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1. The Calabash Project
701TM -PITCHED
702TM -GIFTED
703TM -NFS
704TM: -NFS
706TM - NFS
707TM- PITCHED
708 -NFS
709TM
715TM
716TM
C 07270
C 14262
C 54611
C 63230
Folding your Pocketmod
Other News
Pipe 10: NOV06 -SOLD-
Pipe 11: DEC06 -NFS
Pipe 12: DEC06
Pipe 4: OCT06 -SOLD-
Pipe 5: NOV06 -SOLD-
Pipe 6: NOV06 -NFS
Pipe 7: NOV06 -SOLD-
Pipe 8: NOV06 -NFS
Pipe 9: NOV06 -SOLD-
Testimonials
Buy TM Pipes etc.
TM Pipes, The Shop
Contact
Thos. Martin
Shaping The Stummels
Sunday, 31 December 2006
The Raven
Topic: Other News

The Raven

[Edgar Allan Poe, First published in 1845]

horizontal space Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
`'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door -
Only this, and nothing more.'

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow; - vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow - sorrow for the lost Lenore -
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels named Lenore -
Nameless here for evermore.

And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating
`'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door -
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; -
This it is, and nothing more,'

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
`Sir,' said I, `or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you' - here I opened wide the door; -
Darkness there, and nothing more.

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before
But the silence was unbroken, and the darkness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, `Lenore!'
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, `Lenore!'
Merely this and nothing more.

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
`Surely,' said I, `surely that is something at my window lattice;
Let me see then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore -
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; -
'Tis the wind and nothing more!'

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore.
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door -
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door -
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
`Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,' I said, `art sure no craven.
Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the nightly shore -
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning - little relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door -
Bird or beast above the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
With such name as `Nevermore.'

But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only,
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing further then he uttered - not a feather then he fluttered -
Till I scarcely more than muttered `Other friends have flown before -
On the morrow will he leave me, as my hopes have flown before.'
Then the bird said, `Nevermore.'

Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
`Doubtless,' said I, `what it utters is its only stock and store,
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore -
Till the dirges of his hope that melancholy burden bore
Of "Never-nevermore."'

But the raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird and bust and door;
Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore -
What this grim, ungainly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore
Meant in croaking `Nevermore.'

This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o'er,
But whose velvet violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o'er,
She shall press, ah, nevermore!

Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.
`Wretch,' I cried, `thy God hath lent thee - by these angels he has sent thee
Respite - respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore!
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe, and forget this lost Lenore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

`Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! -
Whether tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted -
On this home by horror haunted - tell me truly, I implore -
Is there - is there balm in Gilead? - tell me - tell me, I implore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

`Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us - by that God we both adore -
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels named Lenore -
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden, whom the angels named Lenore?'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

`Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!' I shrieked upstarting -
`Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken! - quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted - nevermore!

Posted by thos.martin at 11:59 PM EST
Permalink
Mt Greylock

This pipe was carved overlooking Mt. Greylock, the tallest point in Massachusetts. 

There is a monument on top that locals swwear is a lighthouse! This monument, however, is dedicated to those who gave their lives in World War I. It has a great curving granite shaft sweeping 93 feet upward, cresting in a glass ball of light visible for 70 miles.

The inscription is carved in classical lettering, "they were faithful even unto death." Over time, a fortune has been spent to thwart leaks and crumbling mortar. Mt. Greylock's old shrine remains triumphant today, as enduring as the mountain native tribes once considered sacred.

As of January 1, it is not yet finished.


Posted by thos.martin at 6:15 PM EST
Updated: Monday, 1 January 2007 7:41 PM EST
Permalink
Saturday, 30 December 2006
Natural Bridge
Topic: 701TM -PITCHED

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This pipe is not finished but is already "spoken for." It was carved, by hand on the only marble bridge in North America. It is 15 feet thick and spans a distance of 30 feet across the chasm. The marble in the bridge was formed when limestone, a rock made of ocean sediments, was subjected to tremendous pressure and high temperatures during mountain building. The heat and pressure transformed the limestone into marble.

