Friendship Brotherhood - "The most!"

Greetings to all..

Friendship is the main word that lead the Saloon's Spirit.

"Saloon" or "The Saloon" stands for ## International Smoking Saloon ## as you already know...

The Saloon begun based on this "Character Element" and we want to keep it like that.

It's simply great to see that each new Saloon's member quickly get the spirit and its integrate on this huge brotherhood.

As you all should have notice we are a group of friends from all over the world..

( We are at the moment 1.727 Saloon's Official members that we call Friends.)

 ...for that reason we call to the new project "The Saloon's Universe",

Saloon's members, sorry, Saloon's Friends are from differents countries as:

 from Brazil to Denmark, from Argentina to Norway, China to South Africa, Germany to Portugal, from USA to Indonesia, From Mexico to France, from Pakistan to Australia, France to Canada, just to mention some of the countries (and sorry friends if I don0t mention directly your contry)...

The Saloon's doors are always open to friends..

Saloon never "sleeps"..and there's always someone to welcome you, or to give you a "word" when you need..always someone present when you need an advice, always a friend waiting to share some info with you,....
As we have friends from all over the world, different timetables are apllied...

when a friend is going to work, other one is going to rest, when you lunch maybe someone is having dinner...nevertheless at all time, the feeling a full house, a room with many people a place where you will find a friend, is always present...

This is the spirit of the Saloon..

real friendship brotherhood, living like that and behave like that as well,..

as prove of that we achieve a some important goals that we think that are very important to keep the spirit of this huge friendship brotherhood..

We made the ISS Pipe 2011.

A handmade pipe, marked with # ISS 2011 (Nº) each friend that want a piece has his own number..

So with that we know that in the world we have some pipes that are UNIQUES...

that we have them...That was a great achievmente

Each pipe is like a symbol of pure friendship...

By the way we are preparing the ISS Pipe 2012..

And at the moment, I just receaved the news that we are alreeady 50 friends which are on the list to have the ISS Pipe 2012....Good achievement so far...

We made  the "1st ISS Official Meeting"  it was the first one and we join in Denmark last March.

At this meeting  we join friends from Czech Republic, Portugal, Denmark, Germany and Austria...

This was more than a Official meeting, this was a pure meeting between friends..

We were there (in Denmark) as we know eachother in life from long time....or I can say, since ever...

Great prove of our Friendship Brotherhood.

Moments like this we will want to be present in the Saloon's spirit...for now, and forever...

We always read at the Saloon's universe symbols of JOY, but we could see and we can have that moments always present.

We will prepare the next one and we will be more friends from more Countries for sure...

We can see moments of friendship at each moment within the Saloon.

From the single asking question and a answer appears, to other dimentions...as.."Help"..

We helped a specific friend when needed.

We support his Cause..It was a desease issue...

We were and we will be always with the ones who need something, if we can,,we will do something...

We "help" Nations as Japan when the Tsunami hits that country..

well....

This is the reason I am here writing this humble words...

These are release of words but are deeply words with "high grade" feelings..

As you all know me...I talk the true and you also know it...

in resume...

we have more plans to The Saloon, we are growing....and Growing...but...

we want to grow with as many friends as we can,.,.....we don't want NUMBERS..we want......

....Human Beings

That's what we are..

we stand for Human Values,

Character Values...

We are The Saloon and you are all very welcome....

If you want to take part of this Friendship Brotherhood, or if you want to be part of the

Saloon's Universe...just say, just contact...and you will be very welcome.

Please accept this humble invitation, cross the doors and Enjoy the Saloon's Universe!

http://www.internationalsmokingsaloon.com/home

I Will take advance of these lines and send a BIG Thanks to all Saloon's Friends.

Cordial Thanks for everything.

Let's Keep the spirit

The Host, Myself..Me.

Warm up - ISS Pipe 2012

Greetings to all !.

As you already know, at the Saloon we had to create one symbol of our friendship brotherhood.

For that reason on 2011 we prepared the ISS pipe 2011 that was a really sucess.

As a goal and as all members were very happy we decide to keep with the same GOAL for this year as well.

As it was announced yesterday the pipe that will be the ISS PIPE 2012, I will comment the way we come to that decision.

We ask within the Saloon, to pipe makers, which of them wants to participate in this project.

We created a document, some pipe makers add the name and the proposal pipe and we had a tuff and hard task to elect THE ONE.

When we decide in Majority, the elected pipe maker was suppouse to be Georgi Todorov and a prototype was send for one of the members of the Saloon who had the task to test, taste and try it at any ways and circustances. :)

The Man is FRITZ SCHROTER.

He tested and comment the process,

Next words and comments are from him.

I take the opportunity to send him a great THANKs for all work he had until we finnaly decide to this pipe.

Also a Big Hug of Pure Friendship to Georgi Todorov and to all "Round Table" friends!

So, let's read about the ISS PIPE 2012 - "The CONUS" final report.

---------------- // -----------------

Final report after 10 smokes and hard testing the „Conus“.

Dear friends of the “round table”!

First, you must know, that I´m usually a fan of the classic shapes and at the beginning of our discussion for the ISS pipe 2012, my vote was going more to another pipe maker.
But after the proposal, that Georgi would make a “test pipe”, it was finally me, who was “elected” to test it.

Now I want to give you my experiences:

After opening the parcel, it was a great surprise, what I could hold in my hands.
It was a really well handcrafted pipe of a new design and a system, I never saw before.

