120. The 2019 St. Patrick’s Day Commemorative SYSTEM

Revised Feb. 8th, 2019.

The past year or so has been a little difficult for some pipe smokers. Do you remember where you were when you heard McClelland was shutting down? How many seconds did it take for you to hit the speed dial to your favorite tobacconist? As usual, as I was one of the last to know and so missed out on the feeding frenzy, but I remember it hit me quite viscerally, about 11:30 in the morning. I was teaching a class of 8th graders and had to step out of the room and “take a moment,” as they say. My students were just asking me if they needed to dial 911 when I told them it would be alright, I just needed to take a few more deep breaths.

 

And now, as I’m sure you’ve probably heard, it looks like Pipes & Tobaccos magazine will be folding up shop after 23 glorious years of continuous publication. Something to do with the way advertising is done nowadays. Something about “people don’t read anymore.” Something about a dystopian plot to destroy the pipe smoking world that makes Fahrenheit 451 look like Captain Kangaroo (don’t tell me you don’t know who he is, I don’t want to hear it).

Then there was that moment last June when Tom Palmer said he had sold Peterson. What the Fridge? What does that even mean? I was relieved to hear who bought it, at least, although still pretty nervous.

 

Well here we are about eight months later, and there’s some good news in the bleak days of late winter. You’re looking at it at the top of the page, and peppered all through this post. Laudisi is redeeming their promise to steward Peterson, and here’s the second installment. I’ll talk about the first one a little later, but right now let’s focus on the Laudisi Era’s first St. Patrick’s Day pipe—a System!

How cool is that?

It was long-time Peterson staffer Glen Whelan (Tony Whelan’s son) who had the idea, according to managing director Joshua Burgess. Glen was also in on the creation of the Founder’s Edition pipe back in 2016 (the D18 Oom Paul) and is an established part of the creative team there, having worked in the Dublin shop as well as in Peterson management for a long time now.

 

Shapes? The SPD 2019 System is being offered in nine System shapes: the 301 pot, 302 large apple, 303 apple, 304 flat-bottom, 305 calabash, 307 large billiard, 312 medium billiard, 313 small dutch and 314 small billiard. That’s pretty most of the System range, apart from the 306 Flat Bottom, the tiny 317 billiard, the B42 / Darwin and the bent House Pipe.

Except . . . except . . . at first I thought the pipe on the banner might be an XL23 / Lestrade that somehow made it through the production lines and was mis-stamped. Notice the long, flat line at the base of the stummel? And setting it next to my 2018 System Spigot, the SPD is a few mm wider and taller. After initially making this post, I contacted Josh Burgess who, thoughtful as ever, went and took a look. No, it was just my wishful thinking, he said, adding that there are three distinguuishing characteristics of the XL23:

1. The Lestrade is a larger pipe–both wider and rounder than the 302.
2. The Lestrade is more bottom heavy than the 302, with a pronounced taper as it moves up toward the rim.
3. The shank of the Lestrade is set at a much steeper angle than the shank of the 302.

You can see the differences Josh points out in this comparison chart I asked Charles Mundungus to whip up:

Charles speculates–and this is just Charles before morning coffee–that there is either some difference in the way the 02 bowls are sanded, or might in fact be two bowls, a 302a and a 302b, coming from different suppliers. The 302a seen above is what threw me–the back base of the stummel reminded me of an XL23. The shank angles are obviously different, but the wider, rounder, more bottom heavy design of the XL23 can also be seen. What I’m calling the 302b shape, seen on the Spigot System above, is the shape I’ve see on most of the 302 bowls in the current production lines of the past several years, although if you scroll through the Peterson pages at Smokingpipes, you’ll see a few of these 302a shapes. Charles also points out the shallower-longing crown, if you follow the red line from the Emerald 02 to the Spigot System.

Finish? Last year’s finish was green, as seems to have become de rigueur for the SPD releases, but this year’s is gloss (it was matte last year). And as usual, on some pieces you will see a bit more grain showing through than on others.

Stamps? On the stamping. Joshua Burgess is determined to return Peterson, as soon as possible, to all hand-stamped pipes, and here we go: the SPD 2019 has all the information a Pete Geek needs to date it. The obverse side of the bowl is stamped with the Peterson in script over OF DUBLIN in small caps, with the all-important SYSTEM stamp beneath.  The nickel band has the traditional Peterson’s nickel maker’s mark: K&P in caps over PETERSON in small caps (now if we could get the addition of the nickel-mount “faux-marks” of shamrock, wolf hound and round tower as a permanent feature).

