Non-Collectors' Collections

[idbowman]

I consider myself a pipe smoker, and not really a pipe "collector." That said, I do have about 20 briars and half a dozen cobs or so, so I suppose that could be called a "collection."

Anyway, my pipes don't really have any focus...I have a variety of shapes, a variety of textures, and a variety of makers (in fact, the most I have from any one brand or craftsman is a whopping 2). Usually, I'm content with this...but sometimes - sometimes - I look at my pipe racks and think, "you know, I really wish my collection had a bit of focus, instead of this jumble." Mind you, it's not a status thing for me - I don't feel the need to build up a huge collection of bulldogs just to show 'em off, and I don't fee like I need to be able to have a collection of <insert pipemaker here>, a collection dedicated to danish crafters or current American craftsman, or anything like that. I'm just a focused, organized, compartmentalized sort of person by nature, I find myself wondering if I'd be happier. Then I light up and say "the hell with it" and move on.

For those who have a random assortment of pipes: am I the only one who goes through brief, but recurring spells of identity crisis from time to time?

 

[monbla256]

I consider myself a pipe smoker, and not really a pipe "collector."  That said, I do have about 20 briars and half a dozen cobs or so, so I suppose that could be called a "collection."

Anyway, my pipes don't really have any focus...I have a variety of shapes, a variety of textures, and a variety of makers (in fact, the most I have from any one brand or craftsman is a whopping 2).  Usually, I'm content with this...but sometimes - sometimes - I look at my pipe racks and think, "you know, I really wish my collection had a bit of focus, instead of this jumble."  Mind you, it's not a status thing for me - I don't feel the need to build up a huge collection of bulldogs just to show 'em off, and I don't fee like I need to be able to have a collection of <insert pipemaker here>, a collection dedicated to danish crafters or current American craftsman, or anything like that.  I'm just a focused, organized, compartmentalized sort of person by nature, I find myself wondering if I'd be happier.  Then I light up and say "the hell with it" and move on.

For those who have a random assortment of pipes:  am I the only one who goes through brief, but recurring spells of identity crisis from time to time?  

Ian,
Sounds like you are quite "normal" in your methodology of pipe "collecting" to me!! Myself, I've inadvertently "focused" on 5/6 makers and just about 3 shapes overall. An example would be that I have 4 IDENTICAL Charatan Pots, all Specials with the SAME style of bit that I bought over a three year period. Same with some BBB's and some GBD and BBB Bulldogs. If I liked the style and the maker and how their pipes smoked I bought 'em ! I wouldn't worry none, just buy as you feel and ENJOY 'EM  :twisted: 

 

[Domer]

I'm in the same movie.
Except that I look at some of mine and think, "What was I thinking when I bought this?"

 

[idbowman]

I'm in the same movie.
Except that I look at some of mine and think, "What was I thinking when I bought this?"

Yeah...I've got one or two of THOSE, too.

 

[Fazby]

No collection; just an accumulation. I purchase the ones I like, in the price range I consider reasonable. Some makers have caught my eye more than others.

Sometimes, the purchases are made in a weak moment - those pipes aren't favorites, but they get smoked.

 

[riff raff]

That is the great thing about pipe collecting (and smoking!). You can go for variety or a specific niche. I have a fondness for British-made Rhodesian and Bulldog shapes, so those dominate my racks.

 

[Ocelot55]

I used to try and collect variety. I wanted representative pipes of all the schools of design: English, Italian, Danish, factory, artisan.

Over time of gathering and smoking I started trading off pipes that didn't smoke well or weren't practical smokers for me. I clench and so I have to have smaller lightweight pipes.

Now if you look at my collection you will notice the majority of them are traditional English style shapes between group 2 and 4 size. I have quite a few vintage Dunhills and Parkers.

So while I didn't consciously focus my collecting, it evolved to suite my smoking habits. You definitely won't find many chunky Italian style pipes on my rack. Not that they're not nice pipes, they just aren't right for me.

 

[pepesdad1]

I prefer a collection of styles...billiards, pots, apples. etc.  I have mostly Comoys from the "old days", a couple of great Edwards given to me by Ajn27511, and several Briar Spirit Pipes which are heaven on earth to smoke.

I prefer the old English companies/styles as far as makers go.

 

[RDPipes]

I consider myself a pipe smoker, and not really a pipe "collector."  That said, I do have about 20 briars and half a dozen cobs or so, so I suppose that could be called a "collection."

Anyway, my pipes don't really have any focus...I have a variety of shapes, a variety of textures, and a variety of makers (in fact, the most I have from any one brand or craftsman is a whopping 2).  Usually, I'm content with this...but sometimes - sometimes - I look at my pipe racks and think, "you know, I really wish my collection had a bit of focus, instead of this jumble."  Mind you, it's not a status thing for me - I don't feel the need to build up a huge collection of bulldogs just to show 'em off, and I don't fee like I need to be able to have a collection of <insert pipemaker here>, a collection dedicated to danish crafters or current American craftsman, or anything like that.  I'm just a focused, organized, compartmentalized sort of person by nature, I find myself wondering if I'd be happier.  Then I light up and say "the hell with it" and move on.

For those who have a random assortment of pipes:  am I the only one who goes through brief, but recurring spells of identity crisis from time to time?  

I consider my self a collector/smoker but, I've never been able to focus on just one maker, style/shape or size.
I think the most I have of one maker is maybe 8, style, well there are a lot of one style/shape but, they still aint the majority of my collection and, size, hell there all over the place. So you see being a collector doesn't mean one maker, one style/shape or size. I would like to narrow them down but, I would hate to part with any of them. They all seem to have some inner value to me, almost like children or mementos of the past that carry a story. Yes, you can say I'm attached to them and I realize it's probably not good for an attachment to material things. But I reckon that's why I'm a collector. In the past I've collected antiques and vintage items of all sorts, memories of the past or a past I wished to live in. Yes, there are collectors that just collect one maker or shape. I just can't make up my mind, I look for what my eye likes and hope I can afford it. Sadly most the time I can't but, I get lucky ever so often. Anyway, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. I like pipes, lots of pipes.

 

[daveinlax]

There is nothing wrong with enjoying and being satisfied with what you have but I'm not reading that in your post. Every collector starts as an accumulator. It takes a lot of pipes to find what you love. I wandered down a few paths before I found MY road. One thing I leaned is a "one off" collection is not near as satisfying a deep focused collection that you can afford to add pipes to. I learned fast that collecting pipes out of budget is heartbreak, not fun.  :shock: