The Streamliner Blowfish

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The Origins of the Commission

Todd Johnson’s first Art Deco Blowfish, Photo by Todd JohnsonEarly last November I was surfing the web looking at various pipe sites when I stumbled across the Deco Blowfish (pictured at right) that had recently been made by Todd Johnson. I must have spent a half hour poring over that pipe.

I’m rarely an impulsive pipe-buyer. As a matter of fact, I drive sellers and makers crazy with my wishy-washy, indecisive ways when I’m considering buying a pipe. I’ve wondered at times why I get buyer’s remorse before buying a pipe, but that’s another post. Suffice it to say that more than one artisan has grumbled about this with good reason.

Todd Johnson’s first Art Deco Blowfish, Photo by Todd Johnson

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A wonderful old video depicting clay pipe-making

Another treasure from the trove of British Pathé film archives.

How we can help each other, Collector to Collector

Comoy Blue Riband BilliardShare

As I wrote in part 1, I wouldn’t have the Blue Riband collection I do had it not been for the encouragement and help of friends. The collection would be much smaller, in fact, and not nearly as diverse in shapes.

Another example of one collector’s collegiality to another happened on Friday morning of the Chicago pre-Show. I was wandering about when Rick Newcombe, the author of In Search of Pipe Dreams, came up to me with the above pictured Blue Riband billiard and a photo-copy of a photograh from a page of Richard Carleton Hacker’s book, The Ultimate Pipe Book.

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How we can help each other.

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I’ve spent years now looking for this particular Blue Riband Rhodesian shape and, at last, in Chicago I was able to add this beautiful example to my collection. Due to the popularity of the Rhodesian and its chubby proportions, this shape is difficult to find in any condition. It is extremely hard to find in excellent condition, so I feel extremely fortunate to have come across this particular pipe.

As anyone who goes to pipe shows knows, it is very difficult to see all the pipes available. For me, it is impossible in Chicago. There are acres of pipes and the estates are often arrayed in heaps and baskets. So, spotting a special acquisition is not as easy as it might seem to be.

As it turns out, this pipe was located at the table right next to mine. It might as well have been across the room, given that I was busy with buttons, clocks, and meeting Passion for Pipes readers and members.

As I was sitting at the table, Rob Cooper of eBay Coopersark fame came up to me, grabbed my elbow, and told me he’d found something he wanted me to see. At the end of our short walk was this wonderful Rhodesian.

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The Fruits of Friendship

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Friday morning, I was sitting at breakfast with three Philadelphia friends of mine - Bruce Blum, George, Amrom, and Steve Granoff - at the Chicago Show. Bruce reached into his pipe bag, took out a pipe, handed it to me and said, “Tell me what you think about this pipe.”

I immediately saw that it was a nicely shaped black zulu, but upon a closer look I realized that it had been made by Mike Butera. Anyone who knows Bruce knows that he is a very funny man, so I tried to make a smart remark:

“This pipe has gone missing from my collection!” I exclaimed.

To which Bruce retorted without missing a beat, “Well, then it’s good that I’m giving it back to you then.”

“What?!” I sputtered. “What did you say?”

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