Fresno Pipe Club

 

Members of the Fresno Pipe Club in the midst of the August Slow Smoke contest. Clockwise fro left: Jay Stover, Janet Siegel, Mike Siegel, Dennis Muster, Wally Detjen, Gary Detjen, Tim Ory. Everyone is enjoying the pleasures of some straight burley tobacco with the clock ticking.

Results: Tim Ory - 57 minutes, 42 seconds

             Jay Stover - 46 minutes, 41 seconds

              Dennis Muster - 40 minutes, 43 seconds

               Wally Detjen - 29 minutes, 30 seconds

               Gary Detjen - 27 minutes, 9 seconds

               Mike Siegel - 19 minutes, 15 seconds

                         Tim Ory, the winner with his Xikar lighter prize

Next Meeting

Sunday, July 15th at 6:00 P.M.

 At Cigars Ltd., Fresno http://www.fresnocigar.com/

 

Your Favorite Tobacco

We all have our favorites. But the only unifying thread is that they are probably all different! Which blend is your "Go-To" tobacco? Is it one of many new blends available today or an old, old favorite? Is it easy to get or is it like a search for buried treasure? Some popular blends are no longer readily obtained or even still in existence. Do you have some of your chosen "desert island tobacco" to share with fellow club members? Bring some along for our meeting this month to tell us about. We'll understand if you have a need to hoard it!

 

Meerschaum Night

A fortuitous set of circumstances found us relegated to the outdoor patio portion of Cigars, Ltd. For our last meeting. It not only made for a pleasant environment, but also allowed us to interest various passersby (of which there were a few) in our hobby. In the meantime, those present were able to share examples of their favorite meers as well as interesting stories associated with them. A very nice time.

A view of a pipe shop shelf from the 1970s. How many old favorites can you spot? Any that you still smoke?

Event Calendar

 

July 15 Favorite Tobacco night

August 19 Ninth Annual Pipe Smoking Contest

September 16 Pipe Carving Contest Final Judging (??)

October 21 Thirteenth Annual Pipe Club Bar-B-Q

November 18 Pipe, Tobacco & Accessories Sell/Trade Night

December 16 Fifteenth Annual Pipe Club Christmas Party

 

Next Meeting

Sunday, March 18th at 6:00 P.M.

 At Cigars Ltd., Fresno http://www.fresnocigar.com/

Message from President Dennis:

Dear Fellow Pipe-Smoking Enthusiasts:

 

February’s meeting was attended by a great group of pipe smoking enthusiasts who are also all experienced in pipe repair and restoration. We had a great time discussing pipe restoration and everyone had extremely valuable input, experience and suggestions…some of which were a bit novel! I think each of us profited from the discussion and stories of success and failure during our past attempts to work with pipes, stems, fillers, stains, etc. For those of you reading this who haven’t been to a meeting for a while, make plans to join us Sunday at Cigars Ltd in Fig Garden Village for a great time. Please look over the proposed calendar and give us your feedback. Notice that June’s meeting is on Fathers Day.  We would appreciate any suggestions you may have and will discuss them on Sunday night at the meeting.

 

Dennis

Restored Peterson Sterling, Pre-Republic, i.e., from before 1949

Show Your Irish Pipes!

 

Because we are only one day off in targeting St. Patrick's Day for our meeting this month, we will use it as an opportunity to share our erstwhile collections of Irish pipes. Almost everyone has at least one "Pete" in their arsenal of smoking instruments. Interestingly, the originators of this quintessential line of pipes came from Germany (the Kapp brothers) and Latvia (Charles Peterson). Mr. Peterson had the idea from which the "system" pipe emerged and the company soon became Kapp & Peterson (K&P). The familiar "P-lip" is also a Peterson benchmark and adds to the unique nature of the brand.

 

There are also many versions of Irish style tobacco which many of us have tried and which are the favorites of some. Please come prepared to share your opinions of the Irish style of pipeweed. Anyone who is willing to also share a sample will be considered a true Brother of the Eire Briar!

