Commemoratives

  Time's Ticking-- LAST CHANCE FOR THE PPN4 This is the last call for the 2025 PPN Pipe of the Year, the 8B De Luxe Cobble.  You can read about its history in last week's post, as well as the strong opinion surrounding it in the Comments section.  That being said, I'll add that the Cobble finish has become my all-time favorite rustication technique, above what was my previous favorite, the Pebble Grain. I'd also like to say--especially to those who may not know it--what a small company Kapp & Peterson is--their entire staff only numbers about a third of just the Smokingpipes.com branch of Laudisi.  And to the Pete Geeks who may not be aware of it, just how complicated the logistics of putting together a special project like the PPN pipe can be for our beloved company.  The PPN commemorative is something extra Peterson does, every year for the past four years.  It's not part of their everyday work.  In making it for us, Glen, Jonathan, and everyone on the payroll has to work within the parameters of bowl and stem availability, which changes from month to month depending on the year's yearly production plans. It also depends on what can actually be done.  It's not possible, for example, to call up and say, "Um, could we get 200 of the early Patent shape 13 with that original 1891 stem button, bend, bone condenser and all in Natural or Terracotta smooths, please?" (I get emails that are pretty ask me this.) What is possible for us is Sykes and Glen helping me come up with a pipe I'm excited about based on current bowl availability, stems, stains, and finishing techniques, yet even then there's all kinds of things that happen along the way to knock the project off track. This year, for example, they spent time doing R&D on a project that simply couldn't be done.  So they went above and beyond to come up with something even better. So for my part, I'm pleased to add what is only my fourth shape 8 and my first-ever 8B. I know from experience with my 20S Systems this is going to be a great smoking pipe--and I'll be at the head of the line if System Spigots, Standards, Premiers, or DeLuxes are ever issued in the Cobble. For those on the fence or just reading about it this morning, Gigi will submit the PPN order tomorrow (Monday) at 12 noon CDT. For more information or to order, click on the Google form: GOOGLE ORDER FORM   On the Way-- THE TINTACKERS HAVE ARRIVED The tintackers and shipping materials arrived this week and I began boxing them up Friday. They're gorgeous and I think everyone who ordered one (or two or in some cases five) will be pleased. I want once again thank the two people responsible for this event: Sébastien Canévet CPG, for suggesting it and photographing his original in France for me to digitally restore the image; and to…