THE TASTING OF A 70 YEAR OLD CLEAR HAVANA CIGAR
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GENERAL CIGAR CO.
United Cigar Manufacturers grew quickly in its first decade; it paid its
first dividends in 1909, aided by a series of acquisitions of other cigar
makers. This all took place at a time when the cigar industry itself was
undergoing a rapid consolidation, especially among the largest tobacco
companies, including American Tobacco and Consolidated Cigar Corp. In 1917,
United Cigar Manufacturers changed its name to General Cigar Co., Inc., to
reflect its growing holdings.
The following year, General Cigar moved to change the face--and structure--of
the U.S. cigar industry. Before the early 1920s, cigars had been primarily sold
as local brands or under private labels. Across the United States, there were
hundreds of small-volume cigar names. General Cigar alone represented about 150
different brands. In 1918, the company moved to establish the first national
cigar brands. It dropped nearly all of its brands, and instead concentrated on
the manufacturing, sales, and advertising for five core brand names. Each of
General Cigar's brands--which included White Owl, Van
Dyck, Wm. Penn, and Robt. Burns--hit a different price point. Advertising became
important; General Cigar was among the first companies to recognize the
potential of the new radio networks that were developing. General Cigar was soon
sponsoring radio programs and announcing its products on a national scale. The
company's net profits rose from $1.5 million in 1914 to $2.7 million by 1919.
Cigar sales were on the rise throughout the country, reaching a high of 8.5 billion cigars sold in 1920.
first dividends in 1909, aided by a series of acquisitions of other cigar
makers. This all took place at a time when the cigar industry itself was
undergoing a rapid consolidation, especially among the largest tobacco
companies, including American Tobacco and Consolidated Cigar Corp. In 1917,
United Cigar Manufacturers changed its name to General Cigar Co., Inc., to
reflect its growing holdings.
The following year, General Cigar moved to change the face--and structure--of
the U.S. cigar industry. Before the early 1920s, cigars had been primarily sold
as local brands or under private labels. Across the United States, there were
hundreds of small-volume cigar names. General Cigar alone represented about 150
different brands. In 1918, the company moved to establish the first national
cigar brands. It dropped nearly all of its brands, and instead concentrated on
the manufacturing, sales, and advertising for five core brand names. Each of
General Cigar's brands--which included White Owl, Van
Dyck, Wm. Penn, and Robt. Burns--hit a different price point. Advertising became
important; General Cigar was among the first companies to recognize the
potential of the new radio networks that were developing. General Cigar was soon
sponsoring radio programs and announcing its products on a national scale. The
company's net profits rose from $1.5 million in 1914 to $2.7 million by 1919.
Cigar sales were on the rise throughout the country, reaching a high of 8.5 billion cigars sold in 1920.
EL PRODUCTO CIGARS
A 1920's El Producto delivery truck, the driver is unloading some fresh boxes of cigars!
Who smoked El Producto cigars?
When George Burns, Milton Berle, Sid Caesar, Ernie Kovacs and other top comics of the day gathered at the Hillcrest Country Club, the room would fill with laughter and cigar smoke. Everyone would be smoking the top brands. Everyone, that is, but George Burns.
"Come on George, try one of these Havanas," urged Berle and Co. "Live a little. Get rid of those damn Queens, and try something sweet and delicious."
But George would turn down the Montecristos and H. Upmanns thrust in front of him.
Waving aside these premium cigars, Burns again emphasized his loyalty to a lifelong sweetheart. Taking out an ivory holder, he'd light an El Producto Queen, a perfecto-shaped cigar that Burns liked to call "my little lady."
EL PRODUCTO c.1929
Still sealed more than 80+ years later an original El Producto cigar box from 1929. This was one of the top brands of clear Havana cigars from the roaring 1920's when Cuban tobacco freely flowed into the USA
This vitola (Escepcionales) was one of their "top shelf" vitolas and the 1929 price of 15 cents to 20 cents each supports the fact that these were "top shelf" stogies! Pretty expensive cigars for their day, who would have imagined that 1929 would be the start of the "Great Depression" and many cigar marcas would reduce their prices down to 2 for 5 cents in the mid 1930's
Your rare opportunity to sample these stogies from that decade of excess called the "roaring 20's".
This vitola (Escepcionales) was one of their "top shelf" vitolas and the 1929 price of 15 cents to 20 cents each supports the fact that these were "top shelf" stogies! Pretty expensive cigars for their day, who would have imagined that 1929 would be the start of the "Great Depression" and many cigar marcas would reduce their prices down to 2 for 5 cents in the mid 1930's
Your rare opportunity to sample these stogies from that decade of excess called the "roaring 20's".
