Sykes Wilford

One Vision, One Factory, Two Men

One Vision, One Factory, Two Men

June 21, 2010 by Sykes Wilford

1 Comment

Castello is something of an anomaly in the world of modern Italian artisan pipe making. Carlo Scotti, when he founded Castello in 1947, did more than anyone else to create the idea of the modern Italian hand made pipe as we've come to know it. ... Read More

A Pipe Family

A Pipe Family

June 21, 2010 by Sykes Wilford

2 Comments

Luigi "Gigi" Radice started making pipes in 1960, working at the Castello factory as a young man. He spent eight years there, leaving in 1968 to co-found Caminetto with fellow Castello veteran, Peppino Ascorti. ... Read More

Where Tradition Meets Innovation

Where Tradition Meets Innovation

June 19, 2010 by Sykes Wilford

Three days ago, on our third day on the Italian and German (and a bit French) pipe maker tour, we visited Ardor. We were running a little late, having decided to take the mountain pass out of Switzerland instead of doing what sane people do, take the tunnel. ... Read More

Home of the Briar Pipe

Home of the Briar Pipe

June 16, 2010 by Sykes Wilford

3 Comments

Yesterday, we drove through St. Claude on our way from northern France to Italy. Historically, Smokingpipes.com hasn't worked too much with French pipe makers or French pipe brands. We've been talking here and there with Sebastien Beaud, owner of Genod Pipes. ... Read More

International Business, Italian Style

International Business, Italian Style

June 12, 2010 by Sykes Wilford

I'm headed to the airport to fly to Brussels tomorrow. From there, I'll wind my way south, visiting St. Claude in the Joura mountains as the first stop on my trip. I'll visit the Genod workshop, have lunch with folks there, and head east to Switzerland, where I'll spend the night, before going on to visit Ardor, Castello, and Radice over the following two days. ... Read More

Pictures from a Smokingpipes.com Event

Pictures from a Smokingpipes.com Event

June 9, 2010 by Sykes Wilford

Here are a bunch more pictures from our Chicago Show 2010, 10th anniversary festivities: The attendance estimate was 150 - 200 people. In addition to food, drink and live music, there was lots of schwag to be had, such as; t-shirts, pins, posters, drink cups, coffee mugs and temporary tattoos. ... Read More

Milder Maduros

Milder Maduros

June 2, 2010 by Sykes Wilford

1 Comment

We have some cigar experts here. Brian's been kicking around the cigar business for years, Ron knows his stuff. As do Kelly and Adam. I've deferred to the cigar knowledge of others for some time. The cigar business changes too quickly for me to keep up. ... Read More

Blogging and Smoking

Blogging and Smoking

May 26, 2010 by Sykes Wilford

I've never blogged before; I think that my particular need to share thoughts in writing manifests itself elsewhere. But I have toyed with the idea from time to time, utterly failing to come up with a unifying theme, assuming I'd just do it under my own name as a person, rather than as a company. ... Read More

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