SMS Meerschaums knows that pricing is of concern to smoke shops and it has worked hard to ensure that retailers get pipes that are affordable. However, Samil believes that SMS has a responsibility to protect its carvers from the runaway Turkish inflation. Early on, the Sermets made the decision to pay their carvers and case makers based on the U.S. dollar. For perspective, they recall that in 1980, their first year, one U.S. dollar was equivalent to 78 Turkish lira; today that same $1 is worth a staggering 643,000 Turkish lira. At one time, Beth notes, she believed it would never go above 100,000 lira. Their carvers are paid in U.S. dollars and receive its equivalent in lira. Conversely, one famous Turkish carver for another importer and distributor complains that he hasn't received a raise for his U.S.-bound work in two decades, believing that his loyalty and work are not properly compensated.

Meerschaum Myths
SMS and other meerschaum pipe importers and distributors have had to fight misperceptions and myths about meerschaum itself. One of the misperceptions involves its supposed fragility - proffered as fact, not opinion - by one pipe writer describing meerschaum. Samil, holder of a master's degree in civil engineering from a Big Ten university, attests that the bowl of a meerschaum pipe is no more fragile than its briar counterpart. To prove his point, he once he took a block meerschaum bowl into his backyard. Armed with a baseball bat, he batted the bowl, with Mark McGuire-like intentions, 10 or 15 times. The result? Although the bowl was surely dented, as would a briar bowl, it didn't break or shatter. And while on a sales trip to southern U.S. smoke shops years ago, he bounced a bowl on the floors and counters to demonstrate its durability. Stems, shanks, and delicate carvings on pipes of nearly any material will give way to such abuse, but meerschaum is quite resilient, according to Samil.

Contrary to some notions, a meerschaum pipe cannot be smoked incessantly. Although this substance is far more absorbent than briar, it nonetheless can be overwhelmed when the same pipe is smoked repeatedly throughout the day. Tell your retail customers, say the Sermets, to give it a rest between smokes...and sell them another pipe! Just as meerschaum will dissolve in water, the insides of the shank and bowl will respond the same way to an excess amount of tobacco juices and saliva.

Samil and Beth constantly hear from folks who have been warned to never touch the outside of a meerschaum bowl or shank with one's fingers. Wrong again, the Sermets say. Instead, it is recommended that a new meerschaum pipe be held by the stem for perhaps the first half dozen bowls smoked, if the owner desires even coloring. (Meerschaum can darken quite beautifully, over time, as it's smoked.) Thereafter, feel free to handle the meerschaum as one would any other type of pipe - just don't hold the bowl in the same position while smoking, for lengthy periods of time. Special smoking gloves and the meerschaum antiquing compound sold by some companies are, they contend, completely unnecessary; oil from the hands can actually enhance, not hinder, the coloring process.

Why Stock Meerschaum?
A meerschaum pipe is, according to SMS, the ideal starter pipe for novice pipesmokers. A key reason given is that meerschaum's superior absorbency will help enable first-timers to smoke more of the tobacco without constant relighting, which often occurs especially when smoking sweet aromatic blends. A truer taste of tobacco is often acquired when smoked in a meerschaum. Also, burnouts of meerschaum pipes are rare. The first timer can smoke a true work of art which will, as mentioned above, become even more attractive as it changes from snow white, beige, tan to possibly even chocolate brown. And meerschaum pipes are lighter in weight than their comparable briar cousins, making them comfortable for the teeth.

The cost of meerschaum is quite reasonable; a small carved SMS with fitted case retails from $19 and up. Most current SMS retailers buy pipes that retail between $60 to $80. Eagle claws, sultans, and lion heads are among the company's top sellers. Approximately one-third of SMS's pipes are of the classic shapes found in briar, e.g., billiards, pokers, apples, et cetera. Collectors will appreciate the huge array of large figure heads, animals, mythical creatures, and freehands that SMS offers.

Three years ago, SMS teamed up with the Italian briar pipe firm Lorenzo. This veteran pipe manufacturer has developed a strong niche in the $25 to $50 retail market, although it does produce some pipes that sell upwards of $150. Also, Lorenzo produces a broad range of Lucite stems, sold through SMS. Sales of Lorenzo pipes have climbed roughly 30% in the past year. SMS stands behind its products. Every pipe is personally inspected by Beth at least three times prior to shipment. An excellent video, narrated and produced by the Sermets, describes meerschaum pipe production in Turkey and is a good training tool for smoke shop employees. The SMS Meerschaums motto for this twenty-year-old company is "Distinctive - Affordable - Collectable," or what Sermets describe as quality meerschaum pipes that are priced to sell, not loiter in the display case.

SMS Meerschaums / Lorenzo Briars, 1401 Summit Avenue Ames, IA 50010 Tel: (515) 232-2599, Fax: (515) 233-2002.

Jim Lawson can be reached via email at j.lawson@smokeshopmag.com