 
- personally selected
September – Dortmund Intertabac Trade Show.
Late September is a good time to be in Germany.
The weather is cooling down, and the walk from our Dortmund hotel to the Messe Halls is a comfortable 15-20 minutes - along a path shaded by large trees starting to show their autumn colours.
The Trade Show covers Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Friday is often our busiest day because most local European traders do not arrive until Saturday, and then stay over for Sunday morning.
One appointment that over the last 3 years has become important to make on the Friday, or at worst early on Saturday, is the visit to the pipe stand.
There is always a buzz around their stand, because this is one where you select the exact pipes you want to buy.
As pipes are chosen they are noted and signed for by the buyer, then placed in boxes with the buyer’s name and other details, then hidden behind curtained shelves or under the table. To be invoiced and delivered/despatched at a later date. No orders may be taken directly from the show.
This blog has covered the legend of Eric Nording on several earlier dates, and he still lives up to it.
The business side of his stand is managed by his son Knud and other members of his family.
Eric presides over the stand with his big laugh and cheerful manner, greeting each customer with either a hug or a firm handshake.
“What’s new?” is an irrelevant question.
The tables are laden with new pipes in different shapes, colours, finishes and prices. It didn’t take us long to select more pipes than our target number of eleven pipes. But determined not to let our emotions run riot we trimmed the 25 we had laid out back down to our target level.
 Just look at the 11 pipes we decided on:
One Harmony pipe – A unique finish! This year it features a “hunt scene” – horses, hounds, fences – the lot.
Four pipes from the “Grain” series: For this series, Erik Nording has chosen the most beautiful, almost flawless bowls from his briar plateaus. A deep base stain highlights
the grain, and the bowls are then hand carved with ridges and valleys following the natural grain.
Two “Briar Line Rustic” pipes – Some of the plateaux have large almost flawless areas: Keep these areas as smooth panels, with some rustication where necessary, and create an interesting contrast.
Two “Signature” pipes – Plain natural briar – as the pipe is smoked the softer briar will darken exposing the amazing grains. Erik knows what he is doing; wetting the bowl before carving shows him where to go.
One only “Spruce Cone” finish pipe (some of the bowl capacities were a bit smaller than we like.)
Only Erik can see the beauty in a pine cone and convert it into a pipe.
The annual “Hunting” series from Erik honours in briar a different wild animal each year.
For 2019 he has chosen the White Rhino.
The light grey skin of an adult white rhino will sometimes fold in panel-like areas, and the body shape is broad and fairly short, giving it a sturdy appearance. The pipe takes its inspiration from this description.
However we were not finished.
The Keystone pipe has gained appeal as the no nonsense, virtually unbreakable, practical pipe to enjoy at home, or take away on a trip – a winner from Erik Nording.
Not even Eric Nording can stop a pipe from being “lost” or left behind somewhere too far away to turn back and look for it. Fortunately in the case of the Keystone pipe the loss won’t be a train smash.
We topped up our stock of complete Keystone pipes, spare bowls, and pellets; also a few Shorty, Compass and Sailor pipes.
Sunday morning gave us enough time to say warm goodbyes ………………
Back at our hotel we parted with promises to return in 2020, and enjoyed a comfortable direct train trip to Frankfurt Airport. Then an evening flight back to O.R Tambo.
Home: to make the best of what we had bought, seen, and heard of at this focal event in our business year.
From 14 - 27 November 2019
25% off the normal price of allPipes |
You know, every time I think or talk about Nording I am filled with admiration
– and here is your chance to admire the finished products.
Take this opportunity to find out for yourself why our other customers are enjoying the Nording pipes.
Colin Wesley
No.465 November 7-20, 2019
PS Have you seen the new Zippo Woodchuck lighters?
Zippo, in partnership with WOODCHUCK USA, and their Buy One. Plant One.® program, will plant one tree for every lighter sold. Consumers can use the special code in each box to learn where their trees are planted.
Note:
By law, no South African citizen, living in South Africa can buy a tobacco product via the internet or postal system. In fact, you may not receive a tobacco product through the post.
In addition we may not receive payment through the internet for tobacco products.
We may only supply tobacco products within the trade – not to private individuals. The fine is substantial
Contact us for help in getting tobacco to your area.
You can read previous articles from “Across the Counter” in The Archives Library.
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(ZAR)
