jeans start tearing holes in theirs also. Nording obviously has made some unique design moves of his own.

I don't know of any other pipemaker that started wrapping their pipes, similar to how advertisers will wrap a car for you to advertise their Mountain Dews or Cokes.



So, I am not saying that Erik isn't original, but what other pipemakers have you seen start copying the innovations of another. Show us, and let us know what you think of this. Is it just thievery, just the way fashion works, or is it an innovation every time a pipemaker comes up with something new, it is fair game to all of the other pipemakers?

And, try not to take this all too seriously. We all should love these pipemakers... right? But, what are some things you've noticed being done across several different pipemakers? Lately or historically?

Is it normal or Evil?

 

[greeneyes]

Good or evil, it's business. There's a reason trademark protections exist. I personally find it in poor taste, but commerce doesn't care a bit what I think.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

There's a reason trademark protections exist

Trademarks, copyrights, etc... in the US, these are really hard to prove, and even once established by a brand, is all on the company to enforce this themselves. And, it's nearly impossible to enforce in companies in other countries. Their isn't any police force to enforce this. And, many times, even when a court rules against someone, they don't pay their fines. These things are still sort of Wild West types of things.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

It's wrong to copy art and pass it off as something that you came up with. The design of a tool is something that should be copied if that design is useful.

Just the humble opinion of a guy that doesn't really know shit about art or tools.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

@Richmond B. Funkenhouser So does it make you think less of Nording for doing these?

 

[Sigmund]

I get what you are saying and I have mixed feelings. They did kind of take off on his stuff but he doesnt do spigots as far as I know. It also looks a bit more steam punk to me. Personally, I like stem treatments but this and some Neerups are a touch over the top for me. Of course that wasnt your question.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I get what you are saying and I have mixed feelings. They did kind of take off on his stuff but he doesnt do spigots as far as I know. It also looks a bit more steam punk to me. Personally, I like stem treatments but this and some Neerups are a touch over the top for me. Of course that wasnt your question.

Nording put spigots on some of his Valhalla line of pipes, and a few of his handmades. Or, did you mean Jeppesen?

 

[fireground_piper]

It’s a tough one because there’s a huge grey area. At some point a style becomes a norm. The billiard, the cutty, the poker, etc. and then there’s a line where a very specific look is identified with someone. It’s at that point where I’m not the biggest fan but that line likely is different for many.

 

[Sigmund]

Nording put spigots on some of his Valhalla line of pipes, and a few of his handmades. Or, did you mean Jeppesen?

I was speaking of Jeppersen/neerup If jeppersen did I have not run across them.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

It’s a tough one because there’s a huge grey area. At some point a style becomes a norm. The billiard, the cutty, the poker, etc. and then there’s a line where a very specific look is identified with someone. It’s at that point where I’m not the biggest fan but that line likely is different for many.

Yes, it is this grey area that intrigues me in all forms of design. How many people have to steal an idea before it becomes the norm? a rhetorical question, of course.

I ment Jeppersen/neerup If jeppersen did I have not run across them.

It would seem like with his experience with metal and jewelry work that he would branch out into spigots. Oooo, but what if Jeppesen feels like making a spigot would be stealing or appropriation? Ha ha.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

@Richmond B. Funkenhouser So does it make you think less of Nording for doing these?

Yeah, I'd say knocking off other people's artistic designs is a turn off.

Really the wrapped or urban camo pipes alone kind of made me think a little less. Just like when a guy I know bought one of these, I thought a little less of him too.




I really don't have a place to speak on Nording pipes, I dont own one... And probably never will. That's why my original answer was a general one.

But... I do browse for pipes and guns all the time, with my hands down in my pants. That makes me an expert on what I like.

 

[briarblues]

So, something I've noticed over the last decade, is that whenever another Scandinavian pipemaker makes stride forward in fashion design for their pipes, Erik Nording seems to copy that in his designs. I'm not sure if it is just because I love the Scandinavian designs more that I notice them here, or it may be occurring everywhere.

Now, before you take me wrong, I love Erik Nording's work. I've met him three times, and had the pleasure of setting at a table with him when he last visited The Briary and listened his hunting stories and jokes, as we all egged him on. I also have eight pipes by him, and all are favorites.

But, this is just an observation. For all I know Erik is collaborating with these other Scandinavian pipemakers but... to the pipesmoker not "in the know," it sure looks like he quickly steals ideas. And, culturally, this may be ok for his area.

