Upright cans made of glass and cardboard were used as early as the 1850’s but I have yet to see a tin can from the 1800’s. That doesn’t mean there aren’t any, but they certainly aren’t common. This exhibit is a selection from my collection of 20th century upright cans with the advertising and legal copy printed directly on the tin. You’ll find other cans scattered in other exhibits throughout the Museum. Cans with paper labels can be seen in a separate exhibit. How cans and boxes are made is a topic eventually covered elsewhere.
The exhibit begins with a summary of the different types of cans and ends with snapshots of the fabulous cigar tin collection of Jeff Lehr.
Tin Cans
A National Cigar Museum Exhibit
© Tony Hyman
Standard round cans printed on tin with undecorated slip lids. Stogie and panatela cans are typically an inch taller than cigar cans. Stogies are not made the same way as cigars. Panatelas are.
[9193]
Standard size but rare brand 50/up with paper label, paper label 25/up with key-to-open vacuum pack lid missing, and 10/up litho on tin with decorated lid.
[9194]
Square 25/up and 50/up slip tops litho on tin.
The IGA was a custom brand for the grocery chain.
[9192]
Rectangular hinged 25/up paper label and
oval hinged 50/up litho on tin.
Printed lids were an extra expense and used judiciously in this cost conscious industry.
[9191]
A 10/up oval slip top, 12/up rectangular slip top and a 25/up hinged rectangle, all litho on tin.
Of these, ELIMINATOR is by far the
most rare brand and box shape.
[3004]
How cigars are packed in a 50/up can.
Frequently, one cigar will have a pull tab
of some sort to facilitate removal of the 1st cigar.
[3003]
Hand fabricated brass device that compresses cigars slightly so they will fit inside cans of various sizes. Probably used 1910-1940.
[3005]
“Push” used to push cigars from the
brass device into the can.
[3006]
The law was very strict regarding ID on tin boxes and cans. It must be stamped into the metal. It’s rare to find a CN and ID not agree. Both factories were owned by the same company, probably using up pieces from old stock. [3065]
The Lindbergh flight.
Fact. 1532, 1st PA c1929
[3012]
Used by Kipp Cigar Co., Fact. 94, Hastings.
Nebraska’s biggest cigar maker. 1918.
[3013]
Joseph Weinreich, Dayton Fact. 495, 1st OH
For: J.S. Brown Mercantile Co., Denver,
a town with a big contingent of Yalies. 1922.
[3016]
Cigars: W.H. Snyder & Sons, Fact. 752, 1st PA
Tin by Federal Tin Co., Baltimore. 1925.
Same design as on the box.
[3015]
Cigars: W.H. Snyder & Sons, Fact. 875, 1st PA
Perkasie, PA 1925.
Tin maker not indicated. [3020]
Check out other brands with fishing themes.
Unique inset lid on this box originally from
the sample room at Tindeco, Baltimore.
Obtained with the help of Dennis and George.
Can made originally for Fact. 5, 3rd NY City.
[3017]
Cigars: Fleck Cigar Co., Fact. 77, 1st Reading PA
Tin: Liberty Can. Printed lid. Delicate colors make this one of the all around best printing jobs
Liberty ever did. In my opinion. 1920’s.
[3018]
Cigars by Antonio Roig & Langsdorf, Fact. 872,
1st PA Philadelphia 1920’s.
Tin: Another nice job by Liberty Can. [3022]
Check out other brands named after famous men.
Halpern Cigar Co. Fact 1542, 1st PA
Philadelphia 1920’s. Tin by Liberty Can. [3023]
Check out other brands named after famous men.
Not pictorial, but distinctive. Shouldn’t it
be Los Contentos?
[10243]
The back. Minimalist all the way.
A rare tin. Fact. 311, 2nd Dist NYC. c1910.
[10244]
Swisher & Sons, Fact 110 Jacksonville FL
Tin maker unidentified, 1931 [3024]
Visit the exhibit of brands named after famous men. Visit the exhibit of other brands from Florida.
Visit the John H. Swisher Exhibit.
Progressive Cigar Corp, Fact. 1501, 1st PA
Philadelphia 1918
Tin by Ritter Can Co., Philadelphia [3014]
Visit the exhibit of theatrical brands of cigar.
Fact. 775, 1st District Illinois.
Can by Heekin Can Co, Cincinnati 1916
Distinctive design make this a personal favorite.
Visit the Stogie Story exhibit.
Thomas Colburn, Fact 8, 11th Ohio
Cincinnati 1918 A seldom seen tin
from one of the great stogie centers. [8171]
Visit the Stogie Story exhibit.
One color, but the design stands out
on a shelf. Isn’t that the point?
Fact 216, 18th Ohio Bethesda 1917.
