Sykes Wilford

ROPP: Past, Present, Future

ROPP: Past, Present, Future

August 15, 2013 by Sykes Wilford

4 Comments

Pipe smoking worldwide declined steadily for the half century between 1960 and 2010. Once home to dozens of pipe manufacturers making many millions of pipes, St. Claude now has three that make fewer than a quarter million pipes a year among them. As has been the case the world over, factories were consolidated. ... Read More

Pipes of Decades Past

Pipes of Decades Past

August 12, 2013 by Sykes Wilford

8 Comments

In the great marital ledger, I, like most husbands, have some entries in both the credits and debits column. Specifically, I've gained credits for taking my wife to Europe five times in the five years we've been together. ... Read More

Video: A Conversation with Peter Heding

Video: A Conversation with Peter Heding

December 31, 2012 by Sykes Wilford

Back in August, Ted and I went on the annual pipes pilgrimage to visit lots of Danish pipe makers, plus the Mac Baren tobacco factory. As always, it was a bit of a whirlwind. Ten pipe makers and a tobacco factory were crammed into just five full days on the ground. Even so, we were able to spend quite a bit of time with each of them and were able to chat on camera with a few, including Peter Heding, our interview victim in today's video. ... Read More

Thanks for Another Great Year in Pipedom

Thanks for Another Great Year in Pipedom

December 31, 2012 by Sykes Wilford

With an update falling on the last day of 2012, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on a remarkable year in pipes and pipe tobacco. Smokingpipes.com has grown considerably. There are many people I have to thank for that: ... Read More

The Grail of Pipe Luggage Found

The Grail of Pipe Luggage Found

November 29, 2012 by Sykes Wilford

I first met Claudio Albieri a few years ago. We chatted at the time, making small talk about our shared passion for pipes, but short of a bit of camaraderie nothing really came of it. This past September, I saw him again at the Dortmund Tabac Fair in Germany. ... Read More

Broken Pipe: Craig Tarler

Broken Pipe: Craig Tarler

September 5, 2012 by Sykes Wilford

It is with great sadness that I must report the passing of my dear friend Craig Tarler, Founder of Cornell & Diehl, yesterday evening, September 4th, 2012, following a lengthy illness, at 82.

Cornell & Diehl released the following a few minutes ago: ... Read More

Tom Eltang's Early Career

Tom Eltang's Early Career

August 28, 2012 by Sykes Wilford

1 Comment

"The best decision I ever made was to become a pipe maker," says Tom Eltang as he sands a billiard that will soon make its way to South Carolina to Smokingpipes.com. I'm sitting in Tom Eltang's workshop as I write and we've discussed everything from the political situation in Botswana to manufacturing in China, but the conversation, as it always does when I'm with Tom, returned to pipes. ... Read More

Video: Interview with Lars Ivarsson

Video: Interview with Lars Ivarsson

August 21, 2012 by Sykes Wilford

3 Comments

Almost a year ago to the day, I was at Lars Ivarsson's home in the north of Sjaelland, Denmark's largest island. Pipe maker and friend Jeff Gracik made the trip to Denmark with me and he kindly helped take the video presented here. Also present were pipe maker Nanna Ivarsson, Lars' daughter, and her sons, including Sixten (named for his great-grandfather) who makes a brief guest appearance in the video too. ... Read More

Broken Pipe: Giancarlo Guidi

Broken Pipe: Giancarlo Guidi

August 13, 2012 by Sykes Wilford

Just prior to the sending of today's newsletter, I was saddened to hear that Giancarlo Guidi, founder and principle of Ser Jacopo, passed last Monday, August 6th, succumbing to stomach cancer. He had continued to work, making pipes and overseeing the Ser Jacopo workshop, until June. ... Read More

Review: Still Searching for Pipe Dreams

Review: Still Searching for Pipe Dreams

June 11, 2012 by Sykes Wilford

Rick has had Still Searching for Pipe Dreams in the works for some time. He first mentioned the project to me sometime last year and started pulling the pieces together for it in earnest at the beginning of this year. ... Read More

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