This is a favorite spot of mine. Romantic writer, Nathaniel Hawthorne, visited here in 1838 and recorded his experience about Hudson's Cave (or Falls) in An American Notebook "The cave makes a fresh impression on me every time I visit it ... so deep, so irregular, so gloomy, so stern."

Note: pipe 701TM is already "spoken for." I am smoking a 19th century boxwood pipe from China. It is carved with a dragon and sports a wooden stem. It seemed fitting to smoke it here... My dog was very scared, she doesn't like stairs let alone rocky gorges!


Posted by thos.martin at 5:27 PM EST
Updated: Monday, 1 January 2007 7:29 PM EST
Permalink
Friday, 29 December 2006
Pipe 12 he Blackfriar) progress, inside & out...

....Smoked before its finished, checking out the pre-carb. Stem is a mess as well. Smoked Great. Obviously, this pipe is mine.

Fissures in the sides made it unsalable. Rather than "pitch" it I think its best to fish it, experiment, and use it.

Why not?


Posted by thos.martin at 6:58 PM EST
Updated: Friday, 5 January 2007 5:33 PM EST
Permalink
Thursday, 28 December 2006
Gone to Berkshires!

...the holiday season continues with a trip to the Berkshires to visit to visit family and celebrate Christmas. Unfortunately there'll be no snowbaoarding as there is no snow. Its been even to warm to make artifial snow. Maye I'll be able to sit on the posrch and carve pipes 701TM and 702TM on the porch overlooking Mt Greylock.

 As you can see, I've spent part of my vacation getting them roughed-out so that I can bring them with me to handcarve my "blackrock" finish to them. 


Posted by thos.martin at 3:31 PM EST
Permalink
Wednesday, 27 December 2006
702TM begins...
Topic: 702TM -GIFTED
 

Please consider buying this pipe. It will be posted for sale at the TM Pipe Shop once complete. It will sell for only $50 USD or less.

Thank You!

Tom


Posted by thos.martin at 4:07 PM EST
Permalink
Tuesday, 26 December 2006
2007 Nomenclature & New Series
Topic: Other News

Pipes made in ‘07 will be stamped "TM," and come with a numbered certificate of authenticity: 701 through approximately 752. It seems that there is nothing entirely unique about this numbering system. “7” is for 2007, and the numbers thereafter represent the first through fifty-second (plus) pipes I will make this year.

What does make TM pipes collectable is that the serial number will correspond to the blog. You will forever be able to see and read about it on Shaping The Stummels, just reference 701TM or what have you...

Three series will be offered this year:

  1. The Raven Series: Feather light all black pipe, hand carved (Chisled- Black only). ($50)
  2. The Roman Lighthouse Series: Tall, almost forboding. Castlerock rusticated, burnished amber finish. (apx$75)
  3. The E-Series, stamped "TM E"are the higher end pipes (still modestly priced at $100 USD). Freehand plateauxs with the following finishes and colors
         Finish: Chisled (Natural or Black)
         Finish: Castlerock Rusticated (Burnished Amber only)
         Finish: Smoothstone (Natural or Brown) 
         Any combination of finish and there respective colors. . .

Finishes in order: Chisled, Castlerock, Smoothstone

 


Posted by thos.martin at 4:13 PM EST
Updated: Friday, 5 January 2007 6:19 PM EST
Permalink
Getting a jump on the '07 Pipes
Topic: 701TM -PITCHED

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pipe 701TM (and 702TM) are part of the "Raven" series sometimes refered to as the Blackfriar. Thse pipes will have the Blackrock finish: handcarved with knife, and stained balck; Raven black. You'll see I start the pipe on the drill press which my wife bought for me for Christmas.

