Peterson Today.

Peterson Today.

I am reminded of a quote by the late Mike Leverette, on the quality of the modern Peterson pipes.
Quote:-

“In 1992, the ownership of Peterson was purchased by Tom Palmer.  However and it's my opinion only, Tom speeded up production which resulted in pipes with more fills, dip staining, etc. resulting in inferior pipes, as compared to pipes produced before then. I have an Irish Second made in the 1960s which has less fills than pipes with the Peterson name on them made after 1992.  He also introduced many new series which I cannot seem to keep up with, so I cannot speak for these; pro or con”.

To a certain extent ,I have to agree with that observation by Mike, even allowing for the passage of time since he made the quote. I am constantly defending the brand in the face of repeating criticism of the points raised in Mikes quote. I do feel that there are quality control issues that still need to be addressed, particularly with the entry level pipes.
Another major issue which has become highly topical, is the difficulties peculiar to Peterson, in the sourcing of the briar for their pipe production. Not just for the basic entry level pipes, but for all across the various ranges. Many prospective purchasers have expressed great disappointment in not getting firm confirmation of delivery of pipes being ordered within a reasonable period. No other pipe brand seems to have such briar sourcing problems at this time.
I have to wonder at the causes of these problems and ponder whether the desire to cut costs, streamline production, introducing too many new series and increase trade to more global markets are now impacting on the quality and type of pipes we have come to expect and admire.
Would it not be better to take a step back in time and not loose sight of the classical elegance and the quality craftsmanship that made the Peterson brand what it was, without cutting corners in the name of efficiencies and economies.
I can only hope and wish that  the current production strategy undergoes a review to bring it back in line with the traditional Peterson values which Peterson enthusiasts have come to expect.

On a more positive note, there is hope that in spite of these turbulent times, that Peterson pipes can continue to succeed against the various global issues facing the production of a good quality classical pipe.
Flying in the face of the condemnation of smoking on health grounds,the pipe appears to be going through a gradual upturn in popularity. No longer considered the province of older middle aged males,it appears to be gaining in popularity,particularly with significant numbers of younger people.

Rising pipe tobacco sales suggest that pipe-smoking is making an unlikely comeback. Many old things eventually become trendy again and the latest yesteryear  fashion making a comeback, appears to be pipe smoking. No one tracks how many young people smoke pipe tobacco. But the evidence, at least in the US, is of a renaissance.
This modest increase is credited by many to retro-loving students. Facebook and MySpace have thousands of members signed up to groups such as “The Ladies’ Pipe Smoking Salon”.
The most popular Facebook group is “The Collegiate Gentlemen’s Pipe Smoking League”, with around 1,800 members globally.
The Scotsman paper reported:-
PIPE smoking could be set to become the latest craze among the trendy. After a big increase in pipe and tobacco sales in the United States, experts believe it could undergo a revival in Britain. Supporters claim pipe smoking is the perfect antidote to the hectic pace of modern life and say it relaxes both mind and body. With celebrity trend-setters Robbie Williams and Chris Evans known to be fans, many claim it could even catch on among the younger generation. Kate Neil, of the Pipe-smokers' Council, said: ''It is no exaggeration to say that this might be the next cult thing. I have heard from tobacconists across the country who have noticed a steadily increasing number of young people enquiring about pipes.'There are around half a million pipe smokers in the UK and the majority are middle or old aged.  Well-known Scots adherents to the practice include the actor and comedian Billy Connolly and the Glasgow Queens Counsel, Donald Findlay. The manager of a large tobacconists in Edinburgh, said she had noticed a significant change in the age of pipe smokers. ''We have a growing number of young people coming into the shop out of curiosity, nostalgia or to wean themselves off cigarettes,'' she added.

Pipe Focus - The Writers Series.

The Writers Series.

When Peterson first issued this limited edition series, I was curious, but not impressed by them.

With hindsight I think it was the new unique shapes that I could not warm to. Being a traditionalist, I suppose they were at first glance,a bit quirky for my taste. However I have since managed to see them up close and slowly come round to appreciate them more, particularly as individual pipes.

Inspired by four of Ireland' s most famous writers, James Joyce, George Bernard Shaw, Oscar Wilde and William Butler Yeates.

Each pipe comes engraved with a symbol of a writing quill in the silver band. All are fitted with fishtail mouthpieces and two of the pipes are fitted with 9mm filters.

Weight: each approx.2.11oz 59.8g
Stem Material: Vulcanite
Material: Briar
Finish: Smooth,ebony,rustic and sandblast.
Band: Sterling Silver(hallmarked)
Lip: Fishtail

Prices for boxed sets can vary between $600 and $900 depending on choice of finish.