Tin by Heekin Can Co. Cincinnati
[3019]
General Cigar Co. brand inherited from United Cigar Mfr., Fact. 16, 9th PA (York) c1920
A rare can.
[3026]
Fact. 1000, 2nd New York City 1922.
Tin cans of 10, 12 and 100 are all rare. This is
the prettiest tin I’ve seen in one of those sizes.
[3131]
Fact. 1000, 3rd New York City
One of the smallest 50 tins you’ll encounter.
Same factory as previous can, but made after 2nd district was incorporated into 3rd Dist.
[3129]
An exceptionally pretty blue.
Fact. 54, 3rd NY City 1920
[3030]
Jugate design is common on boxes, but
rare on cans. Fact. 331, 1st PA c1920.
[3021]
Named after a famous tree at Canal & Elm.
Heavily embossed can. Central Cigar Mfg Co,
Fact 14, 2nd District New York City
[3027]
Visit the exhibit of brands named after places.
Cigars: Allan Wright, Hicksville, Fact. 198, 10th OH
How many different occupations were turned
into brands of cigars? .
[3025]
Bressler Cigar Mfg Co. Fact. 309, 12th PA
Freeland, PA
[3029]
One of the giants of package innovation,
Consolidated Cigar used this beautiful can
Consolidated Cigar used this beautiful can
before switching this brand to plastic.
[3078]
Visit the Consolidated Cigar exhibit.
Juan F. Portuondo 50th anniversary can, 1869-1919
in an appropriate gold color. Fact. 540, 1st PA 1923.
When a Portuondo box label is b/w the cigars cost 5¢; colored labels were used on 10¢ cigars.
[3103]
Fact. 22, 5th New Jersey c1922.
Not colorful, but distinctive.
[3114]
Good design use of minimal color.
Fact. 771, 9th tax District PA c1913.
Tin Maker unknown.
[3034]
Factory 1945, 9th tax District, PA c1913.
Patriotic impression. What’s second?
[3035]
Excellent example of a decorated lid, an
expense most tin can users chose to forego.
Cigars by William Ward & Sons, Ltd., London Ontario, Factory 11, Port 24E.
No longer in the NCM collection. [1454]
Seldom seen frontmark from a prominent Florida maker. Design is the same as on boxes.
Fact. 17 Tampa, Florida 1970’s?
[3139]
Unusual novelty can used by more than one
cigar maker. This is a rare Oregon can.
[9804]
A true oval-shaped can used by one of Florida’s premier cigar makers. 1923.
Eduardo H. Gato, Fact. 38 Key West Fla
[3116]
Fact. 201, 1st tax District PA 1920’s
Hinged rectangular can by American Can Co 50A.
[3136]
Beautifully printed, but unimaginatively designed, portrait tin by Liberty Can Co. is merely a cigar inner printed on a can. Factory 45, 1st tax district PA.
From the 1920’s. [8862]
Good design pictures the contents, promotes their quality, gives the price, and explains why the cigars
were packed in tin. Tin is not in the NCM collection.
[w0000]
Robert Barker, Fact. 241, 1st Ohio Dayton 1920’s
For whom they were made is unknown.
Can maker not recorded.
[3052]
Unimaginative inner label style, but very popular with collectors. Fact. 1171, 1st PA. Distributed in California by Haas, Baruch & Co, Los Angeles,
late 1920’s. [3053]
A fairly common tin, more so than most others in
the exhibit. Fact. 57, 11th Ohio c.1919
[3140]
Yocum Bros., Fact. 103, 1st PA c1930
Tin made by Federal Tin Company, Baltimore, for La Cubana Cigar Factory. [3055]
Visit the Yocum Bros. exhibit.
Cincinnati Cigar Co, Fact. 127. 11th Ohio
Wellston, Ohio 1933
Price drops are an almost certain indicator
the can is from the 1930’s. [3056][2377]
Fact. 463, 1st PA c1928
[3057]
Fact. 361, 1st PA 1931
[3058]
M & N Cigar Co., Fact. 5, 11th Ohio 1934
“A fair trial will give a verdict in favor of this cigar”
[3134]
Geo. Kent Co. Fact 3, 21st New York
Binghamton NY, 1925
Cat by Liberty Can Co., Lancaster, PA
[3126]
Factory 813, 1st tax district Michigan
for Rothenberg & Schloss Distributors KC, MO c1922 The brand was possibly exclusive.
[3068]
Fact. 155, 10th Ohio 1920’s
Tin by Heeken Can Co. Cincinnati
[3130]
Joseph Schaefer, Fact. 484, 1st Ohio
Dayton 1930’s.