Its hard getting used to new equpiment which mandates a new process, but its "all good." It already has made the two holes (chamber and draft) easier to drill. I decided to try a third hole whic will serve as a "stop cut" for where I believe to be the hardest joint on the pipe, because its a blind cut. You can not see the intersection until you remove the wood. I noticed on other forums, tha many new makers struggle with. This method helps, but of course you'll need to make sure the stop-hole is where you approxiamtely want the intersect to be.

Also something unique to me, is using the hole saw to shape the outside of the bowl, where the majority of makers use a lathe. I do own an antique treadle lathe not disimilar to what was used in Merrschuam Pipemaking. Mine is retrofitted with a motor, and I just dont like using it. Maybe someday. In the meantime My method is a more than adequate work around, sepecially for billiard variations. It serves well, also, in drilling a pilot hole for the tobacco chamber.

Please consider buying this pipe. It will be posted for sale at the TM Pipe Shop once complete. It will sell for $50 USD or less.

Thank You!

 


Posted by thos.martin at 12:01 AM EST
Updated: Wednesday, 27 December 2006 4:11 PM EST
Permalink
Monday, 25 December 2006
Merry Christmas!
Topic: Other News

Santa's workshop could use a guy like mine!



 


Posted by thos.martin at 4:49 PM EST
Permalink
Sunday, 24 December 2006
Good Tidings Sent to Belgium
Topic: Other News

Christmas package sent to my friends
of the Souverain Chapitre le Maître de Pipe in Belgium.


 


Posted by thos.martin at 4:37 PM EST
Updated: Sunday, 24 December 2006 4:48 PM EST
Permalink
Thursday, 21 December 2006
TM Pipes opens shop . . .
Topic: Other News

TM Pipes now offers online shopping.

Visit TM Pipes,The Shop now!


Posted by thos.martin at 8:34 PM EST
Permalink
Tuesday, 19 December 2006
The Blackfriar
Topic: Pipe 12: DEC06

    Pipe 12 of '06 is to be called
    The Blackfriar
 after the Roman Catholic
    friar wearing the black mantle of
    the Dominican order.


Posted by thos.martin at 11:04 AM EST
Updated: Thursday, 21 December 2006 6:45 PM EST
Permalink
Sunday, 17 December 2006
Sunday
Now Playing: Pats 40; Texans 7

Despite a pilgramage to Foxboro to see the Pats beat the Houston Texans, I was able to get my shop orders in for the first quarter of '07. I decided to go with Michael Parks of Parks Pipes for Briar. And, The Pipe Makers Emporium for the rest.


Posted by thos.martin at 8:35 AM EST
Updated: Thursday, 21 December 2006 6:45 PM EST
Permalink
Saturday, 16 December 2006
"The Banister"
Topic: Pipe 11: DEC06 -NFS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This pipe smokes better than any pipe i have ever smoked, including my $300 Ardor Fantasy. The double draw barrel is awesome! Too bad I couldn't sell this one.  ;)


Posted by thos.martin at 3:04 PM EST
Updated: Saturday, 16 December 2006 3:08 PM EST
Permalink
Corporate Downsizing?
Topic: Pipe 12: DEC06

This batch of wood is proving difficult in that it is soooo dry its hard and brittle. That equals cracking. This pipe has gotten small but it is similar to one of my favorites, an all black one i had in mind when I started. I'm calling it "The Blackfriar"  This will be a great sitting in traffic smoke.


Posted by thos.martin at 3:00 PM EST
Updated: Thursday, 21 December 2006 1:46 PM EST
Permalink
Wednesday, 13 December 2006
Last Pipe of 2006!
Topic: Pipe 12: DEC06


This is the last pipe of '06!

Fittingly the tobacco chamber is perfect as is the beginning of the bowl. This pipe will be a subtle refection of my Castle pipe, but effectively is being CARVED to showcase my Blackrock finish, one of three Thos.Martin finishes : Blackrock, Castlerock, and Smooth Stone. Stay tuned.

