It’s me again, I’ll keep this short,

Hope all is good, and this message finds you well.  As we are all aware February holds a special place in every pipe smokers’ heart. No, no not Valentine’s Day but, International Pipe Smoking Day a/k/a IPSD.     A day for all pipers to unite and raise their briars high in solidarity of this great hobby we all enjoy.

Our friends from the Fall River Chapter will be holding their regular meeting on the exact day Feb 20^th.  At the Old Fire House Smoke Shop. I am planning on visiting since we have not been there in a while. 

As for our group and anyone else who is interested, the Humidor in Cranston RI will be hosting an event to commemorate IPSD on Saturday February 22 from 1 to 4 p.m. There will be pizza and calzones as well as other goodies and plenty of liquid libation. The owners are also extending a 20% discount on all pipes and tobaccos purchased that day. I hope we have a great turn out and Jana and the crew are looking forward to seeing some old friends.

I am still working out the details but, we may have a special guest attending this month. All I can say is bring a few extra greenbacks as there may be some pipes to buy.

In honor of St. Valentines Day. This months Presidents raffle will be an extra ticket for all those who bring in a pipe that was bought for them by a significant other. (whether they know about it or not)

See you Tuesday,
Kevin

Norman Keith Collins, known popularly as Sailor Jerry, was a prominent American tattoo artist in Hawaii who was well known for his sailor tattoos. Collins was  also well know for smoking his pipe while tattooing. He often used a pipe because it allowed him to customize his tobacco blend. Not much information was found on the type of pipe and tobacco he smoked but I wouldn't be surprised if it was a Navy Flake.and his pipe looks to be fond of the Billiard or Canadian.

Collins was born on January 14, 1911 in Reno but grew up in Northern California. As a child he hopped freight trains across the country and learned tattooing from a man named "Big Mike" from Palmer, Alaska. Originally using the stick and poke method and working with whatever tools he could find, he would practice on anyone who would be willing to let him.

In the 1920s in Chicago Collins learned to use the tattoo gun from his mentor Gibbs "Tatts" Thomas and practiced his craft on real skin in the evenings at the morgue (so it is told). As Collins took hold of the cadavers arm, getting ready to tattoo, the corpse (not actually a corpse) sat up and scared the hell out of Collins and much to the delight of the others present.