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4th Annual West Coast Pipe Show Brought to you by Steve O'Neill and Marty Pulvers |
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Las Vegas,
Nevada
November 3rd & 4th, 2012 |
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Robert Denholtz dba Connoisseur Pipe Shop Online. His website is devoted to the work of Ed Burak, often called the Dean of American Pipe Designers. Ed Burak closed his shop in Manhattan (Connoisseur Pipe Shop, Ltd.) after 40 years in the business. We sat down with Rob and asked him about the Ed Burak pipes he
sells and holds in very high esteem. WCPS: How many pipes do you expect to bring and display at the show? Robert Denholtz (RB): Approximately 24 pipes. WCPS: The carvers and brands you represent, what is it about them that draws them to you and your business? RB: I will probably be presenting Ed Burak's Connoisseur pipes
only. He is a true artist for whom shape is the most important aspect
of pipe design. I've collected his work for 20 years. RB: Americans smoke less aromatic tobaccos than do the Europeans. We do not generally like filters in our pipes and some Europeans (particularly the Germans) do. WCPS: Do you personally do anything different and or do you have the opportunity to do anything between these two cultures? RB: Yes. I recently discovered Pipe-et-Tabacs, a French online
pipe group. I've been posting to their web site and have had some
side correspondence with some of the their members. I've found I've
been able to understand (with the help of a dictionary) much of
what they post and they, in turn, have been gracious and helpful
with my poor French. RB: I really am not knowledgeable about this subject. However, I did note that we speak better English than they do . . . except for the British. Well, some of us do, anyway. WCPS: Do you personally do anything different, when approaching these two cultures? RB: Ed Burak's work is not well-known in Europe except among a few high-end collectors. I sometimes "introduce" his pipes to other countries by posting on eBay. In recent months I have sold Connoisseurs (through eBay) in China, Singapore, Germany, Italy and a few other countries. WCPS: How do you feel about the current tobacco legislation being enacted all around the world? How does it make you feel & what, if anything, do you think we should do to fight it? RB: I think it is sad and frustrating that legislators and legislation seem unaware of the distinctions between cigarettes and pipe smoking. High quality pipe tobacco has no additives. Cigarettes (and cigarette papers) are loaded with additive. The health risks of pipe smoking are much less than those associated with cigarette smoking. In Everett Coop's original Surgeon General's report on smoking, it was noted that pipe smokers live an average of 6 months longer than non-smokers. I've written to Pres. Obama encouraging him to try smoking a pipe and offering to give him some pointers. He's not yet replied. WCPS: Is there anything that bothers or that you feel is missing from the pipe industry today? RB: Yes. Artistry. Pipes as art, meaning beautifully-designed pipes, are rare. There are many skilled craftsmen turning out excellent pipes but so many are ordinary or even ugly. A few, like Burak, Negoita, Bonacquisti, Knudsen and some others are artists who know about line and form and know how to create beauty with-out sacrificing smoking quality. WCPS: Do you smoke? What do you smoke? RB: Yes, I smoke. I smoke pipes only. I like aged and fermented Virginia tobaccos and some English blends.
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IMPORTANT WEBSITE AND INFORMATION NUMBERS For special West Coast Pipe Show room rates call the Palace Station Hotel & Casino: (800) 634-3101 For Palace Station Hotel & Casino information and amenities please visit the hotel's website at: www.palacestation.com For table reservations or for any other information, please contact: Steve
O'Neill: We're looking forward to seeing you at the West Coast Pipe Show and we hope you'll join us in making this an annual event! |
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