  After final  shaping with the coping saw, this pipe will be carved old school style: with a knife . . .


Posted by thos.martin at 8:10 PM EST
Updated: Wednesday, 13 December 2006 8:11 PM EST
Permalink
Tuesday, 12 December 2006

Seems the second I say, "this pipes not for sale," people want it. There have been three people wanting this pipe. I should have said I can't sell this pipe because ALL the issues have been worked ut, except for the fact the bowl is cracked!!!!

Therefore, I smoked this pipe and will keep smoking it forever... or until it blows up. Several suggestions for a name: Crack pipe, LibertyBowl, but I think I'll call it The Baluster. Here it is about three or four sanding steps before stain, polish, and wax.

 The car is my son's creation and tied for first place (3x's) in the shop class derby! A Coinserts into a hole in the back.

 Its fassssssssttttttt........ so's the pipe:


Posted by thos.martin at 7:43 PM EST
Updated: Wednesday, 13 December 2006 7:58 PM EST
Permalink
Monday, 11 December 2006
A Kaywoodie Holiday 2006
Topic: Other News

As some of you know (those people waiting for pipes), I took the weekend off to visit the Kaywoodie workshop in Peeskill, NY. I was honored to meet so many nice people in the pipe community and to rub elbows with several of the finest pipemakers in the World: Joe Skoda, Tim Hynick, Rolando Negoita, and Bill Feuerbach III-  Kaywoodie.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you all for the wisdom, advice, and support. A special thanks to Bill for the tour of the "factory," and to Tim for treating me as if a peer.


Posted by thos.martin at 7:01 PM EST
Updated: Monday, 11 December 2006 7:16 PM EST
Permalink
Testimonials
Topic: Testimonials
Wednesday, 14 March 2007

re the sleeve on pipe 708:   Very sharp! MP

Ontario, CANADA

February '07
"WOW!!! Just Wow!  SG New Mexico 
Dec 11, 2006 6:54 AM
Hello,
I just received the nice pipe with many thanks. First of all, I must tell you that I was very much impressed with the delicate shape of the pipe - although you said it was not "masterpiece"but a "study", I really love this nice delicate curving which fitted perfectly in my hand. I also love this smooth feeling, I even love the thinness of the stem which is softly touching on my lips. Good weight balance, yet it is stable when I put on the desk.
All in all, I was very much satisfied with this "masterpiece". In case you create the other one which you recognize as masterpiece, please let me know. I will certainly make a purchase of this.
Best wishes from Tokyo, Japan.
HK
Dec 3, 2006 8:39 PM
That's awesome. I'm always amazed at people with artistic ability... When you have time to work out the other one, I might still be interested in that one as well, so please do keep in touch. . .
CJR

Nov 16, 2006 7:24 PM

Tom,

Really appreciate your blog. reflection, and stage photos on pipe carving. Hope to refuel the pipe 5...wish i could have sent more.
KF

Posted by thos.martin at 6:34 PM EST
Updated: Sunday, 25 March 2007 5:02 PM EDT
Permalink
Wednesday, 6 December 2006
Of Disproportions & Broken Tenons
Now Playing: a Narrative
Topic: Pipe 11: DEC06 -NFS
  • I corrected the problem of disproportion by reducing the height of the bowl.
  • When working on where the shank meets the stem, I accidentally broke the tenon off the shank. I suppose now might be a good time to explain how to get the broken piece of tenon out off the mortis, especially if you do not have the special tool for the purpose. Find a sm. brad with a head diameter smaller than the draught hole. Hold the brad with a pair of pliers. Insert the head into the hole past the end of the broken tenon. Hook the end of the tenon with the edge of the head and pull the piece out. Backto the drawing board on the stem. . . Not as bad as it seems, but not tonight I have a headache...

 

Posted by thos.martin at 7:07 PM EST
Updated: Monday, 11 December 2006 6:33 PM EST
Permalink

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