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May 24, 2013
Multimedia » Slideshows

Lewis Pipe & Tobacco

By
  • Satchell Mische-Richter
Feb. 08, 2012
Lewis Pipe and Tobacco has been family owned since 1969. Rich Lewis specializes in pipe making and repair and has been honing his skills over 40 years.
Rich Lewis and his son George work Wednesday afternoon at Lewis Pipe & Tobacco shop. Lewis has been making pipes for 40 years and has studied the art in both Italy and England.
George Lewis displays three pipes in different stages of completion. His father's pipes can sell for a few hundred dollars.
Rich Lewis shapes a pipe on a sanding wheel Wednesday afternoon in his shop.
Rich Lewis works on a new pipe by drilling a hole into a block of briar. Briar wood is often used in pipe making due to its natural resistance to fire.
One of Rich Lewis' earlier pipes sits on his workbench. Lewis says it can take him anywhere between 6 to 20 hours to finish a pipe.
Rich Lewis looks over his most recent work. It took Lewis only 30 minutes to reach this point in the process.
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