The Pipe

[oldmooner]

I am looking for information about a pipe made by VENTURI called "The Pipe". They were made during the late 60"s and early 70"s from a graphite material used in the nose-cones of missiles. "The Pipe" came in the standard shapes of billiard, pot, bulldog, and half-bent and colors of black, white, yellow, gree, blue, brown, and orange. I owened several back then-a black billiard, a yellow bulldog, a brown bent, and white pot with red and blue racing stripes around the top of the bowl. These pipes smoked cool and dry and had a great draw. They were a little heavier than a briar of the same shape and size, but not much. I found an article in an old issue of "PIPES AND TOBACCO" by looking through their index, but can't seem to find the issue (Vol6,#2,pg6) or access to an archive. VENTURI also made a pipe called "The Smoke" during the same period using the same materials and colors, but adopting the Scandanavian free-stye shapes. I was not aware of "The Smoke" back then. No pipe dealers selling "estate" pipes seem to have either pipe. They either can't find them or they are not interested when they do. Anybody have one or ever smoked one?

 

[matchstickman]

Regarding the line of pipes that say "The Smoke," I got a red one in a lot of estate pipes on ebay some 3 or 4 months ago. I got it all cleaned up and decided I didnt like it very much, so I gifted it to a friend of mine who has just gotten into pipe smoking. He smokes that pipe at least 3 or 4 times a day, but he keeps it pretty clean and lets it cool down between smokes, and it hasnt failed him yet. He says he really likes it. I saw a blue one for sale on Ebay here not too long ago as well.

 

[matchstickman]

They are the HOTTEST smoking pipe I have ever smoked.

That was why I gifted mine, and I told my friend before hand that it smoked hot, but he has been a cig smoker since he was about 12, so for him, I don't really think he notices. He says he likes the one I gave him and says it tastes fine. He mostly smokes a tin of MacBaren Symphony that he found in a smoke shop up in Chicago. He says he likes the Burley the best cause he likes the Vitamin N content. Just goes to show you, to each his own I guess.

 

[matchstickman]

Thanks for looking that up Baskerville. Interesting read. I never really did any research on the matter, I just knew that I didn't care for mine all that much, but given the construction and the materials of the pipe, it is no wonder they smoke hot. It makes you wonder why they are still producting brylon pipes to this day.

 

[oldmooner]

I suppose all is relative. I found mine cool and dry. They were easy to clean and required no cake. I'm sorry I misplaced mine over the years. I guess they were "fad" pipes in the same category as pipes with metal stems and "screw-in" bowls, meerschaum linings, filters, cherry wood, and the "giants". Trends come and go and nowadays I notice the big thing is anything Scandanavian and "free-style". Yuk. Oh well, didn't mean to defend anything or start and arguement. My attitude is smoke what you like and to heck with everybody else.

 

[tiltjlp]

Here's a link to more information than you probably need.
http://www.thepipe.info/

 

[oldmooner]

WOW! Thanks for the site. I never realized there were so many shapes and colors. Was not aware of the "venturi" pipe either. Of course back when I bought my original pipes I was buying them as offered locally where ever I was. There was no Internet and I was not aware of "collectors" per se. Thanks again.

 

[cyndi]

This is mine:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cyndollins/3903233351/

 

[juvat270]

Theres a seller on Ebay that has one or two on auction as we speak if your interested.

 

[admin]

I have one too!
The funny thing is that I knew nothing about them and just bought it with several other estates from "Mattia" at the St. Louis Pipe Show last February.
Just last month, at the West Coast Pipe Show, I heard someone discussing them, and it wasn't until then that I knew what I had. I've smoked it a few times, and it smokes fine for me.
Here is is.

In the next photo below, you can see the seam on the rim where the graphite insert is put.

 

[puffinbudgie]

"The Pipe" was, IMHO, quickly tossed aside by those who were not aware of, or didn't care to accomodate "The Pipe"'s quirks. It can't be smoked like a briar or even a meerchaum. You've got to pack it looser, too. Pack loose, smoke slower than you're used to and draw gently. It works for me. I've got three of them. Here's a plus: Since it picks up nothing, or adds nothing, it means what you're tasting is the tobacco and only the tobacco. As a briar smoker, I know that the same blend tastes different in each of my fine old briars, it's the accumulations in the briar, and even the individual briar roots themselves that lend a slight difference to the same blend. And, since you can literally wash out "The Pipe", it makes it a perfect pipe to evaluate a new blend, without fear that you'll 'ruin' the pipe for anything else. I unfortunately, will never be able to smoke anything but Latakia heavy 'Oriental' blends in a favorite old Orlik as it will never loose the taint. No more Black and Gold Cavendish in that one, I'm afraid. I even had it professionally cleaned, to no avail.

 

[cigarsarge]

I have one...A billiard. It can be yours. Just send me some Mixture 79 to cover postage. Both of us can be miserable that way. Actually you get the better deal. Just carry it around in your pocked...If someone attacks you whack em in the head with it. Darn thing can drive nails and not be scratched.

 

[lazydog]

Have seen many.....The Pipe...... on Ebay. Punch in The Pipe & itll search all available for auction or sale. Have seen quite a few.

 

[dithreabhach]

I know this a late addition to the discussion, but I found this guy whilst wandering the InterWebz. H seems to specialise in "the pipe" -

The Pipe