WHEN ED KOPLIN, SR. PASSED AWAY IN 2007 AT THE AGE OF 97,
THE PIPE COLLECTING COMMUNITY LOST A COLORFUL CHARACTER
WHO WAS AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE PIPE BOOM OF THE 1960'S
AND 70'S. HE WAS KNOWN TO HAVE SKINNY DIPPED IN THE
REFLECTING POOL OF THE TAJ MAHAL AND HIS SANTA MONICA
STORE WAS FREQUENTED BY SUCH LUMINARIES AS GEORGE ALLEN,
BING CROSBY AND MARILYN MONROE. HE PERSONALLY MADE
16 PIPES FOR BING CROSBY. THE TWO KOPLIN PIPES ON THE SITE
WERE BOTH MADE FOR AND INSCRIBED TO MY CONSIGNOR, "JOCK,"
THIS ONE IN 1986. THIS BEAUTIFUL, STRAIGHT GRAINED POKER IS DELICATELY SHAPED.
THE STEM IS VULCANITE. THE PENCIL SHANK SEEMS IMPOSSIBLY
THIN. THERE'S AN LJ&S STERLING BAND ON THE SHANK WHICH
APPEARS TO BE ORIGINAL SINCE I'M UNABLE TO SEE ANY CRACK
IN THE MORTISE. THE RIM HAS JUST A TOUCH OF DARKENING.
NO OTHER ISSUES. THIS IS A RARE, VERY COLLECTIBLE PIECE.
DON'T MISS IT. Length - 8 Inches
Height - 2
Chamber - 15/16
Bowl - 1 3/8
Depth - 1 13/16
Weight - 1.4 ounces (28.3 grams/ounce) |
