The traditional straight pipe

Not every pipe smoker wants only bent pipes!

In the early days of pipe manufacturing, straight pipes were easier to make than bent models.
There was still much from which to choose: Apples, Billiards, Bulldogs, Canadians, Dublins, Liverpools, Lovats and Pokers – all in different sizes, but all straight. Just look at the Dunhill White Spot Shape Chart.
I have never seen a picture of Alfred Dunhill smoking a bent pipe.

As the pipe industry grew so did the competition.
In the 1950s and 1960s the Scandinavians took the pipe world by storm with their “outlandish” Danish shapes – mainly bent pipes. The modern Stanwell pipes are excellent examples – yet even they have traditional straight pipes in their range.

Further developments, especially with the introduction of artificial flavourings into pipe tobacco blends, called for more “filter” pipes. This was made possible by the introduction of the Teflon Tenon which today offers both 6mm and 9mm “filter” options.
These shank filters were ideally suited to bent pipes causing their popularity to overwhelm the demand for straight pipes.
During the course of all these changes and developments, the prices for entry level pipes had, along with all other briar pipes, risen considerably.

Erik Nording the innovative Danish pipemaker, saw a gap and decided to fill it.
In 2011 Erik and his son Knud would make a pipe with all the criteria for a perfect entry level priced pipe. In fact more than that, the pipe would be suitable for any pipe smoker who wanted a good smoke from a pipe at a price that would not be a disaster if the pipe became damaged or lost.

The Eriksen Keystone filter pipe ticked all the boxes with one possible negative – it was a straight pipe.
The pipe has been so successful that to date there are no plans for a bent model.

The Nording Eriksen Keystone Pipe was brought to mind again in my shop last Saturday by two very different customers:
The first customer wanted a straight pipe which didn’t cost too much and he’d heard about the Nording Keystone. We spent a very pleasant 45 minutes chatting about all the advantages of the Nording Keystone – easy to fill, light up and smoke; durable; leaving no lump of wet tobacco (the dottle) and needing little maintenance; affordable!
He was happy to choose a bowl finish he liked. The free can of Keystone pellets was an added bonus.

The second customer had bought a Keystone pipe previously, having read all about it on the website. He was so satisfied with it that he wanted another pipe in a different finish. In just a few minutes he had decided exactly which finish he preferred, paid and left – another happy customer.

We’d like you to be happy too:

This good offer is not too good to be true.
The Keystone filter pipe smokes well above its price.

Don’t be shy, stocks are limited.

Colin Wesley

No.426 April 12 - 25, 2018

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 Library.

PS If you can’t visit a Wesley’s Bricks and Mortar, remember that if you’re not completely happy with your mailsale choice, you can always return it for a full refund.