In my quest to find pipes that I love to smoke and my customers love to buy, I have discovered a wonderful pipe maker that combines both. J. M. Boswell is a gifted man who has been crafting pipes over 20 years. Located in Central Pennsylvania, he has a simple philosophy; Create a good inexpensive pipe. His secrets to performing this task are a combination of factors. He knows how to select briar, he favors Grecian, and has developed sources to buy it. Also, he has assisted in developing a substance he coats the inner bowl with to promote caking. His pipes smoke cool and dry almost from the first bowl. My favorite saying about Boswell pipes is that I only have to sell one to a customer, after the first one they come back to buy more. Few, if any, of my customers only have one Boswell.

J.M.'s legacy has more to it than just himself. As with any success story, his family plays a big part. In years past his brother helped J.M. with production. In recent years, his son, Dan, has entered his father's domain to assist in keeping up with orders that now number over 4,000 every year.

Pipemaking is only part of the story for J.M. Along with his wife Gail, they have their own retail store that keeps the family very busy. Just having moved to a brand new location with the past year has increased sales in his own store 3 times. But true to his roots, he has not let that affect his pipemaking. Fortunately many Tinder Box stores now stock Boswell pipes. If you've never smoked one, there's at least one great treat left for you.

Get going!!!

Charlie Affeld