Imperial Tobacco Collection
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  • Display Figures (6)
  • Ashtrays (438)
    • A- ABDULLA, AFTON, ADKINS, ALLEN (Richmond Gem), ANSTIE,
    • ARDATH-Ardath-State Express-333, 555, 777
    • BRYANT & MAY, BLUES, SWAN VESTA
    • CARRERAS-Craven A, Dunhill, Kensitas, Picaddilly, Turf
    • OGDEN'S- (Robin, St. Bruno, St. Julien, Guinea Gold)
    • C- CAVENDERS ( Army Club), CHURCHMAN, COPES, JOHN COTTON, CWS
    • DAVIDOFF, DE RESZKE & DOBIES
    • ENGLAND'S GLORY, EDWRDS RINGER
    • FRANKLYN'S & FAULKNER
    • GALLAHERS- Ariel, B&H, Cadets, du-Maurier, Nelson, Olivier, Park Drive, Senior Service, Silk Cut, Sterling
    • GREYS, HILLS, LAMBERT & BUTLER, MARCELLA, MITCHELLS, MARCOVITCH PARLIMENT
    • PLAYER'S-(Anchor, Bachelor, Country Life, Clipper, Gold Leaf, JPS, Navy cut, Player's Please, Player's, Vanguard, Weights)
    • ROTHMANS, STUYVESANT, SALMON & GLUCKSTEIN ,TEOFANI, WESTMINSTER, WINTERMANNS
    • WILLS'S-(Star, Capstan, Gold flake, Woodbine, Bristol, Embassy, Castella, Strand, Virginia, etc.)
  • Dominoes-Sets & Singles (35)
  • Cribbage Boards (86)
  • Jugs, Mugs & Tankards (82)
  • Change & Drinks Trays (68)
  • Mirrors (17)
  • Single Playing Cards (591)
    • Player's
    • Wills's
    • Carraras - CravenA, Dunhill, Kensitas, Turf
    • Ardath - State Express
    • All Other Brands
  • Beermats (154)
  • Tins & Boxes (32)
  • Park Drive-Cigarette Case-Football Clubs (26)
  • Fixture Cards (24)
  • Bowls, Club & Whist Cards (56)
  • Matchbooks (48)
  • Paper Weights (7)
  • Matchbox Covers (6)
  • JPS (John Player Special) (25)
  • Toys & Games (124)
  • Paper/Card/Metal Adverts (21)
  • Misc Items (87)
  • WWII Soldiers in India (1)

A Collection of Cigarette & Tobacco Advertising hardware
- Mostly issued  by
​the Imperial Tobacco company (ITC)

(Period 1920-2000)

ITC History

Three's company....

14/2/2016

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Wills's advertising people seemed to have liked producing ashtrays in threes!
Here are six sets, all from Wills's. Each set of three is the same size and pattern and made from the same material.
If you know of any additional items that match any of the sets please let me know.

1. Glass ashtrays with cigarette rests on the four corners. Measuring 106mm square and 37mm high. All printing is on the inside. ITC numbers 9963, 9964 and 9965. All from circa 1935. These are not particularly rare and do come up for sale quite often.

2. Frosted glass ashtrays with cigarette rests on the four corners. Measuring 129mm square by 40mm deep. Main printing on the outside. ITC numbers only on inside. ITC numbers 11423, 11424 and 11425. All circa 1938. Rarely, if ever seen for sale.
​

3. Ceramic ashtrays with three cigarette rests. All the same base colour, cream. Measuring 140mm diameter by 35mm high. ITC number and Made in England printed on base. ITC numbers 12369A, 12963B and 12963C from circa 1939. Can still be found for sale.

4. Plaster/chalk ashtrays with beige/brown mottled outer surface and two cigarette rest. Measuring 160 x 105 x 35mm. These have ITC number ink stamped on base. ITC numbers 13821, 13822 & 13823 (I think as not on Woodbine ashtray) Circa 1948. Can still be found for sale.

5. Clear glass ashtrays with two cigarette rests. All printing on the outside including ITC number. Measuring 127mm diameter by 27mm high these are commonly still found for sale. ITC numbers 14161, 14162 and 14163. Circa 1950.

6. Clear glass ashtray, with outer frosted band on which the text and ITC number is printed. Measuring 136mm diameter by 40mm high these have a central bar with four cigarette rests. They are more substantial than those at 4. above. ITC numbers 15999, 16000 and 16001. Circa 1954. These can still be be found for sale.

and for the gardeners amongst you......here are February's list of tasks to do in the garden.
Not forgetting the important last paragraph....
​
'Before starting work in the garden see that your pipe is well and truly filled as the state of the soil at this time of the year will soon make your hands unfit to go often to your pockets for pouch or matches - and your pipe is a good companion.'
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In the beginning.........

6/2/2016

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Have now added some 1300 images of cigarette/tobacco advertising, on a variety of products, that were a common sight in everyday British life in the 20th century....please feel free to take a look.

We will not see the likes of such product on our shores again!
​
Many will say 'a good thing too'. However after collecting these items for the past 30 years I have been  intrigued by the vast variation and inventiveness of form given to such simple product. Many items are a small work of art in there own right...well I think so.


Take for example this simple Player's clear glass ashtray...just 5 inches (125mm) in diameter ...the portrait of Hero seems to have been reverse wheel cut, not moulded, on the underneath... surely craftsmanship worthy of lalique?

​Or the simple elegance of this square Woodbine glass ashtray from 1935. With identical slogan on all four sides and finished in a deep green. (I do like green!)
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Take this simple water jug from Player's... a unique form, among other jugs, in cream glaze with royal blue banding and finished off with the red 'Player's Please' script  and Hero lifebuoy. c.1936
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The craftsman of yesteryear were great at producing functional product with a simple elegance.
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I don't expect many, if any, to agree with my views on the craftsmanship of the simple products shown on this site. However if you would like to leave a comment please do so.
(I have never smoked...so have no views on the virtues or vices of smoking)
​
I will be adding more data to the images as time permits and posting some more blogs with information about items shown and the Imperial Tobacco Company and its products.​​ 
And finally...for now.  But what about this for a piece of plastic art!
​Well its actually Bakelite (fore runner of the plastics we now know). At some 12 x 12 inches (300 x 300mm) the hands are driven by a small mains electric motor.​
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Surely an icon of the advertising art of the 20th century!
​
That's me on the left!
You know who on the right!​

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If you have an image of a related product to add, please get in touch. Thanks.
​Mike 
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    Last update

    10 Dec 2020 - Bowls Scorecard added
    2 October 2020 - Ringers A1 advert, Wills Whist card & Players Please menu added.
    13 June 2020 - added Marcovitch paper weight
    4 June 2020- Robin ashtray added.
    13 May 2020 - Juggler tin, gold Wills's gold flake menu holder and State Express tape measure added.
    18 April 2020- Capstan ashtray and Players please whist card added.
    12 April 2020- Fixture card & Whist card added.
    ​27 March 2020 - Salmon & Gluckstein ashtray added.
    24 March 2020 - Murray's whist card, Senior Service ashtray & Oldham Athletic Park Drive case added.

    Author

    Mike
    ​Owner of a box room filled with all the things my wife will throw away when I am gone...including me!
    ​Plus more 'toys' in the garage!

    My Austin 101 van
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