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. Another tree canopy shot. Argenta IL, a local small town.

I'm guessing its Italian because "aurea" is Italian for "gold", from the Latin "aurum". Does the script look like it could be "Barontini", or more remotely "Briantea"? If Barontini: There were pipe-making cousins by this surname - Ilio and Cesare - and Cesare Barontini still has a web site...

1-3 Steve

30 minutes is common for me. I pack 3-4 layers, very light at the bottom, firmer as I go up, but not really tight even at the top. Often I'll loosen and dump the ashes and relight about 2/3 of the way through the bowl. Works for me most of the time. I'd rather have consistently good short...

For me it would have to be big bands, and Don Ellis is represented better than the others in my collection, 2nd place Quincy Jones. Steve

Water works best for me. Distilled spirits is the worst - the EtOH irritates my buds when I'm smoking. Steve

Listened to "Reno on Record" tonight (Aircraft Records label), a high quality stereo CD of the Reno air races unlimited class. On the flight line, engines startup, taxi, takeoff, at the pylons in qualification laps and race. Steve

Icy day in central Illinois. I put up this web page today. Photos and vids. http://www.stevesite.us/illinois_scenes/icy_day/ Steve

XX-LARGE RATS ON SALE http://www.rodentpro.com/ Get 'em while they last. If you're wondering how I'm finding this stuff - I'm using NAICS codes in targeted searching of the Small Business Administration, for job leads. Trouble is, the NAICS code system is not a tight as it should be. Steve

The most I've paid for a Willmer AAA is $107, including several Ebay purchases. My best one has grain as good as that on the bowl, but not as good as that example on the shank. Very light or clear stains in good straight grain tend to cost more than darker stains, so maybe for that one the...

I could have been rich. http://www.flat-d.com/flatdreusable.html http://www.flat-d.com/chairpadblack.html http://www.flat-d.com/women.html Don't think of making and selling these yourself...they are patented. http://www.freepatentsonline.com/y2005/0182372.html Steve

This is a little off topic, but Mexico City, Mexico? Tell me this climate is true. It looks too good to be believed! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexico_City#Climate (scroll down to table) Steve

I didn't know what a Perfection was until you mentioned it and I looked it up. Charatan has not been a target for me, though I've targeted Willmers. Info on this web page places Perfection at the low end of Charatans smooth "high-grades", with Special the next grade above that among 7-tiers of...

Champaign, Illinois

. Several years ago, somehow, I left a box of 10 pipes in my shed and they became forgotten. Mice got into them. A Castello had a spider nest in the bowl. A Ferndown had what looked like a mouse nibble in the wood. I took the whole lot to Michael La Due at Jon's Pipe Shop to be fixed up and...

I started collecting Willmers because my local B&M has always stocked a selection of them, and my first pipe was a straight grain AAA. I kept my eye out after that and have bought AA and AAA grades when the size, shape and wood appealed to me. I agree that some are clunky. I have two like...

Some of the tightest and clearest straight grain in all pipedom is found on the older Willmer AAA grade pipes (before Willmer "inflated" their grading system). This one takes the cake, and I wanted you all to see it. I own too many AAA Willmers to bid on this one, but its taking all my...

First reaction: Really nice job on all those restorations. Second reaction: Holy cow! That stick man has half his body in the pipe! Must be doing a pipe inspection. Steve

In DeKalb...I'd make a visit to Jon's Pipe Shop in Urbana, IL. Their estate selection is huge and the folks there really know their stuff. They'll help you make a wise choice in your price range. My specific suggestion, ask to see their estate Savinelli Punto Oro collection first (I was...