Guestbook
I am glad to join this nice community. Just want to tell a strange story. I happen to own a pretrans Barling bulldog. Beautiful pipe, shape and very much like the one pictured on (i guess) Neils photoes. My Barling was not, and is not a collectors item. When i bought it i knew it had a crack in the briar part of the stem. But as i wanted, and always wanted a Barling smoker, i took the pipe when i was told it did not leak. I cleaned the pipe and put in my favourite blend for a puff. It did leak!
Well, in my town, Bergen in Norway, we have a very talented pipemaker wich i contacted for him to have a look at the problem. He was very concerned when he took a closer look at the crack. First, very doubtful anything could be done with it. I did not want him to alter the look of it and if it could be avoided no silverring put on the stem to strengthen it.
But this is not the strange thing about this Barling. What we discovered was a very small tobaccochamber and a bore of only 3mm! My question is. Could there be that a bore like this corespond to a small chamber and should be like that? Or(lets hope not, wich i cant believe)was a mistake made in the make? Anyone that can tell me?
By the way, my hero the pipemaker made the bulldog in to a much loved smoker, without any wissible signs of altering the pipe. Bliss!
Regards
Frank
Frank
I am so happy to join the pipe smoking community. Since my start a little over 2 months ago I have fallen in love with the ritual and community. I have been overwhelmed by the generosity and overall welcoming attitudes shared by all my fellow pipe smoking friends. I have started a video blog. If you are interested in visiting please send me an email. I don't want to promote myself on this site without permission. I share a passion for pipes and wish to share it with the world.
Thank you.
Elliott
pipenoob@gmail.com
Smoking Noob
John Brill
Jaybee
Mad Tom
DWaters
Your "Passion for Pipes" is contagious, and your site is magnificent. Many Thanks to you for sharing.
John Brill
Jaybee
Bob
Dub.
DubintheDam
KinnScience
Al Jones
Riff Raff
Your site is captivating and the images so wonderful, that I can smell the tobacco.
You're amazing!
Michele
David Bowers
waine
Fred Bass
Fred
Skugarev Alexander
All the best, Marcus.
EA Carey (Europe) Ltd
Great site. I stumbled upon it while looking up tobacco rehydration.
The first pipe I ever bought was a Guildhall (by Comoy's) Prince from Skirm's Tobacco shop in Princeton, NJ. The tobacco - Balkan Sobranie. (I truly miss that smoke). I have assuaged my longing for the Balkan Sobranie by gathering up some Balkan Sasieni, mixed with a bit of an english blend I purchased in Sollihul, UK.
I have recently retired and will once again have the time to enjoy a good bowlful every once in a while.
Your site is superb and I thoroughly enjoy your writing and will bookmark this for both reference and enjoyment.
William Crane
Hey Neil, Stu here again! Found out from the man that replaced the stem on my Grandfathers pipe a while back ,that the pipe I had questioned you about was indeed (going by what he saw,and experience) over 100 years old!
He said most likely it was made in the early part of the 1900 century! and that it had been well taken care of and smoked a lot! The stem I had replaced ,had wear ( from teeth) that had put a large hole in the bottom of the stem toward the mouth piece. Kinda neat to have something that was in the family that long ago ,and was taken care of all these years,even after he died! My first cousin gave it to me a few years ago when she herself was 94 years old! It was her Mothers Father that owned the pipe! Cool!!! Thanks again Stu.
Stu
Hey Niell! Stu here ,thanking you for taking the time yesterday to e-mail me at least four times in regard to a pipe that belonged to my Grandfather. Small pipe ,most likely not worth much ,but you still took the time to e-mail and help me to try and date the old timer!! Just goes to show some people are always kind to others ,when others never are!!!
Hope the smoke is still curling!!!! Stu
stu
I have Parkinson's plus Multiple System Atrophy. My cognitive abilities and attention span are that of a drugged gnat. I was just trying to comprehend today's blog and couldn't. Can I get a condensed version for idiot's. I really want to read it and understand it.---SMB
Stephen M. Barrett
Just found your site, looking forward to perusing it but right now gotta smoke a bowl.
Sincerely,
Stephen M. Barrett
Stephen M. Barrett
Thank you for letting me in! Always nice to meet people who shares the same frenzy for pipes.
Smokepiper
Neill, it was so very nice to meet you yesterday at Romeo's! I enjoyed the fellowship, the conversation and of course the puffing! I hope you'll come down our way again soon!
Murray (Tallman) Farr
Murray Farr
hi every person,
I identified www.apassionforpipes.com after previous months and I'm very excited much to commence participating. I are basically lurking for the last month but figured I would be joining and sign up.
I am from Spain so please forgave my speaking english...
Tomarough1z
Three of them stand out in my mind. The one about the meerschaum pipe you gifted your dad, which made it back into your possession 41 years later, another about your conversation with the older pipe smoker on the park bench, as well as, the one titled "Wit for Bile." :)
I can only imagine how much of your personal time away from your family as well as your business, that you sacrifice, in order to make this such an entertaining and educational read.
I wish you many happy times and good health for the future. I also look forward to all your future blog entries, as well as your long awaited book, that is sure to become a pipe collectors classic.