Silver Gray

Photos by Nevaditude (Mark Hunt, CPG) additional photos by Chas. Mundungus & Chris Tarman A long post this morning about the largest, greatest, longest-running and grandest pipe show.  I’ve been several years since 2011, and each time come away having experienced something unforgettable. In this age of social media, we are ironically still all insulated in our solitary smoker’s silos unless we take the time, energy and trouble to meet the local to global community of pipe smokers. I hope you’ve got a fresh pot of coffee and your favorite Pete fired up, because here we go— This year was the best Chicago show since Covid hit, seeing the show return to near its former glory but in a new setting, Chicago’s Hyatt Regency O’Hare near the O’Hare airport. I have no idea who came from which parts of the world, although I spoke with folks and looked at tables by vendors from Serbia, Germany, Sweden, the UK, and China. I know there were others from many other countries as well. (You can catch up on Pete Geeks at the Chicago show at Post #342, Post #284, Post #131, Post #129, and Post #89.) Gigi said she didn’t think people picked up as many pipes this year as in years previously, and that may be the case. Yet when I conducted my own survey, the folks I asked said they were really happy with pipe treasures they found, which seemed to number anywhere from two to as many as six, and that not counting accessories, tobacco and books. An X 69 Shamrock with the Mark Berman Philosopher's Cube I was at our table for most of the show, and even I came back with a beautiful X69 Shamrock (which happened to be for sale on our table in Ken Sigel’s lot of Petes), a 4AB POY 2021 in PSB grade (which Linwood that rascal put out at the Pete Geek Meet knowing would see it) and two “Super Condensers” from Gary Hamilton, one for my 307 Rustic System Spigot and one for my 1984 MT.   PIPE EXHIBITION This legend was posted at registration, although at least another dozen tables were filled afterwards. I sent the official Pete Geek Roving Cub Reporter (as in Bear Cub, since he’s way over six feet tall) out to see the show, and he brought us some fantastic glimpses of what was there: Smoker's Haven had some beautiful estate Petes, all looking like they just popped out of the box. It was incredible to see so many astonishingly talented artisans, like M. Hortig, with such reasonably priced artisan pipes that we never, ever even SEE here in the US. Larry Blackett was at the show and has now become--I hope--a fixture. His pewter tampers and handmade buttons are fantastic. Redcoat Returns, take notice!   So I'm being self-indulgent here, showing the various angles of the amazing Driver from the 1997 Peterson Golf set. At $400 it was a steal. If I played the game--and…