100 Year Old Tobacco

[kevm]

Turn it into a party...invite some of your pals over who smoke pipes, break open a bottle of scotch and all be brave together. If it's a garbage smoke, at least you have good company and spirits.

I might just do that ?

 

[bullet08]

I would keep it in the tin and sell it as is. See which sucker person will buy it.

 

[pipestud]

Open a tin and smoke tobacco that was made in 1921? I guess I'd give it a try... but only if it didn't cost me anything and there was a trash can nearby.

 

[jguss]

My guess would be 1930s or 1940s. I think the Captive flake was introduced about 1934 and disappeared around 1950. Photos of your particular tin might help.

 

[Duke of Erinmore]

I have some experience with WW2 stuff. What you should not do is open the tin and smoke it right away. Put it in a glass and carefully add some moisture over maybe a week (I use moistened filters, that works best for me).

Also there's quite a safe test. Shake the tin. If it rattles, chances are >90% that your tobacco is trash. Like this one:

 

[JOHN72]

Too long to get good results. I prefer not to open the tin. And try smoking it, even less..............

 

[SoddenJack]

Personally I wouldn’t open the tin. Most likely it’s going to be unsmokable dust or taste like stale mildew and rancid oxidation, at best it will taste like nothing at all. Why destroy a piece of history? Keep it as a cool piece.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Open a tin and smoke tobacco that was made in 1921? I guess I'd give it a try... but only if it didn't cost me anything and there was a trash can nearby.

Oh, good timing! Here's the sucker you might be able to sell the tin to.....

 

[Servant King]

I have some experience with WW2 stuff. What you should not do is open the tin and smoke it right away. Put it in a glass and carefully add some moisture over maybe a week (I use moistened filters, that works best for me).

Also there's quite a safe test. Shake the tin. If it rattles, chances are >90% that your tobacco is trash. Like this one:

View attachment 76753

Yeesh. Is that pipe tobacco or roof shingles?

 

[Duke of Erinmore]

Yeesh. Is that pipe tobacco or roof shingles?

To me it looks more like linoleum floor covering...

 

[BROBS]

To me it looks more like linoleum floor covering...

Ancient tree bark ?

 

[jpmcwjr]

Oh, good timing! Here's the sucker you might be able to sell the tin to.....

It occurred to me that some of our newer members wouldn't know this was high praise (joshing a recognized authority and straight shooter) I have met Steve several times at pipe shows, and have a high regard for him and his wife.

While he may not remember me from Adam or Eve, I hope he also took that quip in the manner it was intended.

 

[pipestud]

It occurred to me that some of our newer members wouldn't know this was high praise (joshing a recognized authority and straight shooter) I have met Steve several times at pipe shows, and have a high regard for him and his wife.

While he may not remember me from Adam or Eve, I hope he also took that quip in the manner it was intended.

I absolutely know who you are jpmcwjr, and did indeed enjoy your comment. No worries here. Besides, when it comes to tobacco, I'm the biggest sucker of them all!

 

[condorlover1]

Strange as it would seem the 'cutter top' tins seems to do alright providing there are no tiny rust holes. As Ashdigger will testify the contents tend to be moist, smokable and if consumed quickly quite enjoyable.

 

[anotherbob]

Having smoked some 100 year old tobaccos on several occasions, I can attest that it is one of the most disgusting flavor experiences I have had. I would definitely wish it on my worst enemy.

And why I tried this out more than once can only be attributed to toxic stubbornness in the face of reality. There's this nagging feeling that it's just that one tin. No it ain't.

that explains the tin of hundred year old tobacco you sent me.

 

[Jacob74]

@kevm Let us know the outcome, I think we are all interested to read about your experience!

 

[Singularis]

If you do smoke it, please make a youtube video of the fiasco.

Heck, people might even pay to watch you livestream the experience.

 

[cigrmaster]

If it were my tin I would open that puppy up right away. I have never opened anything close to being that old. You might be lucky and the tobacco was good, but if it is too dry and you can maybe bring it back to life that would maybe the best outcome and hopefully it didn't turn to dust that is like powder.

If it is like powder I don't know if that can be brought back. Maybe you can smoke it as a cigarette or maybe snus. I am not a snus guy but I am sure there some on this site who would love to give it a try. I smoke a few cigarettes a day, Camel Blue 99's are what I smoke. I have papers in the house and would definitely give it a go as a cigarette.
Ya gotta at least open it so the rest of us can live vicariously through you.

 

[aguineapig]

Some people who seem like they possibly know what they might be talking about seem to like vintage tinned cigarettes of a similar age, see post 5#:

Smoking 100+ Year Old Balkan Sobranie Cigarettes :: Pipe Tobacco Discussion

I know this may be a faux pas, as this is a pipe site, but I digress. When I Saw this on eBay for @$30 I said why the hell not. And ya know what, they're damn tasty..non filtered in a early(patent number) Dunhill cigarette holder. They have a Virginia Tang, very flavorful, incredibly rich and...

pipesmagazine.com

 

[deuceswild818]

EDIT: Fixed Capitalization in Title (See Rule 9)

Hi everyone

I have come into possession of a tin of Lloyds' Captive Rich Mottled Flake from the 1920's and a packet of Rubicon Spun Cut from the 1930's. Does anyone know if this tobacco would be okay to open and smoke, or are they best left sealed as collectibles?

You end up smoking it?