Ardath Tobacco Co. of London - (Antiquarian Nicotiana Brittanica Vol. 16)

Log in

SmokingPipes.com Updates

New Cigars




PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

Status
Not open for further replies.
May 31, 2012
4,295
34


U3lrtaV.jpg


XfSf4nf.jpg


UNOcijv.jpg


d6DD1gL.jpg


FhZmRfU.jpg


1iMeD5E.jpg


6JIGO1l.jpg


"As supplied to the house of Lords"
This edition gives a brief look to the rather famous house of Ardath.
State Express Works, 39-51 Worship Street, London
Founded 1895 at Leadenhall Street by Sir Albert Levy and was originally called Albert Levy & Thomas, and also traded under the name La Casa de Habana.
The name of the company was changed in 1901 to the Ardath Tobacco Company, and was split in 1925 when it was sold; British American Tobacco acquired the overseas rights of Ardath, while the Imperial Tobacco Group retained the rights of sale within the United Kingdom and Ireland.
In the United Kingdom, Ardath's brands endured, to the point where they were granted a Royal Warrant by King George VI in 1946.
In 1961, British American Tobacco bought out Imperial Tobacco's share of Ardath, thus gaining full control of Ardath's trademarks.
They are most noted for their finely made cigarettes, especially the 555 brand.


t3vqhwP.jpg


5aaYAm3.jpg


nGYtZ3Q.jpg


EDuV9IY.jpg


dg522Xs.jpg


HtKup7u.jpg


mP4zfa6.jpg


The most comprehensive history I've yet to find is this:


OHLRVij.jpg


SVSxjKa.jpg


R56b7dv.jpg


nbO3r4S.jpg


MspuyA9.jpg


Early on, they did make several different blends of pipe tobacco which were frequently advertised.


p7SEMdT.jpg


mpjP7oJ.png


OwUNPtA.jpg


OkwUSHy.jpg


su3p02U.jpg


iHzEsVv.jpg


mDBk3S2.jpg


ZnoDw9s.jpg


xHvdKV0.jpg


cLak4He.jpg


0A8O0S0.jpg


ur87Ww3.jpg


1KXDUes.jpg


8vJu80y.gif


A few tins...


TQNfqd3.jpg


qMNHOqe.jpg


bUlxoJT.jpg


6SGViiu.jpg


ePiCXyr.jpg


RKkbhUY.jpg


JsfcP9U.jpg


91YYYS2.jpg


YMvsxCL.jpg


PyByWMd.jpg


wcJS1U8.jpg


RGaOrtm.jpg


FTY3WCN.jpg


2baZefo.jpg


M2SCtx8.jpg


InIK8xj.jpg


BFX3aae.jpg


mgU7GO6.jpg


KZYEYlb.jpg


KDIkYsq.jpg


Now,

we're on to a more modern blend, an extremely high quality mixture that rivalled Balkan Sobranie.
Many pipesmokers still today can fondly recall it, as it was in production for a couple of decades.
It was State Express London Mixture.
Introduced in 1967 and made at the Ogden's factory for BAT.


Byq0nOa.jpg


lWasaAp.jpg


The early production tins were elaborate affairs which had a small tobacco leaf carefully placed on top, Xanthi I think?
And not only that, but an olde English penny was taped to the bottom for ease of convenience to aid opening.
I'm unsure how a company could afford to do such a thing, although it may have had something to do with the currency change-over because decimalisation was in swing at that time.
I'm unsure as to how long exactly they continued with that practice, but it must've made for a helluva presentation!
Sadly,

I could find no pics of either the olde penny or the leaf.
I'd love to hear descriptions or reminiscences from anyone who smoked this stuff!


Yxa6Rya.jpg


TjaMIEJ.jpg


6KEKAaq.jpg


qzt8u0B.jpg


mRj7Aqu.jpg


IEWBzx1.jpg


6UBnDiB.jpg


ft4jt1f.jpg


udF4A4j.jpg


In 1970, they introduced Roundels and Royal Navy Cut.
I haven't been able to find a pic of the Navy Cut.


QBW18R8.jpg


itP2Mj1.jpg


xAOTl4t.jpg


MljWs1C.jpg


Z6eSMtE.jpg


S5IuZck.jpg


fNFCtZS.jpg


HcTWWnj.jpg


qdIaBqB.jpg


agdDcFO.jpg


FJyE2eH.jpg


cDj9Nou.jpg


a7xCWeu.jpg


Np2cLdg.jpg



 

aldecaker

Lifer
Feb 13, 2015
4,407
42
Nice presentation as always, misterlowercase. This was what I was talking about in the "hobbyist" thread, where a collision of pipe smoking and interest in history can make for an enthusiast, not just a smoker. Excellent work!

 
May 31, 2012
4,295
34
Bumping in a vain attempt of hoping that someone here will post their personal recollections of smoking State Express London Mixture (or the Roundels),

as I'm very interested in hearing suchwise stuff.
:puffy:

 

georged

Lifer
Mar 7, 2013
5,491
13,920
Once again I'm gonna call on Kevin to create a stand-alone board to hold MrLC's research threads.
THEY ARE UNIQUE ON PLANET EARTH that I know of. (at least in English)
I talk to Greg Pease and Mike & Mary McNiel regularly, and THEY are astonished by the depth and quality of this stuff.
The "thread rot" that forum designers built into their products in the early days of the Internet is deadly for material like this.

 
Jan 4, 2015
1,858
11
Massachusetts
ANOTHER MASTERPIECE of research. Thank you very much. Both for your time and willingness to share. I second George's proposal. I think there should be a place where these are kept so anyone can get to them whenever they might need/want to.

 

brian64

Lifer
Jan 31, 2011
9,604
14,672
Another magnificent post by the Minister. Thanks for bumping...I missed it the first time. I love the warning on the label about cheap, machine made cigarettes.

 
Status
Not open for further replies.