The next pipe on the worktable came to me in November 2021 when my wife and I were on a road trip. As we were cruising through Des Moines, Iowa on I-70, we saw the sign for the Brass Armadillo – a huge antique mall. We decided to stop and see what treasures we could …
Continue reading New Life for a Barontini Lite 22 Italy Bent Dublin
The next four pipes on the worktable were commissioned by pipeman Justin from the great state of Alabama. Justin should receive a reward for being the most stalwart Pipe Dreamer that I know! His fame comes from his pipe dreaming when he commissioned what I called a ‘Bless his heart’ pipe. I would say, Justin …
Continue reading The First of Four Gifts From Bulgaria: A Prince Amled Danmark Freehand Pickaxe
I’m thankful for the Pipemen and women who wait patiently for their commissioned pipes to make their way to the worktable. After ‘officially’ retiring at the end of August, my wife and I continue to be as busy as ever. One of our most enjoyable avocations, which requires the patience of pipemen and women, is …
Continue reading New Life for a Rare, Early 1960s Kaywoodie ‘Tuckaway’ Standard 050B
The next pipe on the worktable was the second commission of pipeman Bill from the state of Georgia who works as a Control System Engineer contracted to the Department of Energy. Bill has commissioned a few other pipes from me, but the last was a challenge. I named the write up accurately because of the …
Continue reading Refreshing an AMPHORA X-tra 732 Made in Holland Blasted Pickaxe
The Lot of 66, as I have called it, was probably my first large acquisition of pipes. I saw the Lot on eBay in September 2017. The by-line by the seller in Georgetown, Texas, was this: “Huge Lot of 66 Smoking Pipes, Pre-Owned, Pre-Smoked and Deeply Loved.” The final tag caught my attention. The seller …
Continue reading Reclaiming the legacy of a Comoy’s Made in London England P510 – D Billiard
The next pipe on the table is a workhorse Billiard without doubt. It was found along with a few other treasures November 2021 at The Antique Market in Michigan City, Indiana. We were traveling from Colorado to my son’s home in Dearborn, Michigan for Thanksgiving celebrations. My wife and I always like to explore the …
This resurrection project cannot be descibed as a mere restoration. It started in August 2021 when my wife and I returned to Bulgaria a year after leaving this our home of 15 years. One of our special places we visited and a place of respite during our time in Bulgaria was a little lazy fishing …
The next pipe on the table brings back very good memories. Our 15 years living in Sofia, Bulgaria, provided many opportunities to visit our neighbor to the south, Greece. One such visit was in April 2018 when I attended a conference on better understanding of the Eastern Orthodox Church and its impact on Eastern European …
Continue reading Pipe Picking in Athens, Greece – An Unbranded Slightly Bent Oval Shank Billiard
Well, after about a month of fighting off sickness and finally getting some antibiotics, I’m able to get back to the restoration of this Barok Pickaxe. Here we go! The next pipe on the worktable came to me in what I call the Lot of 68 that I acquired in February of 2019 from a …
Middle Earth Churchwardens are cool, and truth be known, I don’t think I’ll achieve either the Hobbit or Wizard standard when this project is completed, but I like to fashion Churchwardens out of the orphaned, tossed away bowls. A simple search in Google of ‘Pipes in Middle Earth’ produces many Tolkien worthy pipes and Lord …
Continue reading Fashioning a ‘Middle Earth’ Churchwarden from a Rusticated Orphaned Bowl
The Pipe Steward 