The reverse stamp has the year—2019—over ST. PATRICK’S over DAY in caps. A no-prize if you can tell me how many years of the SPD had no date on them (no fair looking on the blog).

Mouthpiece? It’s the acrylic P-Lip I first came to love on the Next-Gen “picking stock” System from the IPCPR a few years back, which I also enjoy on a 312 Rogha System. It may not be the aesthetic equivalent of the great vulcanite P-Lips of yesteryear (before the mid-90s, anyway), but it actually performs just as well, in addition to having the benefit of no oxidation. It owes its excellence to the sharp shelving of the P-Lip.

The fit between mortise and mouthpiece on a System mouthpiece needs to be tight—that’s crucial for correct airflow in the System—and on the 301 and “302” / XL23 I’ve been given the opportunity to examine, the acrylic seems to cinch up pretty well, although it has a slight tendency to unseat itself that vulcanite doesn’t.

 

Mount? It’s a nickel mount, and yeah, I would’ve liked sterling, but I’m content. It’s not every day a new entry in the System line comes along (okay, there was the Spigot System last year). In fact, as the book documents, there have been about a half dozen or so special System lines–but I’ll leave that for the book.

Cost? Just a bit more than a Standard System–about $105 or so.

Caveat: This is probably the only time in Peterson’s history that we’ll see an SPD System. That being said, do yourself a favor and honor the System! What I mean is that Charles Peterson worked hard to figure out how to get the pipe smoker 1) less tongue bite, 2) a dry smoke and 3) an easy clench. Buy a P-Lip. Remember: it’s not a System without it, it’s just a poorly-functioning army-mount. I don’t have anything against army mounts, but if you want to smoke one, don’t buy a pipe with a reservoir! If you’re not familiar with them, you may sometimes think your Classic Range pipe has been bored with a reservoir when it hasn’t. Look at the following example of a System reservoir: notice the well descending below the draft hole. In a Classic Range, the bore will be there, but stops right below the air hole, making a flat shelf with a slight dimple in the middle, but it doesn’t continue down into the shadow region seen below.

Peterson makes a number of great army-mount lines. But the System reservoir only functions correctly with a graduated-bore P-Lip to remove moisture and lessen heat. If you push a fishtail on a System bowl, I guarantee you’ll get a hot, wet smoke.  In the words of Stan Lee, “Nuff said.”

With thanks to Joshua Burgess,
Peterson of Dublin,
and Laudisi Enterprises

 

 

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Richard Roberts
Richard Roberts
5 years ago

Thank you for this info, as usual. Sad to relate, about one half of one percent of smokers in Great Britain are pipe smokers. (I shall allow you a moment or two to recover). As a result, there are relatively few tobacconists of the old school; mostly they sell newspapers, cigarettes and rolling tobacco, with perquisites. I have been pleased to find a thriving pipe smoking community in the US of A, However, and at risk of a midnight visit from the Inquisition, I cannot really say that I like the trend toward pipes in various colours, vinyl mouthpieces and… Read more »

John H. Schantz Jr.
John H. Schantz Jr.
5 years ago
Reply to  Mark Irwin

I have noticed that a lot of my old, old, WDC pipes have vulcanite that is still nice and black. Most of them in fact are of what must be considered “high quality” vulcanite. It is great for a pipe restorer such as myself 🙂

Stephen
Stephen
5 years ago
Reply to  Mark Irwin

OK, Mark. I am not a pipe lore-master, but I did manage to pass organic chemistry a long time ago. Here are some facts, More can be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebonite What we know as vulcanite is obtained by treating natural rubber for a long time using a process called vulcanization. In the “industry” the term vulcanite is no longer used, but has been replaced by Ebonite. The amount of sulfur and the applied temperature and duration during the vulcanization process are the main variables that determine the properties of the polysulfide elastomer. The UV in daylight causes oxidation and exposure… Read more »

Jorgen Jensen
Jorgen Jensen
5 years ago

Good morning. Fine reading to the coffee. Thank you

Bob Cuccaro
Bob Cuccaro
5 years ago

Thank you for the explanation on the new series. I can’t wait to pick one up!

