IPSD 2025

The 2025 IPSD "Rack 'em Up!" Merit Badge: a Gate Rack sold by Peterson in the 1950s with three 02 "Slimline" oom pauls from the 1940s and 50s. Happy 2025 IPSD to all my fellow Pipers and Pete Geeks!  When Mark reached out to me to write an intro for today, I was truly honored. After all, it’s not every day that a guy like me—who’s not the best at writing—gets the chance to open for a great writer like Mark. So, here goes. Pipes—our favorite companions, those cherished pieces of wood, meerschaum, or clay—which bring us so much joy, solace, and comfort. Pipes deserve a place of honor in our offices, man caves, or wherever we retreat to enjoy their wafting clouds of smoky goodness. This brings me to the topic of today's 2025 IPSD blog: displaying our pipes. As someone who loves to display what I collect, part of the fun and challenge lies in finding creative ways to showcase my treasures, whatever they may be. Displaying anything I collect, and in this case, my precious Pete’s, is a form of art—good displays require creativity and imagination. When it comes to displaying pipes, I have a few criteria in mind: Is it functional? Is it inviting for someone who doesn’t share my passion for this hobby? Does it help tell the story of the collection? Most of the time, I’m able to meet all three criteria, but I always strive to hit at least two when building or buying a new rack. With my ever-expanding Peterson collection, there’s no shortage of need—and plenty of ideas—for new racks. After all, as the great Pablo Picasso said, “A collector’s passion can turn ordinary objects into extraordinary treasures.” So, with that, I’ll sign off and look forward to seeing how my fellow Pete Geeks display their pipes. Happy Smoaks, Nate Lynn. CPG   Stewart Whelan, CPG:   Randall Barr, CPG:   Wallace Root:   Simon Gilles:   BJ Gregorio, CPG: Here’s a pic of my cellar and my Petersons occupy the right side of my homemade pipe rack. It’s a modest but growing collection, and I do think I’ll need a bigger boat soon!   Patrick C., CPG: Love my bents! Far left on the rack is a 312, my first “nice” pipe, a gift from my mother. Front center is a Sylvius, which does just beautiful things with University Flake. The Adventures of SH series needs to come back. The rack is some spare birch ply from work, doubled up, and one face cut at 45 degrees. The holders themselves are cheap-o wire coat hooks from Amazon.   Nate Lynn, CPG:   Matt Gase, CPG: The round pipe rack I inherited from my dad.  It’s a Decatur.  My Pete’s (minus my 2017 St. Pat’s pipe that is being repaired by Peterson) are all in front and in the ashtray.  The other wide shot shows a partial of an old chicken coop found in last century’s kitchens in China.  It held…