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The MandyPipe Story
The Backstory
Founded in Lebanon TN by Mike Stewart in 2013. The name is derived from the fact that my lovely wife Mandy is so incredibly supportive of the work.
I was doing corporate logistics and had my own law office in town. As you can imagine life was stressful. My father had always smoked a pipe and I took it up, relaxing on my patio in the evenings. Well one day my son twisted my arm into making a pipe myself.
I bought one of those pre-drilled kits from Steve Norse (who happens to be a great guy, awesome to deal with for supplies) and turned out a rudimentary classic Danish freehand shape. That was it, I was hooked on the working of briar. I had spent over 5 hours hand sanding that pipe, could not tell you what I thought of in that time, only that when I was doing it I was at a certain peace that comes from a simultaneously intensely focused and yet spotless mind.
Humble Beginnings
So I buy a few tools and go to work. A local tobacco shop Big Star Cigar in Mt Juliet was becoming a regular haunt for me, so naturally I went there to show off my first couple homemade pipes. The owner invited me to the 1st Annual Music City Pipe Show, sponsored by the Southern Fried Pipe Club. I sold a few pipes at that show (the first of which went to Mr. Dagner), and met Grant Batson, the man who would permanently change how I make pipes.
Amongst several rather sage comments while discussing the pipes I brought to the show, Grant asked me a question that will stick with me forever. He said 'Mike wouldn't you like to make a pipe that came out exactly the way you wanted it to?' After some proper training, trial and error, vast improvement, quite a few more pipes have sold.
Looking Forward
With my new shop in Charlotte NC, I finally have the facilities I needed to help me create pipes that are truly functional works of art. Above all else is my commitment to creations of quality and functionality, with a pleasing aesthetic- A Good Pipe.
What makes a 'Good Pipe?' Call me and we will have a conversation.
And yes Grant, I am definitely still having fun.
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