Pipe Shops as Hobby Shops

 I have spent a lot of time in pipe shops and for me, it has always been like a hobby shop.  There is always so much to choose from.  But a good tobacconist knows how to sell what one needs.  But a first time visit to a tobacco shop can be overwhelming at best.  My wife has been with me on a number of occasions and that has helped with the intimidation factor of a pipe shop.  But the first thing to hit you in a pipe shop is the aroma.

I'm not talking about head shops, which are on every corner.  Some sell tobacco pipe tobacco, but most are interested in selling vaping supplies.  Vaping is not the same as tobacco pipe smoking.  While a glass bong can be had for ten bucks, a good Briar pipe can be hundreds if not thousands of dollars.  Most proprietors of tobacco shops are in their seventies or eighties.  They're not young kids with tattoos and piercings.  

A good tobacconist has a good selection of Briar pipes and will have jars of various pipe tobaccos on hand.  One used to be able to sample tobacco in one's pipe, but now they will charge for a sample anywhere from a quarter to a dollar.  The FDA has done away with pipe tobacco samples for free.  I've sampled many pipe tobaccos from apothecary jars in tobacco pipe shops.  

I bought my first pipe from a place called the Rod and Pipe Shop.  It was quite a massive place, actually, and sold not only pipes but every type of fishing and sporting goods. They had their pipes behind a counter and back then they had a mirror and slipped a cellophane sleeve over the stem of any pipe one would like to try.  It wasn't smoked, but one could see how one looked with this or that pipe.  They had pipes, accessories, and a lot of tobacco.  Most was over the counter blends, but they had apothecary jars full of tobacco.  The tobacconist took time to show me how to pack my pipe and I actually lit my pipe right there in the shop.  

I don't recall going back to that shop, but I do recall the time the tobacconist spent with me.  I must have taken an hour to choose that first pipe.  Then my future wife and I discussed about the ashtray with a cork pipe knocker.  It was such a cool ashtray.  And the humidor.  I wanted to fill that humidor to the rim.  I didn't care what went in it.  I just wanted it full.  I bought a few ounces of some special blend he recommended.  I can't remember whether I liked it, but I had all I needed for smoking a pipe.  

That pipe was so incredibly special.  I still have that pipe.  It brings back special memories every time I smoke that pipe.  My wife still likes that pipe.  It's not a smoking favorite, but that pipe is still special and I smoke it once iin a while.  Today i am smoking my Angel pipe with my Autumn Evening.  Thank you for your time and Peace to each one of you.

Dave