Thread: Pipe of the Day

Fine lot O stowaways we are. Just tie the dingy to the back of the ship and pray for good weather.


Oh and bring plenty of bulk tobacco cause we'll have lot's of time to contemplate !

Originally Posted by Nightblade

Just tie the dingy to the back of the ship... Oh and bring plenty of bulk tobacco cause we'll have lot's of time to contemplate !

Better make it two... One for pipes and tobacco and the other for us...

A local guy did this.....

July 24, 1979: Across the Atlantic in a 10-foot sailboat - StarTribune.com

Throwback Tuesday, me about 12-15 years ago trying to decide which to smoke ? Really don't remember. The large pipe is the largest bent magnum Bill Ashton Taylor ever made. I had it for awhile but it went to a good home.

Well if you smoked the larger one Jimmy I can understand why you would not remember. : )

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Throwback Tuesday, me about 12-15 years ago trying to decide which to smoke ? Really don't remember. The large pipe is the largest bent magnum Bill Ashton Taylor ever made. I had it for awhile but it went to a good home.

Gawd ! That things a monster !! That's like a weeks worth of tobacco that would fit in that ??

looks more like a Kuksa than a pipe!

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Jimmy, you've changed so much

Boswell's must have got the BIG pipe idea from Taylor...

Originally Posted by lz6

Well if you smoked the larger one Jimmy I can understand why you would not remember. : )

Originally Posted by Nightblade

Gawd ! That things a monster !! That's like a weeks worth of tobacco that would fit in that ??

I was into pipe collecting for a time and Bill Taylor's Ashton pipes were favorites of mine. He had worked for Dunhill starting as an apprentice in his teenage years and ending up in charge of quality control after 25 years. The story of how he struck out on his own, and made it a great success, can be found here.

One of the USA distributors at that time Bob Hamlin, wrote the Ashton Story and mentioned this on the 'Ashton Magnums', "The "Magnum" and its variations are extra, extra large classic shaped pipes that while limited in production to less than 20 pieces per year, are very special and unique to the Ashton line. While Magnums are expensive, they offer an outstanding smoking experience as the amount of cured briar included with each piece is extensive."

Over the years I had a few of them in different shapes. The one pictured being the largest. Bob Hamlin was not exaggerating, smoking one was a unique experience, and why I started buying tobacco in bulk. Well, I eventually decided that the magnums were too much of a good thing and sold the few I had. I still enjoy my Ashtons but they are mostly 'normal' sized pipes. Below are photos of the late William Ashton 'Bill' Taylor, and Sid Cooper, making the pipes they loved.



The photos above came from the website of David Field, the original importer of Ashton pipes, and the driving force of Bill going out on his own.

Just my first pipe of the day which is almost always Bayou Morning in a little Black Sea Rock 25 with my mugs of coffee. Although I still smoke Exclusive, Haunted Bookshop and Old Joe Krantz, Bayou Morning has taken over the go to spot in my small rotation of tobacco.