Pulvers' Prior Briar
P.O. Box 61146
Palo Alto, CA  94306

Phone/Fax:
(650) 965-7403
Email:
mpulvers@aol.com
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Wed. Aug. 27,  2008
The contract has been signed for a pipe show in 2009 at
The Palace Station hotel in Las Vegas.  The dates for this
show are Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.  We may be able to put up an
informational web site.  It's over a year away, but save the
date.
Having a little room here, I'd like once again to tell those
of you who need stems replaced that Bear Briar in Santa
Rosa, Calif. is doing a superb job and doing it at a
reasonable price, and best of all, expeditiously...no
waiting for months for a new stem.  Tom will probably have
your pipe back well within two weeks.  I say all of this from
experience.  If you have to wait a bit longer than two
weeks it's because I loaded him up with a packed box of
bowls that I've accumulated over 30 years.  In other
words, do not tell him I sent you.  By now, he hates me and
will undoubtedly jump your work over mine.  I understand
my links aren't working well, but I've also been told that if
you hit one of the country buttons, and then go to "links"
it will work.  If you have a problem contact him, let me
know and I'll give you the e-mail address.
  Tom, at Bear Briar, also open up your pipes with less
than perfect draws.
I plan on putting up a few more pipes tonight before I get
too tired.  Try "Specials" first, if you're in the mood for
some good, low priced smokes.

Marty





For a more thorough understanding of the origins of this
site, some photos have been posted below.  I like them
and I'm going to make them a permanent part of the
collection.   
This photo was taken only days before my San Francisco store,
Sherlock's Haven was closed for good in June of '06, thereby
diminishing the quality of life on this planet no little and quite some.  
The man to my right was my trusty pipe tobacco and cigar taste-tester,
Johnson, of the sensitive palate.  He's still plying his trade at Telford's
in Mill Valley.  The tall gent behind him is Jimmy Walker, hand picked to
be my successor until lease negotiations broke down.  To my left is my
good friend and Consigliere, Steve Brunner.  Among the regulars are a
number who are still friends with whom I have regular intercourse.  
There has never been a more congenial spot than Sherlock's Haven,
the Camelot of tobacco stores.  As its proprietor is how I'd like to be
remembered.
I wanted to caption this photo, "I knew more about pipes when I was
seven than you know now," but my P.R. firm nixed that idea.  So, let's
try, "With the pristine palate that accompanies youth, Marty smokes a
blend without a full complement of Latakia for the first time in his life."
I don't actually know what was going through my mind at the time, but
the photo was taken circa 1949, and probably in Williamsburg, Virginia.
Shortly after my mother met my wife, she told Joy that all it took to
keep me happy in the back seat of our 1938 LaSalle during our annual
one week vacations was a pipe in my mouth and a cap on my head.  
Joy responded with the fact that nothing has changed except that now
I'm in the front seat.  
Above is my sister, with whom I contentiously shared that large back
seat, and my father.  The sweater was knitted by my Aunt Rae.  The
site was most probably Niagara Falls and the year 1949.  I'm guessing.
Welcome to Pulvers Briar
This website is devoted to pipes and my enjoyment of talking
about and showing them.  For your part, I hope you derive some
pleasure in seeing and reading about briar and meerschaum
pipes.
There are plenty of pipe websites and lots of good pipes other
than mine.  What will distinguish my site from most of the others
is the willingness to voice my  opinion in the relatively rare
occurrence when a pipe is not superior, or has a noticeable flaw.
Mostly, I'm pleased with the pipes I choose to offer for sale, both
in pipe quality and price.  But please, look and decide for
yourself.
You will see new and used pipes for sale, the new often having
been hand picked and the used always having been cleaned
and reconditioned and ready for you to smoke upon arrival.  
Please enjoy your time spent here today, and please come back
again.
I'm almost always happy to hear from you and to field your
questions, concerns, ideas or other input.
Feel free to write.
Marty Pulvers
The complete fool is half prophet.
~Proverb, (Yiddish)~

Think where man's glory most begins and ends, And
say my glory was I had such friends.
~William Butler Yeats~
A shop steward is at a convention in Paris and decides to visit a
brothel.  He asks the madam, "is this a union house?"
"No, it's not," she replies.
"So, how much do the girls earn?" the Steward asks.
"You pay me $100, the house gets $80 and the girl gets $20."
"That's crass exploitation!" the man says and stomps out.
Eventually, he finds a brothel where the madam says it's a union
house.
"If I pay you $100, how much does the girl get?" he asks.
"She gets $80."
"That's great?" he says, "I'd like Colette."
"I'm sure you would," says the madam, "but Therese here has
seniority."