The James Joyce fittingly, is a remarkable and interesting shape. The egg shaped bowl, with a pinched shank junction, widens out some before tapering off through the stem. Quirky and without convention, it's appropriately named Joyce.

The Shaw, sharp in angle and profile, is the most active shape of the series. The dynamism of form costs nothing in comfort, being superbly enjoyable in hand, especially in this smooth finish.

The Oscar Wilde, is celebrated as this graceful Dublin which is stained in cherry red. Evocative of the wit and charm that personified the ingenious celebrity.

The stem of this Yeats shape, adds a sense of dynamism to the overall form, complimented by the bowl's canted angle. The red finish and sterling silver band, serve greatly to accentuate the impression.

Overall, I am humbled by having to admit, that I have been too quick to judge this series on the basis of an initial cursory impression. I am warming to the unique shapes,but in particular I am mightily impressed by the superb construction and finish of this smooth set. The bowls are all thick walled , the pipes regardless of shape are very tactile and pleasant to hold. Although mine will be kept in pristine boxed condition and remain un- smoked, I can tell from the good construction that they all will have excellent draws.

New Irish Web Site.

How refreshing in these times to be reporting the emergence of a brand new web site in Ireland, dedicated to selling, solely Peterson pipes.

http://peterson-pipes.com/aboutus.php

The site is being run by Denis Foley from the West coast of Ireland.The site is very much in its early formative stages and should be considered a work in progress.The quality of information and illustrations is outstanding and promises great potential for the future development of the sale of the Peterson brand of pipe.
Denis's prices seem to be very competitive,I hope that will continue.He has a limited stock currently, but is expecting to increase his stock levels substantially in the next few months.
I hope all of you Blog followers will join with me in wishing Denis the best of Irish luck in his new venture,I am sure he will appreciate your support.

“Jim's notes from the Pete Bog” Spring 2011.

“Jim's notes from the Pete Bog” Spring 2011.

Welcome to the latest edition of new 'Notes from the Pete Bog'. I hope you enjoy the experience.

These frequent brief notes are my personal ramblings, musings, anecdotes, news items and stuff. Primarily intended as a light-hearted look at all things Celtic. Mixed in with pipe/tobacco and general interesting related topics, which may be of interest to you Peterson Nuts.

Health warning, not to be taken too seriously!

Here we are , March already and the eve of Saint Patrick's day celebrations. When the whole world suddenly has Irish links and an urge to join in the celebrations. Now let me see if there is enough medicinal compounds in the store!

I am coming out of my Winter shell!

My wife warned me that this might happen ,with my obsession for Peterson pipes. I would eventually turn into a real Pete Nut!!

Scotland – In early Spring.

Despite the remaining chill in the air, the sun is shining, here and there is every reason to believe that spring has finally arrived. The buds are beginning to swell on the trees,following the white mass of snowdrops, the daffodils are now blooming bright yellow on the roadsides. Around us here in Scotland, lambs and calves are being born and are gambolling in the fields. Hares are knocking the stuffing out of each other!!There is a feeling of fresh optimism and expectation. The cycle of life never ceases to amaze me.

Film favourite – “The Quiet Man”

One of my all-time favourite films was the John Ford, early nineteen fifties film ,”The Quiet Man”. As a film it had a profound lasting impression on my young mind, when I first went to the Cinema and saw it along with my maternal grandparents, who were both of Irish origin. All of us were totally captivated by the films magic, humour and nostalgia of an Ireland from the 1920's. The marvellous storyline was complimented by a galaxy of old established Hollywood stars of the time. During the film nearly all of them smoked a pipe!!

Cast Included in the photo above John Ford(Director) standing with pipe. Can you name the others?

Bog factoid (a note or article of general interest ).-

The Round Tower of Kilmacduagh:-

Kilmacduagh, north of Limerick in county Galway, is the tallest of the Irish towers at 34 meters and, while quite stable, appears to be tilting precariously. Little is known of the adjoining monastery, probably founded in the early 7th century, and it is assumed that the round tower was erected sometime in the 10th or 11th centuries.

Bog link of interest – http://www.youtube.com/user/dubinthedam

Dubinthedam a pipe smoking man. A very interesting Irishman, now living in Holland who has a popular topical video channel on You-tube.

Poem :-

Written in Spring

'Tis past: the iron North has spent his rage;
Stern Winter now resigns the lengthening day,
The stormy howlings of the winds assuage,
And warm o'er ether western breezes play.

Of genial heat and cheerful light the source,
From summer climes, beneath another sky,
The sun, returning, wheels his golden course:
Before his beams all noxious vapors fly.

Far to the north grim Winter draws his train,
To his own clime, to Zembla's frozen shore;
Where, throned on ice, he holds eternal reign;
Where whirlwinds madden, and where tempests roar.

