The Briar, The Story, And Pipe Magic

[cosmicfolklore]

From an email from Skip at The Briary...

The next pipes we will put up will be from James Upshall. As many of you know the factory at Tillshead closed recently. Barry Jones retired so that is it for another great English brand. What a shame.

All of the equipment was sold. Our friend Ian Walker bought all of the briar which completely filled a full sized van. I felt that I had to react and buy a few. It is now or never. The pipes have been sold by Moty Ezarati but Moty passed away in April. His wife Karen, sold me the pipes.
We expect a new batch of Northen Briar pipes late this month. Ian Walker told me that all of our new pipes will be made from the briar he bought at Tillshead. I am looking forward to it.

While I am glad that the briar will be kept in the pipe genre, and not just going to be made into chess pieces, wooden spoons, or something of the like, how much would this information influence you in buying a Northern Briar?
For me, I love knowing the story behind my pipes, and knowing a little about the briar that goes into them adds to my enjoyment as I mull over my pipe as I smoke. It adds to that magic connection that I have with some of my pipes. However, if someone asks me something about a pipe that I am smoking, I have to stop myself before I start to come off as a Cliff Clayburn from Cheers, the postal barfly that rambles and rambles. "And, after Ian Walker hauled a van-full of briar back to his boat studio floating about in the heart of London... Ancient Sumerians left the secrets to pipemaking in cuneiform tablets... Then alien technology helped them meet the chamber hole up with the draft hole..." Ha ha!
Anyways, how much do you want to know about your pipe?

 

[pitchfork]

I'm the same way -- I love knowing the story behind my pipes. Probably half of my collection consists of pipes by Andrew Marks and Elliott Nachwalter, and a big part of that is the story behind them.

 

[fluffie666]

I want to know all I can about my pipes. I generally buy estates to clean up and smoke because, to me, there is an intimacy that comes along with resurrecting an old pipe. I put a lot into learning about where they came from and what time period they were made in. All that adds up and leads to a pleasurable smoke on many levels. As for Northern Briar, knowing where the pipes and briar came from is a score. I don't know much about the Tillshead brand of today but I do know that in the past it was indicative of quality. I should do some digging around. I might be in the market for a Tillshead or an Upshall now. Thanks for releasing the PAD Kraken. The wife will not be pleased!

 

[cosmicfolklore]

One of the cool things about having the Briary to hang out in, we get to hear lots of stories about the pipes and their making. Some, sound more unbelievable than others, but Skip always has the best backgrounds on these instruments of adoration. And, like magic these stories come to me as I smoke these pipes, also. It's like having a connection to a bigger story

 

[pitchfork]

Come to think of it, "the story" is a big part of my entire collection. In addition to those two American pipemakers, the rest of my collection is mostly antique pipes, particularly BBBs. Just imagining what the world was like when these pipes were made is half the fun of smoking them.

 

[hmhaines]

As much as possible. If I don't have a deep connection, it isn't as fun!

 

[ashdigger]

I like to know things like that. I have a Kaywoodie flier that says their briar came over on ships just before those ships were used to haul valuable materials for the upcoming war. Stuff like that is cool.

 

[jpmcwjr]

As much as I reasonably can. It's easiest when I get a pipe directly from the maker, and especially enjoyable to shake the hand of the man who carved it. Most estate pipes I have, though, are undocumented as to previous owners. Learning some history of the make, though, is rewarding.

 

[voorhees]

We are nothing without history. I enjoy that aspect of most things.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I've looked at Northern Briar's pipes a few times, but never really saw one that tempted me to pull the trigger.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Exactly, isn't everything about the story, in some form or another? Getting to meet Mr. Nording really raised my appreciation of my Nording pipes.
So Duane, you're saying that the look of the pipe outweighs any sort of story, for you? Or, is it that you prefer stories different from these, or maybe you just wanted to make sure that we know that you don't like Ian Walker's work?

 

[voorhees]

Exactly, isn't everything about the story, in some form or another? Getting to meet Mr. Nording really raised my appreciation of my Nording pipes.

Ain't that the truth, and hearing him confirm speculation that some post Barling production was once handled by Nording was very cool.

 

[pagan]

Since most of my pipes are Estate I looked up various makers, the history and quality after transition periods and learned what era pipe brands are good and which ones to stay away from and made my purchases on that info, so I think I have a good understanding of all the pipes in my collection.
I had available a ASPC pipe advertised as a Mark Tinsky, after researching the history of ASPC and looking at photos I learned the pipe was a pipe Curt Rollar made the last year he was making pipes, I quickly snatched it up

 

[Chasing Embers]

So Duane, you're saying that the look of the pipe outweighs any sort of story, for you? Or, is it that you prefer stories different from these, or maybe you just wanted to make sure that we know that you don't like Ian Walker's work?

I'll ignore the condescending tone you and woodsroad always seem to take to my opinions, and simply say that I have not seen a Northern Briar pipe that I have liked. Nothing against his work, just not any pieces I have seen that would suit my collection.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I have no bad tone towards you, Duane. The exact opposite. Keep in mind that this is written word, and you may be misjudging me. I was just asking you for clarification. I have no ideas on why the Woodsroad mention. :?
Besides Ian's work, is it the story that has any impact on the pipes that you do buy?

 

[Chasing Embers]

Of course it does. Like the century old KB&B Canadian/bulldog I purchased a few months ago. Unsmoked, and all the time and history it passed through to get to my hands. If I happened across a nice Zulu made by Ian, however, I would likely buy it. Just haven't come across one yet. :?

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I have found that most Northern Briars are actually too heavy for me, especially his bulldogs, which are like trying to clench crowbars. But, I have a churchwarden and a couple of Dublins that were oddballs, in that they weren't too heavy. But, I do have to admit that I am intrigued by the story of the briar. It just set my wheels to thinking about my other pipes, and the stories of their being made or designed.

I think that my last Becker, even finding out that it was slyly made by his son and sold as his own, is what makes it my absolute favorite. I think that I could get all offended by the slight, but I think it actually makes me treasure it more. Like a transition piece.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I've become addicted to commissions because if the personal connection to the pipe and the carver.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

That certainly ensure that you have a totally unique collection. Plus, getting to work side by side with the artist, even if on just the mundane aspects is rewarding, make you a part of the process, thus you are a part of the pipe.

I really wish I had the resources to do that more.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I can only afford it for my birthday, or I would have many more of them. :mrgreen: