I recently discovered that I am not alone in my infatuation with the corn cob. Scott, over at Aristocob celebrates and sells Missouri Meerschaum pipes while in quest of the rare Aristocob pipe, which is a weird metal stem to which a screw in cob is affixed. It doesn't do much for me, but to each their own. Meanwhile Scott produces a number of wonderful videos about corn cobs. Here's a saqmple:
Also he is running a video contest during November, which is apparently Corn Cob Pipe Month. Check out his blog in the side panel.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Baby It's Cold Outside
Sent via DROID on Verizon Wireless
It begins with wearing long sleeves. Then I move on to a sweatshirt, then a light-weight jacket, then a medium weight jacket. This week I sat out in the back yard in my heavy winter jacket (not yet my really heavy coat)and winter hat. The temperature was in the high thirties, there was no wind to speak of and it was actually lovely. But the frost is coming and pipe-smoking weather is on its way out. There will be days ahead in the coming months when, except for occasionally being able to get over to Holt's during the day (which I might add also gets harder as my work schedule heats up at the same time)I will likely be smoking no more than a bowl a day and sometimes not that. For a few days this will really annoy me, and then I will settle in and wait for spring.
From a pipe smoker's point of view the only real problem this presents is choosing tobaccos. I need to finish off open tins and be more judicious with what I open knowing that it will take longer to finish and that therefore maintaining the freshness of the tobacco become an issue that doesn't exist when I know I will finish a tin, even when alternating among a few brands, in the course of two weeks or so. I will be paying more attention to the humidifying agents. After years of using those little black disks soaked in distilled water, I have switched to the humidifying packets that are sold to put in cigar bags. I'm not convinced of their efficacy, but given the seasonal smoking habits they have not been truly tested. We'll find out over the next few months.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
A Depressing Thought
If you're already having a bad day, skip this post and come back to it some other time. Perhaps when you're afraid that the pure bliss of enjoying a sublime tobacco in precisely the right pipe with the perfect glass of scotch in the company of the perfect companion will bring bad luck and you need to burst the ballon.
I live and work in Center City Philadelphia. That is the commercial heart of the city as well as being remarkably residential for an urban area. Therefore when one walks the streets one is not only in the company of working people, mostly visitors from the suburbs, shoppers from the same far flung wildernesses and tourists -- but also in the company of real life people who live here and are going about their daily business. They are running errands, going to the library, dropping off and picking up their kids from school. But there is no school today as it is election day. So there are more than the usual number of people walking around town with their kids. These people are likely not city dwellers, but suburbanites in for the day since the kids are off from school.
Twice today, I repeat, twice today I walked past family groups -- I didn't pay enough attention to them to remember if there were two parents or one or even how many kids made up the group. But in each case as I walked past I suddenly felt drilled and turned to see a young child staring at me in disbelief and even as I was passing I could see the words forming on his or her lips and I could hear the words from behind: "Mommy what is that? What does that man have in his mouth? "Obviously, a dragon-like smoke breathing man, honey." No, that wasn't the answer. I didn't hear the answer, but I was simply shocked to realize that there is likely an entire generation of children (these kids weren't toddlers) who simply could not identify a smoking pipe.(And the answer most likely sounded something like, that is a very very bad thing...)It really depressed me. Always happy to share.
I live and work in Center City Philadelphia. That is the commercial heart of the city as well as being remarkably residential for an urban area. Therefore when one walks the streets one is not only in the company of working people, mostly visitors from the suburbs, shoppers from the same far flung wildernesses and tourists -- but also in the company of real life people who live here and are going about their daily business. They are running errands, going to the library, dropping off and picking up their kids from school. But there is no school today as it is election day. So there are more than the usual number of people walking around town with their kids. These people are likely not city dwellers, but suburbanites in for the day since the kids are off from school.
Twice today, I repeat, twice today I walked past family groups -- I didn't pay enough attention to them to remember if there were two parents or one or even how many kids made up the group. But in each case as I walked past I suddenly felt drilled and turned to see a young child staring at me in disbelief and even as I was passing I could see the words forming on his or her lips and I could hear the words from behind: "Mommy what is that? What does that man have in his mouth? "Obviously, a dragon-like smoke breathing man, honey." No, that wasn't the answer. I didn't hear the answer, but I was simply shocked to realize that there is likely an entire generation of children (these kids weren't toddlers) who simply could not identify a smoking pipe.(And the answer most likely sounded something like, that is a very very bad thing...)It really depressed me. Always happy to share.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Corn Cob Wisdom
So it has been some months since I have been smoking almost exclusively corn cob pipes. Since few people in the literate pipe community have apparently ever done so, there is really a dearth of information/insight into the vagaries of such. Most people just assume that there is nothing to it and that since these pipes are so inexpensive their care and handling is not an issue. Perhaps there are dedicated corn cobbers out there who know better, but they don't seem to have a voice in the literature. Where angels fear to tred...I step in.
As with any information about pipes one must state at the outset that it is highly subjective. Each person's experience is likely to be different. But having said that, we all know that, in the main, the subjective musings of pipe people tend to be the same, so what is touted as being subjective is actually relatively close to being objective. Get it? OK.
