B Shapes

Public Service AnnouncementSUMMER 2023 CPG EVENT Pete Geek Leaf Pocket Jar (see end of blog for details)   Kavala, Greece You never know where Peterson will take you. This morning I feel privileged to introduce you to Michael Mikropoulos, CPG, from Kavala in northern Greece. His collection is one of the most interesting I’ve come across, in part because he has taken the geography of Ireland to his heart and built an amazing collection of Petes and in part because of his sheer devotion and dedication in the obstacles he's had to overcome as a pipe smoker in Greece. Line names, as we discuss in the Peterson book, are a fascinating and important part of the K&P story. The model name of a Peterson pipe (its line name) is stamped on the shank or bottom of the bowl. It's a narrative indicator of bowl quality, stain finish, bowl finish, mounting, mouthpiece and mouthpiece logo. Peterson began naming their lines in the mid-1920s beginning with the Kapet, and with familiarity the Pete Geek can use line names to aid in identifying when a Classic Range or System pipe was made. Most line names in the catalog are drawn from Irish towns, streets and geography or have a connection with Irish history. It's all there, in plain sight, although not many pipemen know it. Not infrequently, a line name will be discontinued then resumed with an entirely different quality and finish, sometimes several times. NAMING IRELAND, ONE PIPE AT A TIME By Michael Mikropoulos, CPG Three years ago, when I started this wonderful adventure in Peterson's world, I would not have thought that one day my "smoking story" would be on Peterson Pipe Notes. I am really grateful for that and thank you so much for giving me this opportunity. Starting with the basic information, I live in the seaside town of Kavala, in northern Greece. I am a primary school teacher and I think my job is a blessing to me, because first of all I love my students. I have also studied forestry and specialized in environmental education. My relationship with smoking until not too long ago was really non-existent. My family was fanatic anti-smoking and I never smoked, except for a few months when I was at university, when I experimented with cigarettes. However, since I was a child I liked the image of people smoking pipes in books or movies and sometimes I was lucky enough to observe some family friends smoking old pipes. Michael's Peterson Pipe Map of Ireland I remember loving their style and getting so excited when I smelled the aromatic smoke that their pipe left in the room. The years passed and I always had in my mind that one day I would start smoking a pipe too. Finally this came true 3 years ago, on June 30th, 2020, on my birthday. Then I was working in a small school in the island of Thassos and because I didn't have many friends there, I…