Bob Cuccaro
Bob Cuccaro
5 years ago
Reply to  Mark Irwin

I am getting the 302, and one of the online vendors had a deal on a rustic POY 2016. Will love to share my thoughts!

Jorgen Jensen
Jorgen Jensen
5 years ago

This is basisly our shape 02 Tom Palmer told me when he showed me a new for production Lestrade.

Jorgen Jensen
Jorgen Jensen
5 years ago
Reply to  Mark Irwin

The bowl was basisly ( spelled right ? ) he said, also before they started working on it.
I also have the prototype ? of the 1995 Christmaspipe for Danmark. The agent gave it to me with order not to smoke it in public as it have a rather large unfilled flaw. Otherwise it is a fine pipe. This one was basis for those who came on the market, they were smaller. 400 pieces as far as I remember.

DavidF
DavidF
5 years ago

I’ve been curious about something for a while now, but never had the opportunity to ask. I have several 05 Petes (one of my two favorite shapes, along with the B10). Last year, I acquired a 2018 SPD shape 305. I’ve compared that one to the 05s and I cannot discern any difference, inside or out. Yes, there’s the army mount on the SPD, but some of my 05s likewise have the army (eg Derry and Arklow). I looked now, just to be sure, and the 2018 SPD #305 is not stamped “system.” So, my question is: what is the… Read more »

DavidF
DavidF
5 years ago
Reply to  Mark Irwin

Yes, it’s definitely a 2018 SPD shape #305. It’s clearly stamped that way. Some e-retailers still have them displayed on their sites (even if most say “sold out”) so I know mine wasn’t some kind of mistake. Check your blog #75. I have the 31, 304, 305, 338, and (of course) B10 from 2018 SPD. I would be surprised if you aren’t companioning a 338, as I recall that’s one of your favorite shapes. My 305 does have a reservoir. At least the 2018 SPD does. The 2019 305 is on it’s way (hurray!) along with a 304 to keep… Read more »

DavidF
DavidF
5 years ago

It’s a bold move to have only system pipes for St Patrick’s Day. It might encourage some, especially collectors, to try a system pipe, who otherwise might never try one. I only hope it doesn’t backfire on them. By not offering even a single straight shape, they are excluding anyone who smokes only straight pipes. I have no idea what percentage of the population that might be, but I’m sure there must be some out there. They could have at least included the 31 straight system and still be consistent. I admit, I’m disappointed my beloved B10 wasn’t included this… Read more »

Bob Cuccaro
Bob Cuccaro
5 years ago
Reply to  Mark Irwin

Mark! Please tell me they will have a Christmas pipes or 2019!! My wife will divorce me for money, but I will at least keep my Petes.

Thomas Greene
Thomas Greene
5 years ago

Thanks for the news!
I noted that apparently no straight pipe is offered.
I’ve got enough bent and system pipes in my collection and now prefer straight pipes. I probably will hold off on buying this one.

John H. Schantz Jr.
John H. Schantz Jr.
5 years ago

Mark, I noticed your observation on the XL02/XL23 shapes and decided to look at the current inventory of (XL02) shapes on SmokingPIpes.com. It looks to me that there are several XL23 shapes intermixed across several of the Peterson lines. Also, I vote for a 120 System Straight Dublin. They could probably take a Great Explorers “Crean” and drill it for a system.

John Schantz
John Schantz
5 years ago
Reply to  Mark Irwin

Yes, my #31 has a really short bowl?

John Schantz
John Schantz
5 years ago
Reply to  Mark Irwin

The #31 I have looks to have a bone extension. I’m not sure if it is original, or how long Peterson used bone extensions in the #31?

Steven Hersey
Steven Hersey
5 years ago

Fine reading again. Thank you. Glad to hear someone else extolling the vulcanite as I can’t get on with acrylic stems too well. The grip just isn’t there, the material is too ‘glassy’ and the stem ends up sliding all round my teeth in an effort to get comfortable…a personal problem, you understand…the Petersons above are good looking pipes, the 301 in particular, but the colouring is an issue and I will not be investing, I think. This was fascinating reading. Thanks again.

