Sykes Wilford

Italy 2012: Claudio Cavicchi's Shapes

Italy 2012: Claudio Cavicchi's Shapes

May 27, 2012 by Sykes Wilford

3 Comments

One of the highlights of my trip to Italy each year is my afternoon with Claudio Cavicchi, his wife Daniela and his good friend (and occasional translator) Gianfranco Musoni. There area handful of reasons for this, but it boils down to two things: ... Read More

Italy 2012: Savinelli Part I

Italy 2012: Savinelli Part I

May 25, 2012 by Sykes Wilford

2 Comments

I spent two full days visiting Savinelli for the first time this past Monday and Tuesday. I've decided that one blog post simply can't do the whole experience justice, so I've opted to split it into two (or even three; we shall see). Almost the entire first day was spent poking around the factory. ... Read More

Italy 2012: Castello

Italy 2012: Castello

May 24, 2012 by Sykes Wilford

2 Comments

I'm beginning this little missive while Marco Parascenzo and Franco Coppo are locked in detailed discussion. I love listening to the lilting, almost musical, Italian, though I have little sense of what they're discussing. ... Read More

Italy 2012: Radice

Italy 2012: Radice

May 23, 2012 by Sykes Wilford

I landed at Milan-Malpensa airport at 8:30am, Sunday morning. Yes, I was tired, but I was also far too excited about the next few days to let something like a little sleep deprivation bother me. My first appointment would be that very afternoon at Radice ... Read More

Nanna Ivarsson's Seven Day Set

Nanna Ivarsson's Seven Day Set

May 11, 2012 by Sykes Wilford

In the decade-and-change since Smokingpipes's founding there have been a handful of truly memorable times where I've found myself looking at a particular example of a pipemaker's work which has left me so amazed at the effort and artisanship that went into it, and so humbled by the implicit responsibility to act as a representative for it on my own part, that I've been left speechless. ... Read More

Smio Satou and Urushi

Smio Satou and Urushi

May 10, 2012 by Sykes Wilford

All of Satou's pipes are finished with urushi,a specialized natural Japanese lacquer from the plant Toxicodendron vernicifluum of the same name in Japanese. Japanese lacquer-ware is a traditional process used on wood plates, boxes, vases, bowls and the like to create a largely water impermeable coating that nonetheless allows for gas transfer. ... Read More

Visiting Savinelli USA

Visiting Savinelli USA

March 27, 2012 by Sykes Wilford

1 Comment

Wednesday of last week, I made something of a pipe pilgrimage up to the US HQ for Savinelli. I'd been chatting with Giacomo Carlesi, Savinelli's Italy-based export manager and Ruben Ysdiron, CEO of Savinelli USA, by email and phone a bit during the preceding couple of weeks and they convinced me to take the trip ... Read More

San Diego Visit Continued

San Diego Visit Continued

November 8, 2011 by Sykes Wilford

It's now day two of the get together at Jeff Gracik's workshop in San Diego. I'm still writing live from the scene. In fact, Eric just turned on the disc sander, making the surface upon which I'm typing vibrate rather disconcertingly. It does leave this author feeling particularly connected to his subject matter, though. ... Read More

American Pipe Makers Descend on San Diego

American Pipe Makers Descend on San Diego

November 7, 2011 by Sykes Wilford

Writing this, standing up, at the entrance to Jeff Gracik's workshop, as machines whirr and briar dust flies, conversations on the finer points of tool use are audible over the general din. Jeff asked us out here after the West Coast Pipe Show in Las Vegas, so we find ourselves in a surprisingly cool San Diego in the company of five American pipe makers: Jeff, Brad Pohlmann, Adam Davidson, Ernie Markle and Eric Heberling. ... Read More

Navy Flake, Please!

Navy Flake, Please!

September 15, 2011 by Sykes Wilford

I confess it. I have fallen totally in love with Mac Baren Navy Flake. It's weird, though. I've smoked it here and there for years; if a friend offered a bowl when I'd run out of tobacco, or when I was offered tobacco at the Mac Baren factory, or even just because there happened to be an open tin around the office, but I'd never embraced it with any particular alacrity. ... Read More

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