From: Harvey Lynn <???????????????>
Subject: Addition to Resource Guide

Steve,

I want to add an item to the Resource Guide.  The Tinder Box, in Santa
Monica, CA.  The Original Tinder Box(Est.1928) The founder, Ed Koplin, Sr.
has been blending tobacco since 1928.

It's not at all your basic shopping mall Tinder Box.  It's a small cottage
with a very cozy, friendly ambiance and a perpetual blue
cloud of cigar and pipe smoke.  There's an excellent selection of pipes
ranging from high end collectables to moderately priced estate pipes
and 'good values'(which I smoke).  Every once in a while I'll treat my
self to a cigar but they're a little hard on my budget.

Ed discovered his blending talents while working in a pharmacy.  Customers
would ask him create a mixture tasting like the designer blends, Dunhill,
etc.  He still oversees the shop.

My favorite blend is still Continental 51, a rich aromatic which isn't too
sweet, and which, by the way, was suggested by a pipe smoking female
employee. Since receiving the Digest I've expanded my horizons and now enjoy
English blends as well.   As you can imagine there are dozens of prepared
blends as well as bulk tobacco to create your own blend.  They keep a book
of favorite blends of the  'Rich and Famous'(well, many names that we'd
recognize, I was told) but this practice is almost defunct.  They also
carry tins of the tobaccos I've read about in the newsgroup and the Digest,
but I've yet to try them.

Ed's sells pouches of tobacco labeled Tinder Box International and
those which state that they are original blends and not available elsewhere.
When I ask about Ed's affiliation with the other Tinder Boxes I'm told
that Ed's store is a 'Maverick`(maybe someone knows the whole story?).

I'm in no way affiliated with the store but thought that it should be
included in your Resource Guide.  They're now in a fight for their life
because Santa Monica is on the verge of passing the strictest anti-smoking
law in the country which would outlaw smoking in all work places(except
the cab of a truck) and public places, even _outdoor_ eateries.

Steve, I really look forward to receiving the Digest and it's getting
better every week.  Good job.  BTW, are all these pipe people really
so civil or do you moderate out the flames and such?

The Tinder Box Wilshire
2729 Wilshire Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA  90403
(310) 828-4511

ps:  the week after I submitted my bio to the Digest someone from the
Southwest Pipe and Cigar Assoc(I think it was) e-mailed me about getting
together with their club.  He said he had my address and would contact
me about upcoming meetings.  I lost your mail...where are you?

[ If you find out, please let me know too, for the Guide! -S. ]


~\U ~\U ~\U ~\U ~\U ~\U ~\U ~\U ~\U ~\U ~\U ~\U ~\U ~\U ~\U ~\U ~\U