Stephen Wilson
Stephen Wilson
5 years ago

Hello Mark, Thanks for the heads up. I went to smokingpipes at once to select a St. Patty’s Day pipe, but they had none listed. I went back at 1 p.m. and there they were! I ordered a 307 (p-lip, of course!) and it will be here tomorrow. Interestingly, they were almost completely out of stock of all Peterson tobaccos. I did pick up a pound of Sunset Breeze for cheap. I have found with the plastic stems that if I put one of the rubber sleeves on it I can clench it without breaking anything or scarring up the… Read more »

John H. Schantz Jr.
John H. Schantz Jr.
5 years ago

I just received my Peterson St. Patrick’s Day 2019 #313 today (a shape I did not have). I am a bit bummed out. It has the airway drilled at least an airway width off bowl center from shank to bowl. It still had green tinted wax/buffing compound jammed in the P-Lip, and in the shelf groove, also some in the airway. The bottom of the well was full of buffing compound as well. I would think they could at least give them a short blast of air to clear the compound. Some of the bowl coating chips fell out near… Read more »

John H. Schantz Jr.
John H. Schantz Jr.
5 years ago
Reply to  Mark Irwin

After mulling over my new St. Patrick’s #313 for awhile, I have decided that it is worth the time to return it. I am sending it back today. They have already set aside another and checked the drilling for me. I hope it has at least as good a piece of briar. This original has got some nice grain, albeit with a few fills, it’s just that drilling 🙁

Stephen
Stephen
5 years ago

John, I’m sorry you got a pipe in such poor condition. It sounds almost like it was moved to Shipping before it was ready. Can you go back to your dealer for a replacement?
I got my 307 on Friday and have smoked it four times without any problems. It looked just like the on-line photo at smokingpipes.com where I bought it.
I’m sure you have heard by now that the same company that owns smokingpipes.com recently purchased the Peterson pipe manufacturing business.

John Schantz
John Schantz
5 years ago
Reply to  Stephen

Thanks Stephen. I have heard that. Thanks for the info. I think this just happens to be one of those occasional “Lemon” pipes.

John H. Schantz Jr.
John H. Schantz Jr.
5 years ago

Thanks Mark, I’m sure if I tried I could return it to Smokingpipes.com, they have excellent customer service, Peterson as well. I had to send a brand new Pete Calabash that burned through the front of the bowl almost as soon as I lit it back to Peterson (I think it had an internal pit?). Peterson had no problems sending me a replacement, but international shipping and payment is kind of a hassle. I’m not sure it’s worth the trouble having to deal with this pipe. I have bought probably 25 or more new Peterson’s since I started this adventure… Read more »

John Schantz
John Schantz
5 years ago

Hmm, I just got an estate older Deluxe #53. It has the draft hole drilled off to the left almost as much as that 2019 St. Patrick’s #313 that I returned?. It is in great shape and still smokes good though.

John H. Schantz Jr.
John H. Schantz Jr.
5 years ago
Reply to  John Schantz

Out of curiosity, how can you tell it is a Deluxe in a film, does it have a very, very, closeup, or are there other cues? My pipe does not have a silver band. I think I have seen other “older” deluxe models without silver, but I don’t know for sure. My pipe is labeled Deluxe, and it does not look like it ever had a band on it? It has believe it may have been refinished? The stem does not fit smoothly from shank to stem. The shank still has it’s nomenclature and the shank does not taper as… Read more »

John Schantz
John Schantz
5 years ago
Reply to  Mark Irwin

I took some pictures of the Deluxe…upon very close inspection and scrutiny I think I may see a line where the band could have been, and possibly a very slight taper at the end of the shank. Shucks, it’s the second Deluxe I have that is missing the band. I really love both pipes though..the other is a #268. I originally bought the #53 thinking that it was a smaller pipe, the shape number was not very visible in the pics. It is quite a bit smaller than my other #53 though. I’m not sure how to send pics?

John Schantz
John Schantz
5 years ago
Reply to  Mark Irwin

Did you get the pics I sent?
The band on the Deluxe #268 looks factory to me? It has a diagonal O in a clipped corner square, silver date hallmark Y2000?

John Schantz
John Schantz
5 years ago
Reply to  John Schantz

Oh, also, the stem of the Deluxe #53 has threads in the tenon.

Joe
Joe
5 years ago

It’s a joy to read such enthusiasm for Peterson Pipes. I only own 4 pipes. They are all Peterson’s!

