Crud On or Crud Off?

[Mister Moo]

I am asked so many times, "Mister Moo! Do you think it's best we wipe the crud off our pipe rims or do think we should leave it there forevermore?"

It's always a hot topic in pipeworld - "Crud on or crud off?" For myself, I have moostly been a crud-on man but, to be honest, there are some rims that beg to be kept clean. Also, when a multiplicity of pipes are stored in a large pipe box, the constant handling, fondling and rearranging of pipes (by type, size or personal preference) can get tars and ashes gommed up all over the place.

To the best of my knowledge the pipe (and cruddy rims) predated cigars. As much as the cigar smoker is preoccupied wth cello and bands (on or off) it seems natural that the caring pipesmoker should constantly revisit, discuss and, perhaps, someday resolve the age old question, "Crud on or crud off?"