 

 

 

 

March 18              Irish Pipes and Accessories Night

April 15                                ???

May 20                  Meerschaum Pipe Show in Merced

June 17                 Family Pipe Smoking Heritage Night

July 15                  Pipe Carving Contest Final Judging

August 19             Ninth Annual Pipe Smoking Contest

September 16      Evening with Sons ‘O the Briar Pipe Club

October 21           Thirteenth Annual Pipe Club Bar-B-Q

November 18       Pipe, Tobacco & Accessories swap Night

December 16       Fifteenth Annual Club Christmas Party

 

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Disney Changes Dress Code, Allows Employees to Grow Beards
But they must be under three feet tall (leprechaun size).

Next Meeting

Sunday, November 20th at 6:00 P.M.

 At Cigars Ltd., Fresno http://www.fresnocigar.com/

 

The (sometimes) Annual Pipe Show and Swap

This month's meeting will feature a pipe show/swap. This is your opportunity to not only admire a plethora of pipes, but also to engage in some good old fashioned horse trading. Pipes will be available for trade or sale or a combination of the two. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination. Tobacco and accessories are also fair game for trading or selling. So bring along those items in your collection that you consider expendable and see what others may have brought that you simply cannot live without!

A previous pipe swap at Cigars, Ltd.

 

Some of our club members attended the third West Coast Pipe Show in Las Vegas earlier this month. We are looking forward to having them tell us about it and show us what treasures they have acquired. Inquiring minds want to know!!

A scene at the inaugural West Coast Show in 2009

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Annual Barbecue

Our yearly barbecue was held at the McClanahan household this year. Plenty of good food and good conversation were both in abundance. We were blessed with balmy weather and clear skies for the event and a good time was had by all.

Remaining Schedule of Pipe Club Programs For 2011

Nov 20 Pipe Swap & Show

Dec 18 Christmas Party

 

October is Barbecue Month

This year's annual barbecue will be hosted by Jim McClanahan at his home located at 1840 Rall Ave. in Clovis. Hamburgers will be served, fresh from the grill. All those attending should bring something to enjoy Suggestions: salads, chips, drinks, side dishes, desserts. Please call either Jim or Dennis ASAP (phone #s above) to RSVP so we'll know how many to expect. Directions to the house are being sent out via email separately.

 

Remaining Schedule of Pipe Club Programs For 2011

Oct 16 Annual BBQ Picnic

Nov 20 Pipe Swap & Show

Dec 18 Christmas Party

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Pipe Carving Contest

Entries were few and far between for this year's contest. But there was a clear winner. Mike Murphy's natural finish "semi-sitter" was admired by all. Somehow we missed out on taking a photo, but Mike indicated that this is the first pipe he has made strictly for his own use and enjoyment. So we are pretty certain we will be able to see it again regularly (perhaps even at the barbecue)!

 

Norman Rockwell's studio in Stratton, VT

 

Notes from the scribe:

On a late vacation trip to New England last month, we stopped in at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stratton, Vermont. As the exhibits were comprised of mostly original artwork, no photography was allowed. But in the carefully preserved studio of the artist, the restriction was relaxed. All of Mr. Rockwell's tools, right down to his paintbrushes were on display. Almost as an afterthought, a pipe was laid on a small table next to his chair. The artist was fond of billiards, primarily those made by Dunhill. And so, the exhibit was made complete by the inclusion of a nice Dunhill Shell Briar with tapered stem. A very nice touch added to a memorable tour.

As if to make our visit complete, we had lunch the following day at Theresa's Stockbridge Café, formerly known as "Alice's Restaurant". Ah, nostalgia!!!

-Jim

 

Norman Rockwell's favorite: a Dunhill billiard

 

Next Meeting

Sunday, August 21st at 6:00 P.M.