We begin where all pipe advice begins: How to select a corn cob pipe? There is only one brand of corn cob of any worth, and usually only one brand for sale, but just in case, check that you are buying a genuine Missouri Meerschaum. There is a wide variety of styles to choose from.I have been alternating between "The Country Gentleman," "The Diplomat," and "The General." The latter should not be confused with the famous "MacArthur" which is similar but much longer - Churchwarden proportions. I have one of these too, but rarely smoke it. I choose only the natural corn cob. There are some that are treated with a sort of plaster of paris solution to harden and smoothen the outside, but I prefer the natural look.
Next we move on to: Breaking in a corn cob. Most people will tell you there is no such thing. They'd be wrong. Certainly the pipe smokes fine from the beginning and requires no breaking-in in the sense that a briar pipe does. However, corn cobs come with a wooden shank that connects between the mouthpiece and the bowl. The part of the shank that extends in to the bowl will give off a taste of burning wood when you smoke that first bowl down to the bottom. There's not much you can do about this. I don't have a clue why it goes away after the third or fourth bowl, but it does. So just suck it up.
Next comes:Caring for your corn cob. Again, popular wisdom would tell you that there is no such thing. Again, not true. First of all, Missouri Meerschaum's come equipped with a medico filter. When I was young I would remove these and smoke without them thinking that was more macho. Stupid. The filter not only cools the smoke, it keeps the mouthpiece clean thereby eliminating the need for pipe cleaners. I know there are those who will say: Yech! but the truth is I have found it to be true. On the other hand I have also found that each filter only lasts for about three bowls and then should be replaced. Furthermore, one should not smoke a corn cob for more than six bowls in a day despite changing the filter in between (actually I'd recommend no more than four). Then it should be rested for a few days so that the inside of the bowl can thoroughly dry. If not, you will regret it. Thus, I have expanded my rotation of corn cobs to six pipes and can adequately get through the week.
Regarding the filters. There are two main brands: Medico and Doctor Grabow. Though the pipes come with the former I have found the latter to be more easily available, but that may be just a local concern. I have also found some evidence that the Medico filters last longer, but I have not pushed them beyond the three pipe limit.
Finally, the mouthpieces are made of very soft plastic. I happen to be a biter, but even if you're not and even when I try not to be, it doesn't take too long until the mouthpiece is completely collapsed. I wouldn't be surprised if this is why most people toss their pipes long before there is any problem with their smoking quality, which as far as I can tell so far is infinite. Not to worry. The above cited Missouri Meerschaum website sells replacement stems. They are exceedingly inexpensive - .25 I believe. I've purchased about 30 and I'm probably set for life.
So smoke and enjoy!
As with any information about pipes one must state at the outset that it is highly subjective. Each person's experience is likely to be different. But having said that, we all know that, in the main, the subjective musings of pipe people tend to be the same, so what is touted as being subjective is actually relatively close to being objective. Get it? OK.
We begin where all pipe advice begins: How to select a corn cob pipe? There is only one brand of corn cob of any worth, and usually only one brand for sale, but just in case, check that you are buying a genuine Missouri Meerschaum. There is a wide variety of styles to choose from.I have been alternating between "The Country Gentleman," "The Diplomat," and "The General." The latter should not be confused with the famous "MacArthur" which is similar but much longer - Churchwarden proportions. I have one of these too, but rarely smoke it. I choose only the natural corn cob. There are some that are treated with a sort of plaster of paris solution to harden and smoothen the outside, but I prefer the natural look.
Next we move on to: Breaking in a corn cob. Most people will tell you there is no such thing. They'd be wrong. Certainly the pipe smokes fine from the beginning and requires no breaking-in in the sense that a briar pipe does. However, corn cobs come with a wooden shank that connects between the mouthpiece and the bowl. The part of the shank that extends in to the bowl will give off a taste of burning wood when you smoke that first bowl down to the bottom. There's not much you can do about this. I don't have a clue why it goes away after the third or fourth bowl, but it does. So just suck it up.
Next comes:Caring for your corn cob. Again, popular wisdom would tell you that there is no such thing. Again, not true. First of all, Missouri Meerschaum's come equipped with a medico filter. When I was young I would remove these and smoke without them thinking that was more macho. Stupid. The filter not only cools the smoke, it keeps the mouthpiece clean thereby eliminating the need for pipe cleaners. I know there are those who will say: Yech! but the truth is I have found it to be true. On the other hand I have also found that each filter only lasts for about three bowls and then should be replaced. Furthermore, one should not smoke a corn cob for more than six bowls in a day despite changing the filter in between (actually I'd recommend no more than four). Then it should be rested for a few days so that the inside of the bowl can thoroughly dry. If not, you will regret it. Thus, I have expanded my rotation of corn cobs to six pipes and can adequately get through the week.
Regarding the filters. There are two main brands: Medico and Doctor Grabow. Though the pipes come with the former I have found the latter to be more easily available, but that may be just a local concern. I have also found some evidence that the Medico filters last longer, but I have not pushed them beyond the three pipe limit.
Finally, the mouthpieces are made of very soft plastic. I happen to be a biter, but even if you're not and even when I try not to be, it doesn't take too long until the mouthpiece is completely collapsed. I wouldn't be surprised if this is why most people toss their pipes long before there is any problem with their smoking quality, which as far as I can tell so far is infinite. Not to worry. The above cited Missouri Meerschaum website sells replacement stems. They are exceedingly inexpensive - .25 I believe. I've purchased about 30 and I'm probably set for life.
So smoke and enjoy!
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