Re: NY Pipe Show Report March 2009
- From: dock_perry@xxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 10:50:09 -0700 (PDT)
On Mar 15, 1:20 pm, "Dock J.Perry" <dock_pe...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Well folks, the first fun filled NY pipe show of 2009 has come and
gone but for me personally, it was one of the best in recent memory. I
left out of Western Mass and was in Newark early on Friday afternnoon.
Upon pulling into the hotel I discovered that they FINALLY did
something right and put in a security guard's booth in the driveway.
Over the years many show attendees and vendors cars were broken into.
Mel Feldman of "The Smoker" in Albany had his car stolen from the
parking lot two years in a row! After checking in and seeing my room I
headed down to the lobby where I almost immdiately met up with friends
and show promoters Sam Barnett and Rich Esserman along with Don
Seatter of The James Island Piper, Ardor Distributor Steve Monhure and
Washinton DC Estate pipes dealer and collector Ron Colter. As has been
the tradition lately, we along with SHPC member and friend Andy Camire
all went to lunch. A great discussion was had about pipe buying now as
compared to 25 years ago. Things were so much different before the
intenet. It may take you weeks and months to find a certain pipe that
you were after by calling various folks looking for leads as to that
pipes whereabouts. Many friendships were built up in the process
though something that isn't quite as prevelent in today's pipe buying
world. It seemed to be a much more organic/grass roots approach. I
personally came to this hobby only a decade ago and missed out on all
of it's early history. Hearing how it was then gives me a glimpse into
the past that I'd never otherwise get. This for me is the true benefit
of attending these shows.
Midway through our meal my mouth dropped when I spotted our old
friend Mel Feldman coming in. We caught up briefly and he promised me
a little pre show preview of what he had to sell later that afternoon.
After lunch I headed back to my room and passed Jeff & Fletch of
Fader's Pipe Shop on my way. We made plans to meet up in Rich's room
for our usual "show and tell" later that evening. After resting a bit
I went over to Mel's and started looking through the 2,0000.00 plus
pipes he had schleped down from Albrany. Mel is getteing ready to
leave the estate pipe biz for good and was offering a discount of 50%
on all of the pipes he brought. Two in particular caught my eye. One,
a Peter Heeshen Straight Grain A grade "P" was just too gorgeous to
leave. I also grabbed a large Tom Eltang deeply dark blasted bulldog
in the Saturn grade. Both of these pipes were bargins and both were
very lightly smoked. From Mel I also grabbed up a few Stanwells
including an Eltang design and a pair of beautifuly blasted bents they
were $15.00 to $25.00 each nearly all I bought were unsmoked! While in
Mel's Max Engle of pipes2smoke poked his head in the door. It was
great to see him and we made plans to have dinner later that night.
From Mel's I headed just down to hall to Don Seatter's room. Don had
recently bought the entire pipe colletion of a gentleman he knew. He
had these and these only out for display. I "ear marked" a few
Stanwells which I employ them as efficient yard pipes when I don't
want to use my good stuff. At $30.00 each they were bargins! After
leaving Don's I stopped over to see Steve Monjure who's room was
bussling with activity! I looked at many Ardors there. I was most
impressed with many of the shapes on the newest production models.
After being pa'se for a few years, I think it's safe to say that Ardor
is back to making some of the most innovative designs on the market.
The grain wasn't too shabby on most of them either! Very nice stuff
and priced fairly too! Steve also had some wonderful though highly
priced Joao Reis which were simply par excellence. One in particular
was a perfect blasted/smooth cobra!
After leaving Steve's I went back to my own room for some much needed
down time. From there it was on to dinner and on to Rich's room
shortly after. I spent the better part of two hours with Rich, Nick a
collector of Castellos, Bob Palerero (I always botch the spelling of
his name! Sorry Bob!), the guys from Faders and Andy Camire. Fletch
(the owner of Faders) has a world class collection of JT Cooke pipes
and had several fine examples to share with us including four
differeently finished bulldogs which were insane!. Rich told us that
these were actually based on an old Castello shape. Fletch's buddy
Jeff who also works there with him collects large pipes in general and
had many 1970's GBD uniques which were nothing short of jaw dropping.
It was a pleasure to see and hold these great pipes. As for Rich, he
had a pair of featherweight Mike Parks, a Few amazingly HUUUUGE Ser
Jacopos and was smoking an enormous Jody Davis blasted billiard.
Seeing Rich's stuff is always a big treat for me. He's a fine
ambasador for our hobby and a great guy!
It was getting late and morning comes early in Newark so I bade
farewell to my friends and went to bed. By 6:00 am on Saturday I was
up and breakfasting with Mel Feldman. The restaurant was quiet and it
was still dark outside. An obsene hour to be up and talking about
pipes and tobaccos but we did anyway! By 8:00 am Mel and I were in the
exibition hall and setting up his three tables of pipes. I really love
being in there first and watching the vendors arrive. I'm sorta like a
greeter at walmart! : ) After helping Mel I caught up with dear
friends Jay & Louise Jones, as well as our resident SHPC pipe carver
Tim Hynick and Rick Fredericks who had driven down with him early
Saturday morning. On the way back to my room to get something I heard
someone yell "Hey Dock" looking up I spotted two "brothers" from my
BoB's board Mark (Justpipes) and Eric(EJinVa) who made the drive all
the way up to the show from the land of Dixie! It was a true pleasure
to see and meet them both.
The doors opened proptly at 10:00 am and a decent amount of traffic
flooded the room. Every table was filled with the exception of one.
One of the vendors had had car isssues and was unable to make it.
Noticeably absent this year was Smoker's Haven and BAC Art Pipes both
have been staples in NY for as long as I've been attending. Were were
ya Premal? There was a ton of socializing and pipe buying all day
long. It was great finally meeting and chatting with Justpipes, EjInVA
as well as Doc Manhattan. All are great guys and it's a damn shame we
live so far away from each other. This is the curse of the computer
age I suppose.
Most of the vendors that I talked to had a reasonably good show. From
friend Sam Barnett I picked up an awesome lightly smoked smooth Kurt
Balleby, an incredible Brad Pohlmann blasted bowfish that appears to
have been smoked once or twice as well as a gorgeous J.Alan blasted
blowfish with a bakelite stem. From Jay Jones I picked up something
that's been on my wishlist for years, a 1980 Dunhill World Conference
pipe in the shape of a Dunnie retail tobacco jar. I also bought an
unusual Dunhill tobacco display book and 10 tins of their Hermit
"Vintage XVV" blend". From old friend and NY pipe club prez Vernon Vig
I bought 5 tins of eight year old McClellands "Navy Cavendish" as well
as a couple of well aged tins of Macbaren's "Golden Extra". From Don
Seatter I grabbed a few vintage Corps club tins as well as last year's
Middle Earth "Blend of The White Hand" made for the NASPC by GLP.
It had been a looooong day and by 2:00 I was already in my car and
headed north to home. In my opinion this show was THE greatest I've
ever attended in NY in many years. It was very reminicent of the old
days and those folks who live locally but just didn't go really missed
out on something special.
A very big thank you to Rich Esserman, Sam Barnett and all of the
vedors who displayed their wares....
Best,
Dock J.Perry
The show pics can be seen here:
http://www.brothersofbriar.com/community-calendar-f13/ny-show-pix-t4270.htm#47520
.
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