Passing of Colin Wesley
Dear Customers and Friends
It is with deep sadness that I have to tell you that Colin Wesley passed away on March 5, 2022.
In 2021 he was diagnosed with a heart problem which needed a valve replacement.
Following successful surgery in November 2021, he unfortunately suffered a serious stroke. After some time in ICU and a rehabilitation facility, he was able to come home. A few days later, he passed away peacefully in his sleep.
Over the last few months, in his absence, with the support and hard work of our staff, I continued to operate Wesley’s. The successful adjustment makes me confident that Wesley’s will continue to serve you now as it always has.
We will be without Colin, but we will always be guided by his values and principles.
I am grateful for your support in the past and look forward to continuing to be here for you in the future.
Gillian Wesley |
System Pipes - A cool dry smoke
Colin Wesley always said that this is the aim for the Pipesmoker – “a cool dry smoke”.
The difficulty – many of today’s tobacco blends include some artificial flavouring, a little aromatic oil which provides an attractive aroma for the room, and more particularly for the smoker since “taste” is closely linked to smell.
The result – as the tobacco is smoked some of the natural moisture in the leaf will condense, and so will the aromatic oils and any other juices.
The pipe is a natural filter - Gravity sends some of this condensate to the base of the bowl forming the soggy dottle. The rest deposits in the shank and mouthpiece.
The pipe is doing its job!
So maybe the smoke is dry (and hopefully cool) but the pipe is a mess!
The most successful way to prevent this mess, or at least to collect it in one place for later cleaning – has been through the System pipes, with a trap in the shank.
Particularly the Savinelli Dry System, the Marca Dry and the Keyser pipe.
Since a bent pipe shape can very effectively use gravity to collect the condensate in the shank trap, many such System pipes are bent.
But what if you prefer a straight pipe?
Well, the Keyser offers straight shapes – including quite a nice billiard.
But maybe something a little less pricey is what you’re looking for?
Enter Eric Nording, engineer, and his Keystone pipe.
- The bowl is of excellent quality briar, available in 4 finishes.
- Well-priced, since pieces of briar this shape and size aren’t normally of use to briar pipe manufacturers.
- Dry! Any condensation ends up in the trap under the bowl where you have the option to add Keystone lava pellets to mop it up. The bowl chamber is well-proportioned at 17mm diameter and 32mm deep.
- Economical - no tobacco wastage since it can burn away completely,
- The base (mouthpiece, shank, and bowl chamber) is constructed of black high impact polycarbonate: difficult to break, easy to clean.
The chamber can be filled with highly absorbent Keystones (natural tasteless volcanic clay pellets),
ensuring a cool, dry, smoke, right down to the last shred of tobacco.
We have just received our 6th shipment of Keystone pipes and we know they will be as well-appreciated as the previous shipments.
That’s Erik Nording - the Engineer!
Now for Erik Nording the Artist –
the shipment also contained four Nording Freehands!
Their inspiration
Erik exclusively uses plateau wood for the Freehand Pipes, the outer part of the briar block where you find the most beautiful texture and appearance of the wood.
When carving a freehand pipe, he tries as much as possible to follow the grain, making creative choices when he has to deal with natural defects within the wood.
He has probably produced more freehand pipes than any other pipe-maker.
It is in the finishes of these pipes that his artistry shows.
You have seen on our website the Signature Series, the Grain Series, the Harmony Series, the Briar Line, and more.
Of course they have all sold out – beautifully cured, beautifully finished and very well priced.
But now we have the Matte Brown series:
The briar has a rich, medium brown base coat, with a deeper stain following and highlighting the grain. The matt satin finish is so smooth you can’t help feeling it.
Complemented in three of the pipes by a variegated brown mouthpiece.
The fourth pipe looks stunning with a true amber colour mouthpiece.
No filter option – but if you find you have too much moisture in the base of the bowl, just drop in a few Keystone Pellets before packing the tobacco.
The light weight * The incredible feel of the smooth carved curves of the briar * The smoking quality
These are what you will appreciate when you own a Nording Freehand.
Having whet your appetite, we feel it would only be fair to offer you the opportunity to own one of these unique pipes without breaking the bank -
We offer less 25% on
Nording Matte Brown Freehands (4 pipes only) R3100.00
and
Nording Keystone for a very cool, dry smoke R750.00
Valid May 26 to June 8, 2022 |
In fact Erik Nording is an Engineer, an Artist, and above all – a Pipeman.
Pipes are his passion and his hobby.
The pipes he produces are beautiful, excellent value, and always fit for purpose –
a pathway to the pleasures of pipesmoking.
Enjoy your pipe smoking pastime!
Gillian Wesley
No.517 19 May to 1 June, 2022
PS If you can’t visit a Wesley’s Bricks and Mortar, remember that if you’re not completely happy with your Internet choice, you can always return it for a full refund.
Stay at home, stay safe – we can come to you.
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.
Visit The Library to read archived blogs from “Across the Counter”.
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(ZAR)
