Peterson B shapes

In this section of the B Shapes visual encyclopedia, Peterson turned from the creation of original Bs to what most collectors think of when they discuss the shape group: bowls left from from the Limited Edition / Pipe of the Year and various high-grade collections which were slotted into medium and sometimes entry-priced lines. (For a look at the original Limited Edition / Pipe of the Year appearances of the B12 through B15, B20 and B21/B49, you can click here: https://petersonpipenotes.wordpress.com/2014/07/13/a-visual-history-of-petersons-limited-edition-pipe-of-the-year-1997-2014/ .) B12 The B12, an unusual diamond-shanked straight brandy, began as part of the only dual-pipe Limited Edition set Peterson has issued, for 2000. In its original issue, it features a sterling cap as well as band and is one of the most striking straight pipes Peterson has ever issued. It was reissued as a Shamrock smooth around 2008 and Shamrock rustic a little later. While still striking, it loses much of its visual power without the sterling adornments. Length: 5.87 in./149.10 mm. Weight: 2.10 oz./59.53 g. Bowl Height: 1.95 in./49.53 mm. Chamber Depth: 1.58 in./40.13 mm. Chamber Diameter: 0.81 in./20.57 mm. Outside Diameter: 1.69 in./42.93 mm. B13 The B13 was originally as the diamond-shanked bent sterling spigot partner of the B12, issued in the Limited Edition set for 2000. It surfaced as a beautiful tapered-stem 2002 and 2003 St. Patrick’s Day pipe and again as one of the last July 4th pipes in 2006—all extraordinary values for a fantastic shape. Length: 5.20 in./132.08 mm. Weight: 35.20 oz./997.90 g. Bowl Height: 2.04 in./51.82 mm. Chamber Depth: 1.77 in./44.96 mm. Chamber Diameter: 0.82 in./20.83 mm. Outside Diameter: 1.64 in./41.66 mm. B14 The B14, a brandy “setter” in the old Peterson parlance, seems to be extremely scarce. It was first issued as the flamboyant 2001 Limited Edition sterling cap spigot. The measurements that follow are for the 2001 LE, obviously heavier: Length: 5.73 in./145.54 mm. Weight: 2.72 oz./77.11 g. Bowl Height: 1.82 in./46.23 mm. Chamber Depth: 1.65 in./41.91 mm. Chamber Diameter: 0.75 in./19.05 mm. Outside Diameter: 1.95 in./49.53 mm. B15 The B15 Rhodesian / poker hybrid was first issued as the 2002 Limited Edition, per Tony Whelan, factory manager at Peterson. I had originally thought it was the B2 (as I mistakenly wrote in the last blog—now corrected), albeit an XL with the added beaded rings. But Tony corrected me: the B2 was part of that first series of B shapes, and obviously they drew later inspiration from it for the B15. I have not been able to source a single occurrence of its appearance in subsequent lines, so what follows are the measurements of the original 2002 LE. If you have a photo or own a pipe stamped B15 (not the LE), let me know and we can incorporate it in this reference. Here are the average measurements for the LE 2002: Length: 6.35 in./161.29 mm. Weight: 2.40 oz./68.04 g. Bowl Height: 1.96 in./49.78 mm. Chamber Depth: 1.62 in./41.15 mm. Chamber Diameter: 0.83 in./21.08 mm. Outside Diameter: 1.90 in./48.26 mm.…