From: ????????????????
Subject: Re: Pipes Digest #279 -- February 3, 2002

In a message dated 2/4/02 12:58:12 AM, ?????????????????? writes:

Dear Steve;  thanks for posting the info on Bjarne Nielsen's visit to our 
store,from which this Johnny Appleseed of pipes (Bjarne loves traveling to 
pipe shops, talking  about pipes as often and to as many  people as 
possible...he's a wonderful goodwill  ambassador) traveled up and down the 
California coast, visiting pipe shops and putting on exhibits wherever 
possible.  
     Since then, we've had two other shows, the latest having been concluded 
this very weekend (Feb. 1st & 2nd, 2002).  First, we had our old friend and 
partner, David Field lug out 400 Ashtons, Radice, Il Ceppo and Becker & 
Becker-Musico pipes.  David also  brought his wife, helping make his presence 
more palatable to all, and the sales and interaction made it a very 
successful weekend.  Of course, when one's friends visit, success isn't 
always measured in sales volume, although we certainly beat expectations.
     This past weekend  included a pipe show in the store of Tom Eltang's 
fine Danish pipes, with Tom flying in from Copenhagen to make the 
presentation.  Also in the  shop were Larry Roush, of U.S. pipemaking fame, 
and Greg Pease, tobacco blender extraordinnaire.  And that's not even my 
opinion...although I concur.  Mike Glukler, a one-man pipe force in Canada 
(and  for that country, one may be one too many...how pathetic our  Canadian 
brethren are when it comes to supporting pipes and pipe smoking.  It  makes 
one wonder how such marvelous people as Glukler, the Blatters and Julius Vesz 
put up with that kind of indifference) also flew in for the occassion, and 
top notch collector Ray Mays was there with his wife, Tamara.  
     Without revealing  too much info at such an early state, I will strongly 
suggest that from such a gathering, collaborations that will have positive 
effects on our little corner of the  pipe world in the not distant future 
will ensue.  So, one could say, for one short weekend in 2002, Sherlock's  
Haven  in San Francisco (and talk about indifference...if California were 
only indifferent, all of us out here would be miles ahead) was the center of 
the pipe collecting universe.  
     Now, a lot  of people  might say, "hey, Marty, you dolt...what good does 
it do tell us about pipe shows that have already passed.  Who cares now?"  To 
them, I simply reply  that a lot of people don't have my organizational 
skills.
     

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