Billiard Contest

[Sasquatch]

"Please DON'T post that info though...."

[Joe Hinkle Pipes]

Could we please have Kurt or Tyler remove those posts. Or original poster edit the entry.

[Alden]

Not a bad pipe in the bunch

[archaggelosmichail]

Great entries, but......where is mine?

[e Markle]

Great entries, but......where is mine?

I will post the comments that I receive from the judges on yours, but since you're outside North America you're not eligible for the contest - sorry! I'm interested in what the popular vote says is the winner for the contest so I didn't want to skew the numbers here by including pics of your pipe.

[d.huber]

If we submit our view points via PM, do we get to choose a pipe to take home after the winner is announced? I'm already eyeballing one of the entries...

[e Markle]

If we submit our view points via PM, do we get to choose a pipe to take home after the winner is announced? I'm already eyeballing one of the entries...

Well that's a good question. We were shooting for anonymity, but I think we all like selling pipes. If you PM me the pipe you're interested in I'll let the maker know? I think that would preserve both goals.

[Growley]

If we submit our view points via PM, do we get to choose a pipe to take home after the winner is announced? I'm already eyeballing one of the entries...

Well that's a good question. We were shooting for anonymity, but I think we all like selling pipes. If you PM me the pipe you're interested in I'll let the maker know? I think that would preserve both goals.

And if you could just take a slight percentage of the sale for your rightful commission, you could have just developed a whole new business strategy

[e Markle]

If we submit our view points via PM, do we get to choose a pipe to take home after the winner is announced? I'm already eyeballing one of the entries...

Well that's a good question. We were shooting for anonymity, but I think we all like selling pipes. If you PM me the pipe you're interested in I'll let the maker know? I think that would preserve both goals.

And if you could just take a slight percentage of the sale for your rightful commission, you could have just developed a whole new business strategy

I like it!

[Sasquatch]

Did I win or what?

[e Markle]

Did I win or what?

I thought we had already established that...

Hey All,
So sorry for the long wait on this. If I don't have responses from the remaining judges by this Sunday, I'll just post what I have so far and consider those the official stats. After that, I'll post info as I get it so you can review any commentary that may be provided. I would just like to close this out for those of you who have been waiting.

Thanks!

[andrew]

Did I win or what?

Of course you won ...

**Sas, don't ready any farther SPOILER ALERT***

Somebody get Sas a tissue before he finds out he didn't win the billiard contest

[e Markle]

OK All,
First off, thanks to all of you who submitted images. Each of the below pipes has some strong points, and they all show care and attention to detail. I will connect with the winner and get his loot sent out.

One of my purposes in hosting this friendly competition was for you to receive critique from some top-notch carvers that you don't have access to through the forum. So while there are several professional makers who offer very valuable opinions on PMF, I was hoping you'd be able to receive feedback from some outside sources. Two of the makers that I asked to judge have been busy, and they haven't had the time to compile their thoughts on your pieces yet. I'm sure you'll all want to hear what they have to say, but at the same time, I don't think it's fair for me to keep this ongoing for months. That being said, if/when I do receive comments from my other two sources, I'll post those here for your review. Two of the three judges stated that they thought that one pipe was the winner, so I'm declaring that the winner. Just in case it isn't clear, the comments pertain to the image above them.

Below are comments from Adam Davidson.

1st: #5
2nd: #6
3rd: #2 (because of the fantastic stem and accent craftsmanship and design)


1) Nice lines, but leaning too far forward for a classic Billiard. The stem fishtails gracefully, yet becomes parallel at the end instead of continuing the lines. While the accents are nice, such a nice pipe would benefit from using a single accent instead of a sandwiching of many.



2) Perhaps a little chunky of bowl - like a Pot - but still has nice qualities. The stem and accent are incredible! I don't believe I've ever seen a stem detail like that before. The highlight across the stem and shank also show how smooth the transition is. It's a shame the bowl needed a rustication belt, but it's a much better solution than simply digging into one spot.


3) Nice silhouette and proportions. I especially like the continued taper from bowl to button, though the last inch near the button appears more convex than expected. Perhaps the photo is throwing the lines off a bit. Otherwise, a nice old classic.


