I recently was in NC on business and found myself near the small blue ridge town of Sparta.
Heading up the hill to Dr. Grabow’s shop, I could see the old water tower long ago painted to read “Dr. Grabow - home of the pre-smoked pipe”. The bar and pool hall below the tower was called “The pipe factory.”
Walking into Dr. Grabow‘s front office you are greeted by two walls of pipes, as well as a display of accessories such as filters and cleaners.
The wall of pipes were organized by the names listed on their webpage Such as Lark, Cardinal, Duke, Royalton, etc.
What I wasn’t expecting was the multiple variations done by the craftsmen available only in the store that are not depicted on the website. Each pipe family was fitted on the wall with different bits, and other customization including hand etched tobacco leaf accents or even a knurled top of the pipe bowl.
I asked the receptionist and they stated that for ease of mail order, standard pipe designs were posted online and that variated shapes and customization was done by direct call or via drop in to their shop.
The Victory 45, Utah/Omaha, and Freedom 1812 pipes were also for sale behind a glass case in the shop…ones that I hadn’t seen online.
If you are nearby, a visit to their shop was a fun surprise. From the looks of the multiple bags of shipments waiting to to send out, I suspect many others are in for a Christmas surprise!
www.ourstate.com
Heading up the hill to Dr. Grabow’s shop, I could see the old water tower long ago painted to read “Dr. Grabow - home of the pre-smoked pipe”. The bar and pool hall below the tower was called “The pipe factory.”
Walking into Dr. Grabow‘s front office you are greeted by two walls of pipes, as well as a display of accessories such as filters and cleaners.
The wall of pipes were organized by the names listed on their webpage Such as Lark, Cardinal, Duke, Royalton, etc.
What I wasn’t expecting was the multiple variations done by the craftsmen available only in the store that are not depicted on the website. Each pipe family was fitted on the wall with different bits, and other customization including hand etched tobacco leaf accents or even a knurled top of the pipe bowl.
I asked the receptionist and they stated that for ease of mail order, standard pipe designs were posted online and that variated shapes and customization was done by direct call or via drop in to their shop.
The Victory 45, Utah/Omaha, and Freedom 1812 pipes were also for sale behind a glass case in the shop…ones that I hadn’t seen online.
If you are nearby, a visit to their shop was a fun surprise. From the looks of the multiple bags of shipments waiting to to send out, I suspect many others are in for a Christmas surprise!
The Pipes of Sparta: Dr. Grabow | Our State
While many North Carolina communities were manufacturing textiles or farming tobacco, this town became famous for its finely crafted pipes.
www.ourstate.com
Dr Grabow Smoking Pipes Made from Mediterranean Briar
Dr. Grabow smoking pipes are made from Mediterranean briar by international pipe company, International Pipes and Accessories. Full bent pipes are by Dr. Grabow (Doctor Grabow) like the Dr. Grabow lark and Duke pipe.
www.drgrabow.net
