From: Tony Casciato <??????????????????????>
Subject: [Pipes] Personal Update

Steve,

I first read your Pipes Digest in March 1996 and sent my first letter at the
beginning of April.  I read just about every back issue available on the web
page as well as every new issue as it comes out.  This just goes to show you
that my now being 61 years old has made me smarter.  The digest just keeps
getting better.

At that time I was just starting to smoke my unused (for eight years) pipes
and trying to decide on a tobacco.  Once I tried Balkan Sobranie #759 I was
hooked.  I finally realized I had been trying very bland or mild tobaccos in
the hopes of not being overwhelmed - wrong tactic.  Of course Balkan
Sobranie is no loger being imported but I have managed to obtain several
cans.  It can still be found if you look around hard enough.  I have also
been told that it will again be available from another supplier under the
name Balkan Sasieni.  Don't know about that for sure but it will be
interesting to watch for it.

I also plan to call Craig of C&D to see what recommendations he may have for
other tobaccos now that I have a good starting point concerning what I like.

In my first letter I mentioned visiting         W.Curtis Draper
                                                640  14th Street, N.W
                                                Washington, D.C.  2005
                                                (202) 638-2555
                                                (800) 572-2382

in early April and being very impressed.  I have since done mail order
business with them as well as revisiting in person and I am even more
impressed.  At the end of April, I talked on the phone with John (Duke) Fox.
I explained that I was looking for a meerschaum pipe and possibly a briar
pipe.  After a few minutes talking about what I had in mind, he recommended
a couple of pipes.  He said he would be glad to send one or more pipes to me
and I could return any or all of them if not satisfied.  As it turned out, I
ordered a Ural Meerschaum lattice bulldog and a Savinelli smooth finish bent
bulldog. They came within two days and I kept them both.  In July I ordered
a Ural Meerschaum lattice bent bulldog and a couple of corn cob pipes, all
of which met my expectations.

In August I was at the 1996 Doll & Teddy Bear Expo in D.C. with my wife.
That Saturday afternoon, when Lorraine was ready to rest a bit, I took a
mile and a half walk in 95 degree heat to visit the shop in person and met
Duke face to face.  We talked quite a bit and I bought a Ural Meerschaum
lattice calabash shape pipe as well as several accessories.  I walked the
mile and a half (all uphill) back to the hotel in a very good mood.  I
heartily recommend dealing with W.Curtis Draper.

In my first letter I mentioned that my Savinelli lighter lit the first time
I tried it after sitting unused for eight years.  I find that it doesn't
matter because I now use wooden matches almost exclusively; the kind that
can be bought in most supermarkets.  In fact, the ones I am now useing are
Diamond Red Top safety matches that were also sitting unused for eight years.

I have now read three issues of Pipes and Tobacco Magazine and four issues
of Pipe Friendly and will continue to subscribe as long as they publish.
They are both worth the money and the time to read.

Revisiting my long unused pipes was a very smart move.  I have spent many
relaxing hours in the den or on the back porch with pipe in hand.  It will
get even better when I retire at the end of April next year.

     -----------------------------------------------------
        Tony Casciato            ??????????????????????
     -----------------------------------------------------
           Hang in there...   You can outlast them...
     -----------------------------------------------------


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