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Post by puffy on Mar 17, 2021 20:56:32 GMT -5
In a post a day or so I mentioned a smoke shop in Detroit that made spiral stems.I couldn't remember the shop's name.I just read a post by Silver in which he said that he has a Malaga pipe..That's the name of the shop..They also made pipes..It actually wasn't in Detroit.It was in a suburb called Royal Oak..11 mile road 3 miles from Detroit.I have no idea if it's still around.
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Post by simnettpratt on Mar 17, 2021 22:36:23 GMT -5
From pipedia.org: The Malaga Pipe Company was founded circa 1939 by George Khoubesser, (b.1892 d.1971), and located in Royal Oak, Michigan at 1406 East Eleven Mile road. The second generation owner's name was Emmanuel Khoubesser (b. 1942 d. 1981), who everyone knew him as "Manny". He was a big jovial man that was easy to converse with, always had a smile and a good joke to tell his very loyal customers. He had the ability to befriend anyone within minutes. The small store was packed with curious customers every Saturday morning looking for the latest design made earlier in the week. He also carried a full line of custom mixed tobaccos that you could sample and an array tobaccos in tins.  Manny passed away in 1981 and his wife and oldest children took over the business. Malaga closed in 1999 after 60 years in business. The building still exists on Eleven mile, looking almost like it did back then, but now houses the Michigan Toy Soldier Company. I would think the pipes Manny produced are now more valuable than ever. If you happen across one of these pipes, you'll know a little bit more about it's rich history. Enjoy! pipedia.org/wiki/Malaga_Pipe_Company |
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Post by Silver on Mar 17, 2021 22:43:17 GMT -5
In a post a day or so I mentioned a smoke shop in Detroit that made spiral stems.I couldn't remember the shop's name.I just read a post by Silver in which he said that he has a Malaga pipe..That's the name of the shop..They also made pipes..It actually wasn't in Detroit.It was in a suburb called Royal Oak..11 mile road 3 miles from Detroit.I have no idea if it's still around. Went out of business in the mid 90s, I think. I used to go there a lot for tobacco and cigars. I didn't buy my Malagas there (I wish I did), the big freehand I bought at another tobacco shop called The Briarworks (just down the street), who had a consignment cabinet. He was a carver at Malaga, and set out on his own. He told me he thought he actually carved the pipe and eventually came back to him via a customer who was trying to sell it. I have another Malaga a small pocket apple, couldn't be more different than the freehand. I bought it at a church yard sale.
Edit - after I posted my reply, I saw Larry and David's posts. Nice detective work! I was working from memory and I was only 4-5 years off. Not so bad, considering. I guess.
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Post by Silver on Mar 17, 2021 22:54:17 GMT -5
From pipedia.org: The Malaga Pipe Company was founded circa 1939 by George Khoubesser, (b.1892 d.1971), and located in Royal Oak, Michigan at 1406 East Eleven Mile road. The second generation owner's name was Emmanuel Khoubesser (b. 1942 d. 1981), who everyone knew him as "Manny". He was a big jovial man that was easy to converse with, always had a smile and a good joke to tell his very loyal customers. He had the ability to befriend anyone within minutes. The small store was packed with curious customers every Saturday morning looking for the latest design made earlier in the week. He also carried a full line of custom mixed tobaccos that you could sample and an array tobaccos in tins. Manny passed away in 1981 and his wife and oldest children took over the business. Malaga closed in 1999 after 60 years in business. The building still exists on Eleven mile, looking almost like it did back then, but now houses the Michigan Toy Soldier Company. I would think the pipes Manny produced are now more valuable than ever. If you happen across one of these pipes, you'll know a little bit more about it's rich history. Enjoy! pipedia.org/wiki/Malaga_Pipe_CompanyBTW - the Michigan Toy Soldier Company also went out of business. I think some sort of home improvement business is headquartered there now. Makes me a little sad whenever I drive by there. Nice work on tracking down the history. I remember going there in the late 80s/early 90s, it was kind of dimly lit and very quiet. Often, I'd be the only customer in the place. I don't know if they were producing pipes anymore. Their pipes were displayed in a series of showcases like a jewelry store. I think the prices were out of my budget back then. I'd buy a brand of cigars called Oro De Cuba. They tasted good (to me) and only cost a couple bucks each. I'd also buy a few of their house blend pipe tobaccos. This is where I started to experiment with English blends. |
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Post by simnettpratt on Mar 18, 2021 0:43:32 GMT -5
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Post by Silver on Mar 18, 2021 6:49:16 GMT -5
Cool, Where did you find that photo? Parking and entrance was in back, BTW.
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Post by trailboss on Mar 18, 2021 8:15:31 GMT -5
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Post by taiguy66 on Mar 18, 2021 11:18:54 GMT -5
Fellas, I sincerely mean this, THANK YOU for posting this thread! I’ve never been to this shop but reading your posts makes me appreciatie the few B&Ms left in my community. I’ve forgotten what it was like pre COVID where you could walk in, have a real conversation with the owner, sample a few blends, walk out with a purchase and with a big smile on my face. Cheers....😁🥃
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Post by trailboss on Mar 18, 2021 16:41:34 GMT -5
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Post by Silver on Mar 18, 2021 17:04:28 GMT -5
Charlie, Thanks for the link to Reborn Pipes Blog. The Malaga catalog and restoration blogs were a fun read. I think about my visits to Malaga from time to time, now I really miss the place. I'm going to keep an eye out for Malaga pipes to add to my collection. |
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Post by simnettpratt on Mar 18, 2021 17:18:54 GMT -5
Image was indeed from google maps street view. Sometimes you can get a newer pic from bing maps street view, but fewer streets are available. It's fun to look up some random foreign city and walk around the town and see how people live. When I flew to every country's capitol in Flight Simulator, I always walked around the city in street view, and picked a restaurant and hotel. For example, here's a downtown shot from Stavanger, Norway. Interesting little houses with not much of a view.  |
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Post by lestrout on Mar 18, 2021 17:42:51 GMT -5
President Gerald Ford was from MI and puffed Malagas. I've seen a few at shows. At the last New York one, pre-COVID, I fell across aone with a wide chamber, about 15/16" and a chinrester type stem. I don't know if the unusual bend was factory. Somehow it has become one of my best smokers.
hp
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Post by Silver on Mar 18, 2021 18:34:21 GMT -5
I guess it makes sense that President Ford smoked Malagas, maybe he received them as gifts, maybe Malaga sold pipes in shops in Grand Rapids, IDK. Glad that you're enjoying yours. The workshop space was small, as I recall. By the time I started smoking a pipe, I'm not even sure they were still making many pipes. As you can see in the photo, the place was pretty small. I'm definitely going to keep my eyes peeled for a few more. Not that I need more pipes, but more doing my part to preserve local history  (and have more pipes). |
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Post by Ronv69 on Mar 18, 2021 18:36:07 GMT -5
Image was indeed from google maps street view. Sometimes you can get a newer pic from bing maps street view, but fewer streets are available. It's fun to look up some random foreign city and walk around the town and see how people live. When I flew to every country's capitol in Flight Simulator, I always walked around the city in street view, and picked a restaurant and hotel. For example, here's a downtown shot from Stavanger, Norway. Interesting little houses with not much of a view. Yeah, Fr. Dr. Andre's church has a mounting step in front for getting on a horse. |
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Post by taiguy66 on Mar 18, 2021 18:51:38 GMT -5
Sadly no as I’m now residing north of the border (long story). Having said that, I do miss my southern residence. |
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(and have more pipes).