National Can Co., Detroit
[3070]
Spanish themes have been popular as long as cigars have been smoked. That “La” in the name allegedly implied quality. The brand was possibly exclusive for Rotherberg & Schloss, huge distributors. Fact. 202, 1st PA [3069]
Otto Eisenlohr, Philadelphia Fact. 202, 1st PA
Cinco is five in Spanish so it’s no shock this was
the company’s 5¢ brand. c1920
[3074]
Henrietta was an ostrich in the Philadelphia zoo, featured on Eisenlohr boxes. Why? ¿Quien sabe?
Otto Eisenlohr, Philadelphia Fact. 202, 1st PA
[3073]
A lovely tin by American Can Co. 70-A
San Telmo, Fact. 990, 1st Michigan 1919.
[3062]
Detroit’s San Telmo Cigar Mfg. Co. was one of Michigan’s larger cigar factories.
[3063]
Distinctive look for a long running brand.
44 and 7-20-4 are the two longest running number brands, both lasting 50+ years. Consolidated Cigar Co. Fact. 42, 1st PA c.1920
[3064]
Odd design, not particularly cohesive.
An inexpensive type tin. Halpern & Walter,
Fact. 1400 9th PA c1916
[3066]
Beautiful embossed pre-war tin, in my opinion,
it’s one of the best looking 25/up cans made.
H. Traiser & Co., Fact 301, 3rd Mass 1916
[3104]
A bit cluttered but the red, white and blue with the diagonal slash make it stand out on a shelf.
Semi-knock-off of Philadelphia Hand Made,
a very popular brand. Cigars by John Spatz & Co., Reading. Fact. 12, 1st PA 1919 [3135]
An uninspired design on the front of this 1912 can belies the attractive embossed side panels.
Fact 456, 4th Dist. NC.
[11080]
CUBANOLA was used by American Cigar Company for one of its many nickel cigars.
[11082]
Medical themes have been around since the 1870’s tho this is the only doctor image I’ve seen on tin.
Fact. 2353 1st PA, c1920. Tin by Liberty Can Co.
[9823]
Birds are one of the top 25 themes found in cigar advertising. G.A. Strobeck, Red Lion, PA
Fact 563, 1st PA in the mid 1920’s. [3075]
To see other Bird brands click <here>.
Square 50/up slip top can with decorated lid made
in the late 1920’s in Fact. 1338, 1st PA, by
an unlisted cigar maker.
[2592]
E. Popper & Co. Fact. 1488, 1st PA c1923
[3079]
Fair & Square Cigar Co., Fact. 342, 1st PA
Head office: Red Lion, Factory: Stewartstown 1932
For whom they were made is not known. [3132]
Indian themes are common on boxes and tins,
but this particular one is hard to find.
Fact. 459, 18th District Ohio 1916
[9824]
Dramatic graphics make this square 50/up a personal design favorite. Creation of Liberty Can Co., Lancaster, PA Cigars by Wm. H. Raab, Dallastown Fact. 463, 1st PA c1924.
[3076]
Large stylized typography probably looked better on paper. Black and green stood out on a shelf.
Data temporarily unavailable.
[2026]
Cigars: Joseph Schwartz, Fact. 17, 18th Ohio
Cleveland c1912. 50/up with rolled lid. Thinner and taller than most tin cans. At 2 for 5¢.
[3036]
This entire clever graphic is one complete sentence: There’s a reason some smoke Tango panetelas.
Fact. 771, 1st PA 1921 [3033]
Fact. 620, 14th District of NY 1920’s.
[3032]
Cigars by J.F. Bolen, Fact. 114, 18th Ohio
Bethesda, OH, late 1920’s.
Tin maker not indicated.
[3031]
Holes in tin cans allowed air to circulate
or cigars ran the risk of getting moldy.
It’s a puzzle to me how tin was better for cigars
than wood. [2175]
Retailers weren’t real fond of cans, seen as an attempt to grab precious countertop space.
Inside a cigar case, lids were often thrown away and the brand name could not be seen. Rim tags were the solution. P.Lorillard. c1920. [3081]
Common post 1960 tin.
[3110]
Common post 1960 tin featuring
the brand’s traditional Rembrandt.
[3117]
Common post 1960 tin, the brand
moving from its traditional Rembrandt.
[3118]
Common post 1960 tin, the brand illustrating an Indian, dropping its traditional Rembrandt.
[3119]
THIS IS NOT GOOD CONDITION.
THIS IS NOT ‘GOOD FOR ITS AGE.’
THIS IS ‘FAIR’ OR ‘PLACEHOLDER’
[3037]
EXCELLENT OR NEAR MINT CONDITION.
What collectible tins should look like.
[3007]
Tins frequently came packed in cardboard. 1960’s.
[w0000]
These two examples with their original cardboard
packing are not in the NCM collection.
[w0000]