Why is it Named an Author Shape?

[Briar Lee]

I have this beautful Kaywoodie #13B Author.

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I know an Author is a sort of a bent, chubby apple, but why is it called an Author?

I can’t find any photos of authors smoking an Author.

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It does sort of look like a pipe an author might use, but why the name?

 

[anotherbob]

the bowl doesn't get in the way of the paper you're typing on is my guess.

 

[alaskanpiper]

Hell if I know. Sounds pipey

 

[sablebrush52]

Because it’s round and boring?

 

[OzPiper]

Some pipe names are self-explanatory eg pots, apples, cutty (a “cut off”or shortened tavern pipe), eggs, brandy, horns
Prince of Wales was named after the debonair Prince Edward (who later abdicated)
Hungarian was presumably a shape popular in the AustroHungarian Empire.
And Lovats named after Lord Henry Fraser, chief of Clan Lovat. Also called Henry Frasers before the term Lovat became popular

Other names are more puzzling eg billiards (nothing like a billiard cue), bulldogs (and even more puzzling, it’s earlier moniker “Haiti“)

Then there are pipe makers who muddy the water by using their own nomenclature or misnaming shapes

Authors with their stubby shape maybe seen as ideal for clenching while tapping away at the typewriter, as postulated by @anotherbob

 

[Cloozoe]

Damned if I know; best pipe for an author would be the antithesis of an "author", i.e. a light bent pipe with a good capacity to weight ratio. Bent billiard or Dublin.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

Never found a good answer to the question. I agree with the above, I have plenty of pipes that would be better “clenchers” for writing, for example. Maybe it goes well with tweed and turtlenecks.

Having said that, it’s one of my favorite shapes. I’ll brag on a member @doug535 who fashioned his modern take on an author for me recently - like my authors “chubby”.

 

[Simmerdown☕️]

I’m a clencher and never found typical “authors” to be very comfortable in the clench. However, it’s a cool looking shape. ️

 

[burleybreath]

Why is it named an Author? My guess would be it's just an invented marketing term by the first company to make one. The only author I've ever seen smoking one was a "gun writer." You know, one of those guys who write articles for gun magazines? Thought it funny at the time.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

Why is it named an Author? My guess would be it's just an invented marketing term by the first company to make one. The only author I've ever seen smoking one was a "gun writer." You know, one of those guys who write articles for gun magazines? Thought it funny at the time.

Here is a fantastic article about some classic outdoor writers and pipes! Smoke Rings - https://shootingsportsman.com/pipe-smoking-outdoor-writers/#:~:text=Few%20knew%20that%20better%20than,for%20pipes%20and%20pipe%20smoking.

 

[burleybreath]

Here is a fantastic article about some classic outdoor writers and pipes! Smoke Rings - https://shootingsportsman.com/pipe-smoking-outdoor-writers/#:~:text=Few%20knew%20that%20better%20than,for%20pipes%20and%20pipe%20smoking.

Totally cool, man. Thanks.

 

[cshubhra]

There is a member here, who is an author. He loves the author shape and pops in from time to time, asking questions about the author shape.

Here is one he posted

Author Pipes :: Pipe Talk

Can any smoker tell me about the Author pipe? Why is it so called, and what is the attraction of such a strangely shaped pipe? It seems to speak to me, but I wonder if it's because I'm a writer.

pipesmagazine.com

 

[cshubhra]

Here is another by the same member also asking about the author shape.

Author! Author! :: General Pipe Smoking Discussion

Anyone out there with experience with the Author style pipe? It's origins and unusual name? I keep running into them on sites and find them strangely attractive, but I dislike purchasing pipes that I put up for sale a week later. Why is the pipe shaped like a Prince on steroids? (I bet there's...

pipesmagazine.com

 

[badbriar]

My understanding is that the creator of the Author shape crafted a pipe and gifted it to his close friend, a gifted writer.

 

[Cloozoe]

My understanding is that the creator of the Author shape crafted a pipe and gifted it to his close friend, a gifted writer.

I had heard that the original designer named it "Arthur", but there was a typo in the catalog.

 

[Choatecav]

I understand the confusion. When I think of authors such as Faulkner, Foote, Tolkien, etc. it seems that billiards would be the most common shape.