Mark Twain

Rev. 08/28/2022 As life-long Pete Geek Jørgen Jensen likes to tease me about the length of my posts, "Buy a Peterson, write a novel." This is one of those posts, so you may want to put a fresh pot of coffee on and refill your pipe, because the 2022 Pipe of the Year is about to debut and there's a lot to say. We've got samples of the pipe to look at, words from Peterson's Pipe Specialist Giacomo Penzo on the challenges of its creation, and its long and storied history to explore! So pour a fresh cup of coffee and light up your favorite Pete—!If you ask a long-time Pete Geek what the most desirable, no longer made System shape is, he’ll undoubtedly say the 308. It was known as shape 14 in the 1896 catalog and made famous by the 14B Mark Twain smoked, which was donated by his daughter Suzie to the Boyhood Home and Museum in Hannibal, Missouri. 1 Twain had been a System devotee since at least 1895 and maybe before that, owning several different System pipes which you can read about in Post #239. POY 2022 / 14B in the Heritage finish (outdoor lighting)   THE DROP Before going any further, let me give you what I know so far about the drop: Smokingpipes.com: Wednesday, August 17th at 6pm EDT. Smokingpipes.eu: Tuesday, August 16th at 10am (US readers, that’s IDT or GMT+1 or here in the US 5am EDT, 4am CDT and 3am PDT). Worldwide availability through other internet and brick & mortar retailers will follow.   FINISHES The US site will include three Sandblasted Supremes, a few Silver Caps (Rusticated and one in Terracotta), a few Rua Sandblasts (remember the Rua is PSB grade) and a few Ebony.  As always, the greater number will be divided between Terracotta, Heritage, Sandblast and Rusticated. No Naturals at the US site. The Dublin site will includes a few Naturals plus a few Silver Cap Rusticated and the remainder in Terracotta, Heritage, Sandblast and Rusticated. I haven’t heard whether there will be any Ruas or Supremes on offer. If you can’t make the Drop Party at either site, do keep in mind that Laudisi has clients all over the world who will stock the POY 2022 in just a short time on on their virtual or real shelves. POY 2022 / 14B in Rua PSB-grade contrast stain (outdoor lighting)   MEASUREMENTS & OTHER DETAILS (Heritage sample) Length: 6.0 in / 152.4 mm Weight: 2.35 oz./ 66 g Bowl Height: 1.88 in / 47.8 mm Chamber Depth: 1.50 in / 38.2 mm Chamber Diameter: 0.76 in /19.5 mm Outside Diameter: 1.57 in / 40 mm Stem: B (tapered) Vulcanite P-Lip with tenon extension Shape: “Ball” in the 1906 catalog Finish: Smooth, sandblast, rusticated Hallmark: L for 2022 Era: Laudisi (2018 - ) Numbered: 1/925 through 925/925 “Chat With A Smoker” POY 2022 special  pipe box brochure The pipe will include a new “Chat with the Smoker” brochure specific…