I have lost the thread
Grandad May 22nd, 2007
Anyone who has read this blog might have guessed that I am a pipe smoker.
To a pipe smoker, the pipe is as important as the tobacco.
One of the first pipes I had was a Ronson.
It was a strange affair in that it had a plumbing system. It cooled the smoke and trapped all the gunk and was a very nice pipe to smoke. It was a bit tricky to clean because of all the tubing though.
Later, Ronson produced a different version, which was even cooler and had a simpler plumbing system. It had a round barrel and just two tubes that overlapped in the middle. It was much easier to clean, and was just as cool and clean.
I still have both pipes, but unfortunately, the threads have worn out on the bowls, so I can’t use them. Ronson don’t make pipes any more, and noone makes bowls with that type of thread. That is a crying shame because I loved those pipes.
Another one I had which I liked was my churchwarden.
A churchwarden is a lovely cool smoke because the smoke has to travel further. Though I used to get the odd strange look in the pub. They need special pipe cleaners too, as the regular ones aren’t long enough. The one problem with them is that they are very delicate, and the two I had both snapped. Bugger.
When I was in France last year, I treated myself to a couple. One is a EWA “Aubrac” which is nice and has a lovely carved bowl. The other is a St. Clauds “Amsterdamer” which has a nice feel to it in the hand. I have several others lying around of various shapes and sizes.
But I really miss my Ronsons
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Did you try Ebay?
I buried a man in Co Down who smoked a pipe all his life. He started with clay pipe when he was 11 – his mother caught him with it and smashed it against a wall. He used to smoke something called Warhorse.
Three weeks before he died he was putting up fencing posts with his son. He died a month short of his 99th birthday – just think how long he would have lived if he hadn’t smoked
I think the Churchwarden looks like something from Tolkien. None of the churchwardens in my parishes have ever smoked one.
@Grannymar – Yes. Tried everywhere. They went out of production about 20 years ago, so I doubt there are any around. *sob*
Are you trying to start a blog war with A list blogs !
I love the smell of pipe smoke. My English teacher used to smoke a pipe in school, so I always associated it with books…
My Grandad smoked a pipe. He was blind so it was ‘easy’ to fill as he could feel his way. He had a little Indian carved bronze tobacco bowl tied to the arm of his chair and never spilled a shred. I kept his tobacco tin as a memento. My Dad smoked a pipe but the hectic corporate world saw him continually biting the end off a myriad of the things so he moved to smelly cigars – they were vetoed toot sweet! Sorry, but the only Ronson I can offer up either straightens hair or is a warmer for waxing legs . . nowhere near as satisfying I’ll bet!
@Flirty – Yes. They’re mostly family anyway! Or pseudo-family. Want to join? Only €100? Or you can join the Podcast Crew? [free if you have Skype and good broadband and a lot of time to spare].
@Ian – I used to get the Gandalf crack when I smoked the churchwarden in a pub! People were fascinated by it.
Dammit. By the time I reply to a comment, there are several more in between! So I have to keep going back and editing. I hate the @ thingy….
@Caro – I have just had a vision of a teacher lighting up his pipe in a classroom now. There would be holy war. Court cases, sackings, inquisitions, pickets on the school, news headlines. Ah! the good old days!!
@Baino – Thanks for the offer, but my hair is very straight and I don’t wax my legs. Herself likes them as they are – long, knobbly and hairy.
Grandad, settle something for me — what age d’you reckon a man has to be before he looks like an eejit smoking a pipe? And do glasses help? I smoke rollies and have been thinking of switching to a pipe for a while now, but my wife and kids just smile pityingly at me when I suggest it.
Mind you, they do that with increasing frequency, anyway. I don’t let it bother me.
I started when I was 18. I got into a fierce row with an old fart in a pub one night. He told me I was much too young to be smoking a pipe, and I should stick to cigarettes.
anyway, you look more of an eejit at any age smoking rollies. Unless they’re ‘herbal’.
So ignore the wife and kids [I do] and give it a go.
Glasses are optional. But if you are getting glasses especially, get the half-moon ones so you can look wisely over the top of them.
*BREAKING NEWS*
This post has given me the impetus [as in 'push' rather than a disease] to do more research.
I have just found a Belgian website that claims to sell Ronson bowls. I have sent them an e-mail, and am awaiting a response……..
*MORE BREAKING NEWS*
I have just had a reply from Belgium. Negotiations are under way. This is looking good.
This Interweb is a fantastic yoke.
Why the hell wasn’t it invented 50 years ago?
The steam-powered Internet would have been rather inconvenient to connect to from home…
Maybe it could have been coal-fired, or run by hydraulics?
I have them, Grandad.
In abundance. Yes.
Grandad I prefer a bong.
There is a God!
I have been looking for these for the last 20 years!
Thank you Elie
Popeye – So do I, but you can get arrested for that.
Not on ebay? Hmmm…
http://url.ie/454
Sorry Elly – no points. That’s a briar. I have quite a few of those.
Hey grandad have you tried the trick of wrapping a thin cloth or bit of string in the threads so that they will still bite
I mean it will only be a couple mor years they will let you smoke anyways and after that you will have to go to the outer Hebrides to be allowed a bowl full
Sean – Too much bother. Once the thread goes, it goes [it is, after all only wood].
My Saviour Elie above has come to my rescue. He not only makes pipes but makes bowls for old ones. I hope to be smoking the old Ronson soon.
And noone is going to stop me smoking except me.
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