421. SPECIAL BULLETIN: The 2024 Christmas Pipes Drop Tuesday the 17th @ 6pm EDT
The Copper Tops are Back!
Per Andy Wike at SPC: “We’re releasing Peterson’s Christmas 2024 pipes beginning at 6:00pm Eastern Daylight time on Tuesday, September 17. This year’s edition brings back the copper accents, this time in the form of spigot mounts. We’re pairing that with a number of classic finishes (including Ebony this year!), as well as Cumberland-patterned acrylic stems.”
The 2019 Copper Top XL02 Fat Bottom
For some reason at this time of year I always begin to wonder if there will be a pipe under the Christmas tree for me. No, that’s wrong. I begin to wonder what pipe (or maybe pipes) will be under the tree. I’ve even been known to send Father Christmas a short list—just to get ahead of the rush, of course. I say this because there have been some Epic Fails on my part, like the Fat Bottom XL02 from 2019 seen above. I cannot begin to tell you how seeing this pipe again has caused the iron to enter my soul: did I not get it for Christmas? did I get it and—surely not—sell it off?! did I, worse yet, never even order it? *
A trio of 2019 Copper Top 304s
(I do like this sharp-edged, gritty rustication)
The Copper Tops are back for Christmas this year, and yes, I can hear all the Pete Geeks singing that famous chorus from Handel’s well-known oratorio, in either its original version or the performance version Mozart created. Since its debut in 2018, the copper ferrule has become increasingly iconic for the Peterson Christmas commemorative and I caught myself doing one of those long, grateful sighs when I first caught sight of it, having been deprived of it last year.
Mounting marks: Shamrock, Wolf Hound, Round Tower
If you’re fairly new to all this hoopla, let me direct your attention to the great Mount Marks—not hallmarks, of course, but the fabled Shamrock, Wolf Hound, and Round Tower which graced nickel mount Petes from c. 1922—c. 1963.
I have no samples with which to offer you the kind of over-the-top microscopic, spectroscopic, fluoroscopic, stereoscopic analysis regularly disseminated by this blog. I do, however, have a few minor observations to make before letting you proceed to the gallery walk below. First, remember the drop in Europe occurs Tuesday at 10am Dublin time. Second, be on the lookout for shapes not reported in the official press releases, and if possible, take a snap shot of them for us here on the blog. Finally, the huge number of shapes being made available makes me think there will be relatively few of any one particular style, so if you’ve got a shape and finish you’re hoping for, plan to arrive early at the drop party. See you there!
GALLERY
Ebony
102
230
406
X220
Heritage
01
69
406
701
D17
X220
XL02
Rustic
01
03
05
68
69
102
221
230
701
999
X105
X220
XL02
Sandblast
01
05
69
80s–this is just a placeholder. You can see the 80s Sandblast in the banner photo–
102
220
221
230
338
701
X105
XL102
Smooth
01
05
69
102
221
230
338
X220
XL02
Photos of 2024 Christmas Pipes
courtesy Laudisi Enterprises
*If you have this pipe (preferably unsmoked), or know where one is available, please reach out with the particulars to a fellow Pete Geek in dire need of it, viz., me. Act before midnight tonight.
Life can be so difficult. . .
So you remember when the SH Baskerville Junior Rusticated came out–two years ago? Somehow I missed that one and of course have regretted it ever since, carrying it around like the Ancient Mariner’s Dead Bird. So last year I thought, “Hmm–another one!” It was the Baker Street. Snapped it up. Smokes great (a miracle for me, since I’ve never had any luck with the Baker Street Full Size). And now, the Original Junior appears?!
The 3rd in what will probably be
all seven of the SH Junior rusticated shapes
What makes all this so unfair, of course, is that K&P could have just said three years ago, “Folks, we’re going to release all seven of the SH Juniors, rusticated, at the rate of one per year.” I mean, I can live with that kind of collection building. And even afford it. So, my hat’s off to all of you who were wise enough to invest in the Baskerville. Pardon me, I think I hear the wamulance outside my door–
IRELAND’S TOBACCO GROWING INDUSTRY
Did you know Ireland grew and harvested tobacco? I think I mentioned this great short film a few years back, but stumbling on it again, I highly recommend it to all Pete Geeks, not only its great information on Ireland’s own tobacco-growing in the early 20th century, but because we get a glimpse inside one of the great pilgrimage sites all Pete Geeks must aspire to: the oldest pipe & tobacco shop in Ireland, M. Cahill’s. As said in the film’s opening minutes, however, this is best done with a pipe and either a cup of tea or a stout.