A Neat Timeline Of The U.K. Tobacco Industry

[misterlowercase]

1720 Foundation of FRIBOURG & TREYER
1723 Foundation of E. & V. ANSTIE LTD and STEPHEN MITCHELL & SON
1732 Foundation of GEORGE JACKSON & CO and WALKER'S TOBACCO CO
1750 Foundation of TADDY & CO
1759 Foundation of THOMAS BRANKSTON & CO
1760 Foundation of SALES, POLLARD & CO
1762 Foundation of HARVEY & DAVEY
1767 Foundation of I. RUTTER & CO LTD
1770 Foundation of JOHN COTTON
1772 Foundation of JOHN DUNCAN & SON
1774 Foundation of CARRACH & CO
1775 Foundation of S. CAVANDER & CO and R. & J. HILL
1780 Foundation of THOS. NICHOLLS & CO LTD and H. STEVENS & CO LTD
1785 Foundation of H.C. LLOYD & SON
1786 Henry Overton Wills's name appears for the 1st time at Bristol Trade Directory, the company is called WILLS, WATKINS & CO., todays W.D. & H.O. WILLS
1790 Foundation of WILLIAM CHURCHMAN, FRANKLYN & DAVEY, JOHN HIGNETT and HUDDEN & CO
1792 Foundation of SAMUEL GAWITH
1795 Foundation of ADKIN & SONS and J. & T. HODGE
1800 Foundation of WILLIAM & TAYLOR and W.H. & J. WOODS
1801 Ireland becomes part of United Kingdom
1805 William Bacon founds BACON BROTHERS

Foundation of W.O. BIGG & CO
1807 Foundation of EDWARD J. NEWBEGGIN
1809 Foundation of WILLIAM DOBIE
1810 Foundation of MURRAY SONS & CO
1812 Foundation of BRIGHAM & CO
1813 Foundation of WM RINGER & CO
1824 Foundation of P.J. CARROLL & CO
1830 Foundation of WILLIAM CLARKE & SON, J. & E. KENNEDY and WM WRIGHT & SON
1832 Foundation of WILLIAM T. DAVIES & SONS

William Dobie's nephew George Dobie acqires WILLIAM DOBIE and changes it's name to GEORGE DOBIE & SONS
1834 Foundation of LAMBERT & BUTLER
1837 Foundation of CHARLESWORTH & AUSTIN
1838 Foundation of W. & F. FAULKNER LTD and HENRY SIMMONS
1840 Foundation of THOMAS GALLAHER, D. & J. MACDONALD and PRITCHARD & BURTON
1841 Foundation of JOHN DRUCQUER and T.E. WARD & CO
1842 Foundation of J. & F. BELL

Thomas and George Cope found COPE BROTHERS
1843 Foundation of A.I. JONES & CO LTD
1844 Godfrey Phillips founds GODFREY PHILLIPS & SONS

Foundation of P. MOUAT & CO
1845 Foundation of SALMON & GLUCKSTEIN
1847 PHILIP MORRIS opens his first shop at Old Bond Street, London, selling hand-rolled Turkish cigarettes.

Foundation of FINLAY & CO LTD.

JOHN HIGNETT becomes HIGNETT, WEBSTER & CO
1848 Foundation of GILL BROTHERS and T.P. & R. GOODBODY
1849 Foundation of T.E. HARRIS & SONS
1850 Foundation of HARRY ARCHER & CO, MARCOVITCH & CO and R. MASON & CO
1852 Foundation of CARRERAS LTD
1854 PHILIP MORRIS begins making his first own cigarettes

Foundation of THOMSON & PORTEOUS LTD
1855 Foundation of FAIRWEATHER & SONS
1856 Foundation of JOHN SINCLAIR LTD and ROBERT SINCLAIR TOBACCO CO
1857 ROBERT PEACOCK GLOAG sets up first English cigarette factory in Walworth with brands like MOSCOWS, OPERAS, SULTANAS, RIFLES, ZETLANDS. His first branded cigarette is called SWEET THREES (first branded cigarette in Great Britain).

