FgPipes.com
Title
Frank Genna Pipes briar smoking pipes
Description
Frank Genna built his first piece of furniture in 1970, using tools that had been left to him by his father. As a kid, in the 50's and 60's, he helped his father on all sorts of wood working projects. He says "my father introduced me to tools almost as soon as I could walk". "Over the years he instilled in me the importance of doing quality work". "I learned very early in life that if I was going to devote my time to a job that I had better do it right." These lessons have stayed with him through the years. He still enjoys working with wood, and the satisfaction of a job well done. In 1993 he started carving and quickly realized what a rewarding field it can be. After a few years, he decided to try his hand at making a pipe. After all, he thought, couldn't his years of discipline and attention to detail be put to use in creating a pipe of superior quality? He purchased some books on the finer points of pipe making, learning what the most critical points were to creating a pipe that would smoke well. Then he purchased a few pipe kits, as one last means of verifying how an experienced pipe maker would drill and align the smoke hole with the tobacco chamber. Each pipe that Frank Genna creates is hand crafted from start to finish by him personally. Every step in the process is given as much attention as is required to ensure that the finished product is the finest possible. Before starting each pipe, he may spend hours just studying the briar to decide how to take the best advantage of the characteristics of the block. When each pipe is done, he will study it in the sunlight looking for the slightest imperfection in the finish. I've seen him completely refinish a pipe that he felt wasn't perfect. He says it's not worth putting up with a flaw that can be corrected in a few hours. Mass production is not a goal of Frank's. He's satisfied to be a one man shop. At least for now. You see he has a five year old grandson (named Tony), and he's been teaching him how to use tools and work with wood. Tony is already calling it Frank & Tony Genna Pipes.