Copyright jlsaphotography.com
LA ADMIRACION CIGARS
This impressive three-story Italian Renaissance cigar factory was constructed in
1910 by the E. Regensberg & Sons Cigar Company. This factory complex occupies an
entire block, with the main building situated on the northeast corner of N. 16th Street and
Columbus Avenue. The brick factory exhibits a continuous brick foundation and rests on
a brick basement. The front entrance features a sweeping brick staircase that leads up to
wide brick hipped roof portico supported by ornate brick columns with a brick arch
spanning between the columns. Decorative wood brackets are visible under the eaves.
The original front door has been replaced with modern metal doors, but the original brick
arch is visible above. Directly above and behind the entry is large seven-story clock
tower. The tower features a small decorative stone balcony with French doors on the west
side and it is capped by a hip roof with large wood brackets.
The main part of the factory is located to the north and features a gables roof obscured
on the east and west ends by a stepped parapet with corbelled brick trim.
Each floor is delineated by a decorative brick string course.
There is a large metal neon sign on the roof that reads, “Home of Cuesta-Rey Cigars.”
Constructed in 1910 by the New York architect, S. S. Schwartz, this factory was
initially occupied by the E. Regensberg & Sons Cigar Company. Affectionately known
as “El Reloj” or “the clock” by workers, this factory was one of the last built in Tampa.
The clock, which still functions today, was designed by the famous Boston clock
company E. Howard Company. E. Regensberg & Sons popular brand was the "La
Admiration". This company maintained this factory into the 1950s, and incorporated the
S. Fernandez & Co. cigar manufacturer in 1924, as Factory No. 50.
SANTAELLA OPTIMO CIGARS
Antonio Santaella, originally from Andalucia, Spain, became a cigar maker in
Cuba during the 1870s, and in 1886 moved to Chicago to open his own factory where he
met Sol Hamburger, another cigar industry student. This factory was rebuilt after a fire
raged through West Tampa in 1904, and by 1905 a large 100 foot extension was added to
the rear of the building qualifying the factory for the largest of its kind in the country.
The popular brands of A. Sanataella & Co. included Florida Girl, Flora Mia,
Centropolis, Optimo, Marquette Club, Reformador, and Flor de Cervera, of which the
Optimo brand was the favorite cigar of Babe Ruth. The company prospered into the
1950s when it was sold to the Universal Cigar Corporation in 1955.
Cuba during the 1870s, and in 1886 moved to Chicago to open his own factory where he
met Sol Hamburger, another cigar industry student. This factory was rebuilt after a fire
raged through West Tampa in 1904, and by 1905 a large 100 foot extension was added to
the rear of the building qualifying the factory for the largest of its kind in the country.
The popular brands of A. Sanataella & Co. included Florida Girl, Flora Mia,
Centropolis, Optimo, Marquette Club, Reformador, and Flor de Cervera, of which the
Optimo brand was the favorite cigar of Babe Ruth. The company prospered into the
1950s when it was sold to the Universal Cigar Corporation in 1955.
More Clear Havana Cigar History
A profile of the cigar maker Waitt & Bond which was established in Newark, New Jersey 1929!
Quick Tour
Our tour begins in 1945
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Tobacco Plantation
Tobacco was grown & imported from the Santa Clara region of Cuba.
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Bales of Cuban Tobacco
Bales of choice Cuban tobacco being shipped to Newark, NJ for rolling Blackstone cigars.
A Wrapper
Clean workplace. |
Quality Control
Sorted by color and size.
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Box Pressing
Box pressing freshly made Blackstone cigars. |
Display
Display of the various sizes. |
SEALED CLEAR HAVANA CIGARS c. 1929
Sealed box of 25 clear Havana Peter Scuyler cigars still in their Christmas wrap.
Perfecto sized 5 1/4" 46-48 ring.
Note the advertising booklet which accompanied the cigars which advertised that these cigars are superior because the tobacco has been cured in Havana Cuba.
How cool is that? An 80+ year old sealed box in perfect condition!!
Perfecto sized 5 1/4" 46-48 ring.
Note the advertising booklet which accompanied the cigars which advertised that these cigars are superior because the tobacco has been cured in Havana Cuba.
How cool is that? An 80+ year old sealed box in perfect condition!!