Robert
Robert
5 years ago

I am so glad I found this blog, and in time for the sales! So happy I was able to get a SPD System pipe on sale. Your blog convinced me on the purchase. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us, Mark.

John H. Schantz Jr.
John H. Schantz Jr.
5 years ago

Mark, Good News 🙂 I just received my replacement Pete #313 2019 SPD pipe. The draft hole is perfect, it was clean, it does not have any fills, just a couple very teenie, tiny, itsy, bitsy sand pits. The stamping is decent, not the strongest I have seen, but at least it is all present. Best of all…..(on top of no fills)…it is cut cross-grain almost perfectly right down the center, and very good birdseye on both flanks. I think this stummel could have been a higher grade pipe it’s so nice. Customer service at SmokingPipes.com is the greatest too.… Read more »

Stephen
Stephen
5 years ago

Mark, As mentioned above I received my St. Patrick’s pipe and began smoking it with no problems. All of a sudden, yesterday, a spot on the finish bubbled up and changed to a bright green. The pipe was not overheated and the rest of the finish is fine. I expect that to fix this I shall have to sand the area down to the wood with progressively finer grits, stain it green several times, then finish with carnuba. Do you happen to know which green stain will work best for this? Or, if this is not the correct process, what… Read more »

Stephen
Stephen
5 years ago
Reply to  Mark Irwin

Mark,
Thank you so much for your prompt and informative reply. I own about 20 Peterson pipes and rarely smoke anything else. As an engineer, I take it as a challenge to repair a pipe as pretty as the St. Pete’s. I have repaired several burn-throughs in the past with very good results. Now that I am retired I have plenty of time. I’ll let you know how it turns out.
Thanks again,
Stephen

Jeff
Jeff
4 years ago

I just picked up one of the 2019 SPD’s, the 307 large billiard. Haven’t yet smoked it, but it looks fantastic and it’s my first system pipe. The only question I have is about the inside of the chamber. I’m not a Peterson expert at all (I’m still breaking in an unstained Burren which is my first and only other Peterson), so I’m overall pretty unfamiliar with them. Here’s my question: on the 2019 SPD, is the inside of the chamber stained, or is it just pre-charred carbon of sorts? Thanks for all your info and expertise in the Peterson… Read more »

Jeff
Jeff
4 years ago

Thanks so much, Mark, that’s such helpful info! When you say ‘until quite recently,’ do you mean that the 2019 SPD’s still have the vegetable-oil based product, and since then there has been a newer treatment, or do the 2019 SPD’s have the newer treatment? Looking forward to the piece on the new coating! Keep up the great work.

Stephen
Stephen
4 years ago

Mark, what ever happened to the practice of treating a new pipe bowl with a very thin layer of honey? When I was getting started, I was told to put a small amount of honey on my little finger and rub it all over the inside of the bowl, let it sit for a few minutes then smoke the pipe slowly. The idea was that the honey will carmelize and “jump start” the caking process. I can’t remember ever actually tasting the honey, but this process worked for me.

John Schantz
John Schantz
4 years ago

Personally, I like a bare chamber in a new pipe. All of my new pipes with bare chambers have been the best initial smokes of any of my pipes…maybe I am weird. When I get a new pipe with a “coating”, I use a paper towel dampened in 180 Proof Grain Alcohol to remove as much as I can. One has to be very careful and only get alcohol on the inside of the bowl, otherwise it could/will strip the polished finish off of the pipe, the rim is especially vulnerable I look at bowl coatings the same as makeup… Read more »

Stephen
Stephen
4 years ago

My new St. Patrick’s Day pipe finish has failed completely. I removed the original finish and discovered that this is not simply a stained pipe. There is an white undercoating of some kind applied before the green stain. I applied the stain directly and got a very dark pipe which didn’t look anything like green. I removed it and contacted Peterson. They were nice enough to offer to trade me, even though removing the finish voided any warranty. It was really my fault, so I declined. I did learn, though, that most of these finishes fail to one degree or… Read more »

Stephen
Stephen
4 years ago
Reply to  Mark Irwin

I can send you some pictures if you tell me where to send them.
shw@satx.rr.com

Jim Yates
Jim Yates
2 years ago

Is it possible to still get a St. Patrick’s Day 2019 pipe? How? Where?