Why all the Filters and Stinger on U.S. Pipes?

[mso489]

Filters seem to be popular among European pipes smokers, and stingers haven't been popular anywhere since

the 1950s, have they? So why do U.S. machine-made pipes, such as Dr. Grabow and Kaywoodie so universally

have filters (Grabow) and stingers for Kaywoodie? I recently ordered a Dr. Grabow and the required filters just

to have one of the grand old U.S. names on my pipe rack, made in Allegheny County up near the Virginia border

in N.C. I think they make hundreds of thousands of pipes there a year, in a town of about 1,700 people. I'm

still puzzling why they don't do the Savinelli "thing" and offer an adapter (maybe balsa instead of plastic?) to

give U.S. pipe smokers, who seem to prefer no filter, that option. According to the Dr. Grabow history on

tobaccopipes.com, the company is currently headquartered in New York, but the plant is in N.C. I think

smoking pipes designed for filters without filters, including Missouri Meerschaum filter pipes, makes them

draw poorly, so you need something to keep the air flow focused in a more narrow way. Correct me if I'm

wrong on that. I think the stingers can be pulled, though it may muddle up the stem somewhat.

 

[cortezattic]

Stingers are not an entirely American development. In fact, I think the Dunhill tube can be considered a form of stinger. Then, there's Savinelli, which uses stingers as well as balsa filters. Fortunately, the company recognizes that this could be a deal-breaker for some smokers, so both are made removable. The marketing concept has ancient roots.
Marketing pioneer Daniel Boone Savinelli with an early focus group.

 

[mso489]

cortezattic, those look like the guys down at my pipe shop; I think that's me in the background

at the right lost in the haze.
Yes, I guess the filters and stingers are left over from competition in the tobacco pipe trade, but since

they don't seem to be desirable in the U.S. market in the last 20 years or so, I wonder why they persist.

None of the pipes I bought when I first smoked a pipe 35 plus years ago had either (filter nor stinger).

 

[mso489]

Yellow Bole as described on Tobaccopipes.com has a "scoop" stinger that they describe as "removable." I assume

this means it slides out, not that it is removable with a hack saw. I'll try my MM filter pipe (I have a no-filter cob as

well) without the filter and see how it goes. A Dr. Grabow on the way, and I'll try that sans filter too. Just seems like

the American pipe makers are missing a bet, but perhaps they know their customers. In my area, I could find a

Peterson, Nording or Sav much more easily than U.S. brands. But the U.S. pipes must be selling somewhere.

Supposedly, a considerable quantity is made. Around here (mid-South) I can't find a Kaywoodie at a yard sale,

much less a drug store. Just wanted to balance the rack a little -- my well-liked Petes, Savs, Johs, etc. -- with a

few of the old U.S. brands. This led to my being puzzled about the filters, stingers, and scarcity of U.S. machine

made pipes where I shop. Tobaccopipes.com has them, more variety than other web sites. They seem strangely

low profile, or maybe I'm exaggerating. Hmmm. Thanks for the good info and observations. Anyone else?