4) This is more of a Belge than a Billiard because the bottom half of the bowl is drawn back. While the color is nice, the highlights show a stem/shank junction that isn't uninterrupted. This is more obvious from the top photo, as well as the stem scratches, and the button is so small, it is nearly non-existent.


5) As best as I can tell in the photos, the stem length is equal to the bowl height; while the button to the saddle measurement is equal to the top of shank to rim measurement. Perfect Lovat proportions and just the right forward cant to the bowl. Add to this the lovely, soft cheeks and profile.


6) Resembling Castello better than most Castellos, this is off to a good start. I suppose this contest really isn't limited to any particular geographic definition of a Billiard, but this, again, resembles a nice Lovat. The proportions are nice and the blast (though not a make or break part of this contest) is fantastic. I especially like how the diameter of the shank continues all the way to the button.


7) The silhouette is nice, but the top and bottom view give away the preform stem. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but the pinched sides before the fishtail aren't as graceful as the side view. Still, the proportions of bowl to shank are closer than others and the bowl shape, itself, is reminiscent of nice, old, French pipes.


8.) A wonderfully proportioned Billiard. Buttons on small pipes look large, so I am guessing this is just a small pipe and my eyes are being fooled. The back line in relation to the top of the shank show a very slight forward lean, which is what makes this Billiard nicer than one that you could corner a brick with. Nice lines. Could have been better if the masked area on the shank was about half the size, but it looks almost like an accent as-is. Fantastic!


9) These pictures came through smaller than the others, so not as many details can be seen. The bowl looks nice for a chubby Billiard, though I can't tell how many accents are on the stem. The shape of the bowl would benefit from being canted forward just a hair and the saddle could be sharper instead of angled.


10) A Billiard should have a somewhat convex bowl, so this looks more like a Chimney or top half of a Poker. The button should be filed a bit sharper, but seems nice. Some wavy lines can be seen on the top of the shank and nearing the fishtail stem, as well. The fishtail seems fluid until the last inch. Stems tend to look better either fishtailed all the way to the end, or parallel.


11) This is a perfect Canadian, which should have a long, oval shank [check], short tapered stem [check] and perfect drilling [check]. Looking at this pipe for what it is (assuming this was a Canadian contest), I would voice concern about the band. Highlights in photos show how wavy lines can be and the last portion has some issues. Nice bowl, though.

[JonBood]

Well, congrats to no. 5! whom ever it might be

Really nice pipes all of you! Good work!

[grga]

Number 8 is the best, IMHO.

[EBK]

Thanks to Ernie and Adam for hosting and judging the contest! I know it is a lot of work and time to do this.

Congratulations to the 1st place pipe artist, It is a fantastic looking pipe!

Well I learned alot, so its back to the garage to practice!

[oklahoma red]

As the maker of the second place pipe (# 6), I want give Ernie and his cohorts a great big THANK YOU for doing this little exercise. I have made less than 10 pipes so far that could, by any stretch of the imagination, be considered keepers. I am trying to re-kindle a passion for making pipes that began back in the 70's but had to be abandoned due to the pressures of starting my own business in the aerospace industry. I'm learning a lot from my mistakes, this forum and the long-distance tutelage of Carsten Fischer in Bangkok who has been a HUGE help to me.
I am trying to block out some time to participate in Sas's Oom Paul challenge which should be a real ball buster. Thanks to all who contribute here on this forum.
Congratulations to the winner who ever you are!
Chas.

[Growley]

Congrats to those that won. Personally, #6 was my favorite. I just like that style.

I'll out myself and say that I made #4. It was my 4th pipe if I remember right, and I disliked it so much I went back and re-made it into this just so I could stand to look at it. Look somewhat familiar?



PS. It's easier to try your first rustication on a pipe you really don't like

[TRS]

I'm guilty of number 1. 5 is my favorite, glad to see it won; fond of 8 as well. Thanks Ernie, Adam and the others!

[andrew]

Thank you, Ernie and Adam (and whoever else will be providing feedback). I really do appreciate the comments and the time it has taken to put this together. I'm #2 .