Tom also believes that, ”the major changes have been re-focussing our outlook on the smoker and given him variety and something to look forward to every year. We have always stayed close to our roots –our pipes are still seen as ‘traditional’ and I think that this is very important”. As young Latvian talented pipe maker from Riga, Charles Peterson joined Kapp in 1865. This firm was created in 1865 from two German brothers who initially emigrated to London, one of whom later opened a shop in Dublin. Around 1876, Peterson was hired to make tobacco pipes on order. After the death of both brothers, Peterson takes things for the son, who is still too young to run a business.
In 1890, after 15 years of being employed by Fredrick Knapp and repairing various pipes, Peterson applied for and secured a patent on a new and improved tobacco pipe. He introduced a unique system at that time that wicked moisture away from the smoke to deliver a fuller flavor. What sets Peterson Pipes apart the most is the System Pipe design. The key to ensuring the absolute best smoking experience with these legendary Peterson pipes is ensuring that you maintain and clean your pipe regularly and smoke it properly. The Peterson System pipes are the standard bearers of the Peterson pipe family, famous for the excellent smoking pleasure they provide. Often imitated but never equaled, the Peterson System smokes dry, cool and sweet, thanks to the scientific effectiveness of the original design.
Basically sticking wisely to what the business had historically been famous for, good quality, value for money, popular, classic shaped pipes. In 1988 Peterson decided to issue a special Millennium Edition set of two pipes commemorating the City of Dublin’s 1000 year founding ( ). The first pipe was a Dublin shape (what else!) and an Oom Paul. Each pipe was sold individually featuring a special sterling silver hallmarked band and came with a ribbon wrapped parchment scroll in a blue presentation box. 1987 saw the introduction and Issue of the first Sherlock Holmes ‘Original’ Series of pipes. The Sherlock Holmes series is probably the most successful series of pipes ever introduced by Peterson in terms of numbers.
A pipe cleaner dipped in alcohol will do a fine job of removing any dried tobacco juices in the mouthpiece or shank. If there is any difficulty with the pipe cleaner accessing the narrow Plip, I would suggest using the finer narrow pipe cleaners made by Falcon, which are still widely available. The sump pit on a system pipe can be cleaned with a QTip swab or piece of rolled up paper towel, likewise preferably dipped in alcohol before captain black tobacco use. If you suspect the sump pit contains a significant amount of liquid, remove the mouthpiece, dump the liquid, and reassemble. I would recommend running a pipe cleaner down the stem, as far as it will go, immediately after finishing a bowl, but disassembly and thorough cleaning can wait until the next day or any other convenient time. There are fourteen models to choose from, with a choice of highly polished or rustic finish.
This modest increase is credited by many to retro-loving students. Facebook and MySpace have thousands of members signed up to various pipe smoking enthusiast groups. Let us hope that Peterson continue to flourish in this new groundswell of optimism and the hope for the increased demand for quality classic pipes. In 1898 another of Peterson’s innovative pipe inventions became available and was also patented.
However for me have a special place and attraction. Their historical elegance coupled to Celtic charisma and eccentricity adds to a massive world wide following and popularity. As well as being excellent everyday smoking pipes, they are also very collectible. Particularly the Patents, Pre-Republics and original Mark Twain’s, all of which command reasonably consistent, estate prices at auction.
Nearly all are bents, except for one straight model, shape reference 31. As well as the traditional Walnut finish, there are also additional colour choices with red and ebony, plus rusticated and sandblast. Prices can vary considerably from around $88 for a basic finish System and up to $250 for a Deluxe. Perhaps the most notable design from the Kapp & Peterson factory was Peterson’s famed ‘DrySystem’ pipes. Before it was it was the Kapp Brothers – Friedrich and Heinrich Kapp, German immigrants to Ireland from Nürnberg, Germany, who founded the famed Kapp Brothers store on Grafton Street, Dublin, in 1865. Then one day a Latvian immigrant, Charles Peterson, strolled into the Kapp workshop and declared that he could make better pipes than they.
The result is that all the moisture flows into the reservoir and, thuscannot reach the smoker’s mouth. In 1985 there was a 3rd numbered limited edition of 1000 pipes issued to commemorate the writer’s 150th birthday anniversary.1835 – 1985. These were all gold banded and in a special presentation box in the shape of a Twain book.