 At Cigars Ltd., Fresno http://www.fresnocigar.com/

 

Favorite Pipe Shapes

Provide grist for the mill

Last month's meeting featured a great opportunity to display, discuss and brag about our favorite pipe shapes and their variations. Jay's clutch of fine apples provided the highlight. We also had the benefit of Mike Edborg's obsession with the Lovat. And we, like almost everyone else on the planet, don't really know the critical difference between a bulldog and a Rhodesian!

 

Jay Stover's impressive Apple pipes

 

Slow-Smoking Contest

This month will feature our eagerly awaited annual slow-smoking contest. Once again, we will be granted the opportunity to see how long we can endure the perverse joys of straight burley tobacco. Prizes will be awarded to the top finishers as well as the coveted "green pipester" title for the one lasting the longest. Just bring a pipe that will hold 3.3 grams of ready-rubbed tobacco, a tamper and a pipe cleaner and be ready to apply the three "Ds": Dedication, Determination and Discipline. Be sure your pipe has sufficient capacity; (3 grams of tobacco is more than you might imagine). Only two matches are to be used: one for the charring light and the other for the final light. Smoke must be produced by participants. No smoke and you're out. The smell of burning wood also will end your run. If and when your pipe goes out, your time will be recorded. Last year's winner, Joe Detjen managed to last more than 65 minutes.

 

A scholarly discussion of favorite pipe shapes

 

Remaining Schedule of Pipe Club Programs For 2011

Aug 21 Annual Slow-Smoking Contest

Sept 18 Pipe Carving Contest

Oct 16 Annual BBQ Picnic

Nov 20 Pipe Swap & Show

Dec 18 Christmas Party

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Next Meeting

Sunday, July 17th at 6:00 P.M.

 At Cigars Ltd., Fresno http://www.fresnocigar.com/

Favorite Pipe Shapes

and Their Variations

This month we will focus on our favorites, giving members a chance to show off and compare not only the one they like the best,  but also any favored variations. We are all aware that the bulldog shape can be seen in straight and bent versions. It can also be found with a tapered diamond stem as well as the usual saddle bit. Another example: The Lovat, named after Henry Fraser, Lord Lovat - a Scottish laird of World War I fame - is like a Liverpool. The Lovat, however, is always fitted with a saddle stem. It is similar to a billiard, with a shank that is 1.5-2 times the height of the bowl, and generally much slimmer. A Liverpool can be thought of as a Lovat with a tapered stem. Variations can be found in both, e.g., in the photo below.

Meerschaum night at last month's meeting was another success. Almost every year we take the opportunity to show off our mineral based pipes. Many examples were on display from members collections. Everything from the latest Turkish creation to priceless vintage carvings.

 

Wally Detjen and Mike Edborg enjoying meer night

 

Meerschaum Night
A topic that is near and dear to many Fresno Pipe Club members is the venerable meerschaum pipe. Many of our Fresno pipesters have impressive collections of meers and are more than happy to show them off. This month's meeting will be a chance to display and discuss  favorites. Meerschaum is a soft white mineral sometimes found floating on the Black Sea, and rather suggestive of sea-foam whence the German origin of the name, as well as the French name for the same substance, écume de mer. Most meerschaum  is obtained chiefly from the plain of Eskişehir in Turkey, between Istanbul and Ankara. It occurs there in irregular nodular masses, in alluvial deposits, which are extensively worked for its extraction. African block meerschaumcomes from Tanzania, Africa and is usually stained in varying shades of brown, black and yellow.


Final Schedule of Pipe Club Programs for 2011
June 12 Meerschaum Night
July 17 Favorite Pipe Shape
Aug 21 Slow Smoking Contest
Sept 18 Carving contest
Oct 16 Annual BBQ Picnic
Nov 20 Pipe Swap & Show
Dec 18 Christmas Party

American Pipe Carver Night
American Pipe Carver Night at last month's meeting was a great success. Many well known as well as obscure artisans were represented. It became quite clear that, not only are the number of skilled American carvers burgeoning, but they are also well represented in the collections of our members.

Next meeting: Sunday, June 12 at 6pm at Cigars Ltd., Fresno, CA.

American Carvers