Loosed from the bands of frost, the verdant ground
Again puts on her robe of cheerful green,
Again puts forth her flowers; and all around
Smiling, the cheerful face of Spring is seen.

Behold! the trees new deck their withered boughs;
Their ample leaves, the hospitable plane,
The taper elm, and lofty ash disclose;
The blooming hawthorn variegates the scene.

The lily of the vale, of flowers the queen,
Puts on the robe she neither sewed nor spun;
The birds on ground, or on the branches green,
Hop to and fro, and glitter in the sun.

Soon as o'er eastern hills the morning peers,
From her low nest the tufted lark upsprings;
And, cheerful singing, up the air she steers;
Still high she mounts, still loud and sweet she sings.

Now is the time for those who wisdom love,
Who love to walk in virtue's flowery road,
Along the lovely paths of Spring to rove,
And follow Nature up to Nature's God.

* Zembla = Nova Zembla an archipelago in the Arctic Ocean in the north of Russia

Some good foot-tapping Irish Music :- The Dubliners,”The Black Velvet Band” (my favourite!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cnzstOtW2k&feature=related

Useful Things – Peterson Two Pipe Ashtray with Cork insert. Neat and compact.

Well I hope you enjoyed this issue of my musings. Please look out for the next edition of 'notes from the Pete Bog' and to all of you loyal blog followers, “Lang may yer Lum reek”, an old Scot's farewell greeting, which in essence, hoped that the person receiving the greeting, always had smoke coming from their house chimney fire and enjoyed a long life.

Peterson St. Patrick's Day Pipes.

Peterson St. Patrick's Day Pipes.

Each year Peterson launches a range of pipes to celebrate Ireland’s national holiday when everyone in the world wishes to be Irish. Some years they have gone with a very Irish colour – a shade of green.

Saint Patrick’s Day (Irish Lá le Pádraig) colloquially St. Paddy’s day of Paddy’s day, is an annual feast day which celebrates Saint Patrick (circa 385-461), the patron Saint of Ireland. It takes place on 17 March, the date on which Patrick is held to have died.

The day is the national holiday of the Irish people. It is a bank holiday in Northern Ireland, and a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland, Montserrat, and the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. In the rest of Canada and the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States and New Zealand, it is widely celebrated but is not an official holiday.

I would like to ask Peterson management a question:- why the annual St Patrick's Day pipes are never available until a couple of weeks before the event each year, without fail?

Surely their world wide production could be managed to coincide with the correct time and date each year for sufficient numbers to be available to Pete Nuts for the great day.

Here is a photo of a nice example from my own collection, a St Patricks Day 408.

Where to start?

Where to start?.

In relation to the many Classic entry level Peterson pipes,one of the most common questions asked of me by newcomers being introduced to the brand is, "which one should I buy"?
Now that is not an easy one to answer,bearing in mind that we are all different in our smoking tastes,preferences and coupled to how much we are willing to spend.

The series I often suggest to the novice smoker/collector is the Kenmare. It is excellent value for money and so far has never disappointed me in smoking qualities. It has a rich red finish complimented by the gold coloured P on the mouthpiece. This series is available in all classic shapes with Peterson Lip or Fishtail mouthpiece.

The one I have in my rotation is the 01 shape,I love it.The colour is an attractive warm rich red.I have found it to be a grand flake pipe,excellent smoker and very tactile.They have decent thick bowl walls that do not overheat. I prefer the fishtail stem for this series.The price is around a very reasonable $90.
Here is a photo of one currently available from Cup'O Joes.

My Contemplation,because.

"My Contemplation, because". 

I sit and smoke my pipe in the garden because I love to; because I love that environment , which is invariably beautiful, particularly on a warm sunny day and hate the environment where crowds of people are found, which are invariably always ugly; Because of all the sport, television competitions, parties, and assorted social posturing, I thus escape; because, in a world where most men seem to spend their lives doing things they hate. My contemplation is at once an endless source of delight and an act of small rebellion; because Chickens, Flowers,Bugs and animals do not lie or cheat and cannot be bought or bribed or impressed by power, but respond only to the quiet,kindness, humility and endless patience; because I suspect that I am going along this way for the last time, and I do not want to waste the trip. Because mercifully there are no bloody telephones ; because only in the garden can I find solitude without loneliness; because Wine out of a glass always tastes better out there; because maybe one day I will see something wonderful, like my smiling wife and sons; and, finally, not because I regard contemplation and smoking my pipe as being so terribly important, but because I suspect that so many of the other concerns of men are equally unimportant - and not nearly so much fun.

Ye're a long time deid (Old Scots)– Enjoy life while it lasts.