This first pipe is a Nording, newly listed. Does that metalwork look familiar? Pedder Jeppesen didn't invent putting a tad bit of fany metalwork on the stem, but he has become well known for it in his Neerup line of pipes and he did them in this certain way. .


View attachment 333247

When you see the next one, don't get confused. This is not an Eltang, but it looks like one. Nording also started making these just after Eltang released his similar design.

View attachment 333248

Maybe it's just a style, like as if some fancy designer, say Jordache, started selling jeans with holes in them, and next thing you know, Levis and Lee Jeans start tearing holes in theirs also. Nording obviously has made some unique design moves of his own.

I don't know of any other pipemaker that started wrapping their pipes, similar to how advertisers will wrap a car for you to advertise their Mountain Dews or Cokes.

View attachment 333249

So, I am not saying that Erik isn't original, but what other pipemakers have you seen start copying the innovations of another. Show us, and let us know what you think of this. Is it just thievery, just the way fashion works, or is it an innovation every time a pipemaker comes up with something new, it is fair game to all of the other pipemakers?

And, try not to take this all too seriously. We all should love these pipemakers... right? But, what are some things you've noticed being done across several different pipemakers? Lately or historically?

Is it normal or Evil?

Sometimes the apples does not fall far from the tree. Back, many years ago, Peder worked / studied with Erik Nording, before starting his own firm. Maybe the teacher is offering a nod to a respected student?

 

[cosmicfolklore]

So, something I've noticed over the last decade, is that whenever another Scandinavian pipemaker makes stride forward in fashion design for their pipes, Erik Nording seems to copy that in his designs. I'm not sure if it is just because I love the Scandinavian designs more that I notice them here, or it may be occurring everywhere.


Sometimes the apples does not fall far from the tree. Back, many years ago, Peder worked / studied with Erik Nording, before starting his own firm. Maybe the teacher is offering a nod to a respected student?

It could be, and also the Scandinavian pipemakers all seem to have had a relationship with Stanwell also. But, if an art professor of mine started using something from my imagery, I would definitely have to go poke a stick at him. And, I am certain that if i used something my professor had developed, I would have to prepare the take some shit, ha ha.

And, I am not sure if it helps or hinders Pedder's efforts to build a business to have the more established pipe brand start doing what he does, friend, teacher, or not. But, it makes great fodder for conversation, right?

 

[fireground_piper]

Back around 2019/2020 magnetic stems were showing up everywhere. I don’t know who started it but all of the sudden a number of people were playing around with it at the same time. Then it all seems to have stopped in sync as well.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Then it all seems to have stopped in sync as well

@georged had posted on a thread a few months ago that magnets lose there magnetisms when they are heated. So, probably as guys started having their stummels drop off while smoking them probably put a stop to that one.

 

[fireground_piper]

@georged had posted on a thread a few months ago that magnets lose there magnetisms when they are heated. So, probably as guys started having their stummels drop off while smoking them probably put a stop to that one.

Perhaps a downside of copying a trend. No first hand R&D.

 

[kcghost]

The sharing or misappropriating of style has been a part of pipe culture from day one. Many pipes were copied from someone else and presented as a piece of original work. Not much truly original work goes on. I wish Nate King would create one of titanium steam punk pipes again. They were original and wonderful to admire. As a friend once told me "He's only person in the world who can make such a pipe".

 

[PaulRVA]

I noticed a dead copy of an Eltang Poker with Horn on the Bay earlier this morning. Knock off pipe and In my opinion a cowardly and nut-less move on someone’s part.
I see this a lot with Romans pipes being duplicated in appearance.
They say copying is a form of flattery but I also think a punch to the throat can be flattering as well I consider it classless and distasteful if not downright immoral and plain wrong unless an agreement exists with the makers between themselves splitting profits.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I noticed a dead copy of an Eltang Poker with Horn on the Bay earlier this morning. Knock off pipe and In my opinion a cowardly and nut-less move on someone’s part.
I see this a lot with Romans pipes being duplicated in appearance.
They say copying is a form of flattery but I also think a punch to the throat can be flattering as well I consider it classless and distasteful if not downright immoral and plain wrong unless an agreement exists with the makers between themselves splitting profits.

But, tell us how you really feel.

 

[Sigmund]

I agree that knock offs are lame. In the music world it happens a lot. Usually the knock offs are garbage.