The History of the Oom Paul shape
Fred Hanna's essay on the history of the Oom Paul shape
first appeared in The Pipe Collector, the newsletter of the
NASPC back in 2006. Click on "Oom
Paul history #1" in the menu to your left to read
Fred's fine investigative reporting.
Those who smoke pipes are, for the most part, kind and good
hearted. After reading Fred's essay on Paul Kruger, the
alleged namesake of the Oom Paul pipe shape, you may wonder
how he could have played a part in pipe lore at all. Actual
first time usage and coinage of the term Oom Paul are murky
at best, but in the following "histories", I hope you will
find some words that will make you think quite differently
each time you hear the term Oom Paul...please read "Oom
Paul history #2" and "Oom Paul history #3" each located in
the menu to your left.