(The first photo shows the brand new pipe on my desk)

I was very

curious of course and took apart the whole pieces. Now I understood the system!
(Second photo)

But I wondered what function the little metal button on the opposite side of the mouthpiece had? I took it away, also the mouthpiece – and now it was clear! You can use this pipe in a changeable shape (Photo 3)

In my opinion, that´s a very nice idea of Georgi and the little chain protects from loosing this button and it looks very nice, too J

Well, after analyzing, it was time for the first smoke!

Even though, it was my part, to test this pipe hard, I wanted to treat it right and as all my new pipes I smoked the first bowls very slowly and with a neutral Virginia Mixture.

Already during the first bowl, I ´ve found a very dry and cool smoke! The taste was good, too, but this fact I wanted to vote after some more bowls, because first the coal layer has to increase

After some bowls with the VA Mixture, I wanted to test, whether the pipe will keep “dry”, when smoking a flake tobacco, of whom I know, that it makes a lot of condensate.
The result was the same – an absolute dry smoke - and where the condensate stays, you can see on photo N° 4.

All moisture collects in the concave bottom!

At this point I want to tell you my doubts, that the Calabash System could have a problem, with getting a bad taste time by time, because the condensate collects in the cooling chamber.

Dear friends, in this case and to provoke it, I treated the pipe during 5 bowls very bad (with full intention!) and let it on the table without cleaning it until the next smoke.

Before the next smoke I took apart the pipe, wiped the bottom cap and the cooling chamber with a kitchen paper with alcohol – and the result: No bad taste and absolute clean!
BTW:  This is the easiest “clean up pipe” I know until now!
See Photo N°5

Well, the “facts” were tested and finally I want to know, whether the “Conus” will stand the comparison with my best briar or Meerschaum pipes and filled it for 9^th and 10^th bowl with MOB N° 43, which I like very much and which has an incredible fine taste.
Result: The “Conus” stand it and the taste was as good as in my favourite pipes!

Well dear friends, what will finally be my vote?

In my opinion, the “Conus” is a very well handycrafted pipe, with a well thought out “system” and will bring a good, cool and dry smoke and I´ve found absolutely no fault during the ten smokes.

At last the shape?

The shape is always a thing of personal taste and nevertheless I will remain faithfully to the classic shapes, I find the shape of the “Conus” very unique (especially the possibility to change it) and during the last weeks I began to love it J

Now it´s your turn to vote yes or no ?

Please comment and give your vote!
Best regards
Fritz

---------------- // -----------------

Well these were the words of a great friend Fritz who express a "pure and clear" explanation about the tests he made.
We all had give opinions, and the decision were taken,
It's Official , "The CONUS" from Georgi Todorov it wil be the ISS PIPE 2012

Pipe Workshop - Deep into Antonio's Atelier

Greetings to all!

I had the privilege to visit Antonio Monteiro's Atelier.

First of all a big Thanks to Antonio Monteiro that received me on his Atelier with all patience and time to deep explain his way of doing his pipes.

On this humble report i just want to express how gratificante is for a commun pipe smoker to learn how everything is made during the elaboration's process until the final result of a pipe.






Woods, machinery, tools, cleaners  ...
... all of them has to be present on the atelier and always ready to work...

[In real true I think that one of these blocks will be prepared for the next piece :) ]

When the moment arrives, imagination and the Art of the pipe maker will take place.

António always make free-hand pipes. As he use to say, he has no pre-designed shapes, he thinks on something and the process begins.







Each pipe is a pipe and it's specific prepared and worked until the final result where Antonio always wants that "Elegance","Details" and "Style" are present ...

Machinery helps, but in real true tools and figgers are the most on these free-hands pipes.

Limes, punches, sanders and other parts are essential auxiliaries meticulous manual work that Antonio strives to each piece ..

From the very begining, when the block of wood is prepared, to the real final, when the pipe is clean to be expose to the public, all details has to be considerated...

the cleanning process (polishing "pulling the brightness" is one of the moments) it's very important,.

As we all know....our eyes are the firsts to demand the "order"to the brain...

[António Polishing one of my pipes to explain me the process]

At the end of the day with so many details we could appreciate his last pierce ...

it's a poker,.....but with so many details...such elegancy ...this one:

Well ... indeed..This Portuguese pipe maker has great pieces, cool pipes, with elegance, glamour, details and style....


Thanks for read this humble lines that are only a expression of gratitude for the friendship showed by a pipe maker who opens the doors of his Atelier and explained your process...
Thanks
And please take a look on the Saloon's Universe at António Monteiro's BOX

[Click on the image]

ISS Pipe 2012

Greetings to all

Once more we achieved one GOAL on the Saloon.

The ISS pipe 2012 was Official comunicated.

It will be "The CONUS" from Georgi Todorov.

This pipe will be for sure a great piece...memorable as well....

everytime that we get this piece to smoke we will remember the friendship brotherhood that exist amoung the Saloon.

That's for sure...

I could write a few words about this pipe...but for now I will recommend to check this great video made by our friend Fritz Schroter.

Just seat back, prepare your smoke, click at the image and relax..

(...this was just one of the testing days scenarios...)

Now that you've seen the video presentation...stay focus...

A big review, with all details about the tests maded, specific topics about the pipe will be post next days...

for now...just enjoy the video..and the message...

If you are intrested in have on of those exclusive pieces, just visit us at the Saloon's Event and follow the instructions..

Thanks for all support, cordial regards and good smokes.