Foundation of JOHN SINCLAIR LTD.
1858 HIGNETT, WEBSTER & CO becomes HIGNETT BROS & CO
1859 Foundation of TETLEY SONS
1860 Foundation of THOMAS OGDEN and E. ROBINSON & SON
1861 Foundation of JOHN PLAYER & SONS, J.A. PATTREIOUEX and RICHMOND CAVENDISH CO
1862 Foundation of AERATED BREAD CO. LTD
1864 Foundation of COHEN WEENEN CO
1865 Foundation of JOHN YOUNG & SONS LTD
1866 Foundation of CIVIL SERVICE COOPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD and PETER B. HARRIS
1867 Foundation of JAMES ILLINGWORTH LTD
1868 Foundation of ADCOCK & SON and OTTOMAN CIGARETTE CO

COPE BROTHERS starts cigarette production.
1870 Foundation of R.I. DEXTER & SONS and SINGLETON & COLE
1871 W.D. & H.O. WILLS begins to manufacture cigarettes, it's first brand is BRISTOL

R. & J. HILL becomes a public company
1872 Foundation of T.E. JONES & CO and PARTRIDGE & SONS LTD
1873 Richard Benson & William Hedges found BENSON & HEDGES
1874 The Greek L. Konstantinidis founds RAMADAN TOBACCO CO
1875 Foundation of LITSICA, MARX & CO, RICHARD LLOYD & SONS, M. PEZARO & SON and HENRY WALMSLEY & SON
1876 Foundation of ARTHUR BURKHARDT & CO and JOHN WOOD & SON TOBACCO LTD

BENSON & HEDGES receives royal warrant from Edward VII, Prince of Wales
1877 Foundation of LARKIN BROS
1878 Foundation of MAC KENSIE & CO and ROBINSON & BARNSDALE LTD
1879 Foundation of THOMAS BEAR & SON, MARTINS & SONS, MELACHRINO and SOBRANIE LTD
1880 Foundation of ROBERT LEWIS and SULLIVAN, POWELL & CO
1881 Foundation of EGYPTIAN & ORIENTAL CIGARETTE CO and HIGNETT'S TOBACCO CO (an affiliate of HIGNETT BROS & CO)
1882 Foundation of DRAPKIN & MILLHOFF and B. MORRIS & SONS
1883 Foundation of LOUIS COEN LTD and EDWARD WARD
1884 Foundation of LUPINSKY & LOCKYER
1886 The Russian M. Weiner founds ST. PETERSBURG CIGARETTE CO

Foundation of HARRY ISAAC and MOUSTAFA LTD
1887 B. MURATTI & SONS opens a branch at Manchester
1888 Foundation of EGYPTO-CYPRIAN CIGARETTE CO
1890 Foundation of C. FRYER & SON and LOUIS ROTHMAN
1892 Foundation of ALEXANDER BOGUSLAVSKY and B. KRIEGSFELD & CO (later MAL-KAH COMPANY)
1893 Foundation of EDWARDS, RINGER & BIGG LTD by merger of EDWARDS & RINGER and W.O. BIGG & CO
1894 Foundation of L. LEWIS & SONS and W.C. THOMPSON

William Curtis Thompson buys PHILIP MORRIS from the Morris family
1895 Foundation of A. LEWIS & CO LTD, MARCUS & CO and FORBES LUGARD SMITH

WILLIAM T. DAVIES & SONS acquires W. WILLIAMS & CO.

Closure of EGYPTO-CYPRIAN CIGARETTE CO
1896 Foundation of H. AUTRAN LTD, AVISS BROS LTD and KINNEAR LTD

GALLAHER becomes a limited company
1897 Foundation of ABRAHAM HENRY FRANKS & SONS and MARSUMA CO
1898 Foundation of ALBERT BAKER & CO, COOPERATIVE WHOLESALE SOCIETY (C.W.S.), MAJOR DRAPKIN & CO, LUSBY LTD, SIDNEY PULLINGER, JOHN WICKS and WIX & LOCKERMAN
1899 Foundation of J. MILLHOFF & CO
1900 Foundation of R. LOCKYER & CO

DRAPKIN & MILLHOFF becomes part of MAJOR DRAPKIN & CO
1901 Foundation of THE CASKET CIGARETTE & TOBACCO CO., GREGORY FESSAS and BUCHMAN LEON & CO

United States CONSOLIDATED TOBACCO acquires OGDEN, to protect other british companies from this fate, Sir William Henry Wills founds IMPERIAL TOBACCO by merging 13 companies like JOHN PLAYER, ADKIN & SONS, LAMBERT & BUTLER, W.D. & H.O. WILLS, WILLIAM CLARKE & SON, EDWARDS, RINGER & BIGG LTD, W. & F. FAULKNER LTD, FRANKLYN & DAVEY, HIGNETT BROS & CO, HIGNETT'S TOBACCO CO, RICHMOND CAVENDISH CO, D. & J. MACDONALD, F. & J. SMITH.

Julius Wix founds J. WIX & SONS LTD..

Closure of EGYPTIAN & ORIENTAL CIGARETTE CO

PHILIP MORRIS & CO. receives royal warrant and gets appointed tobacconist for King Edward VII

WILLIAM T. DAVIES & SONS and STEPHEN MITCHELL & SONS join IMPERIAL TOBACCO

IMPERIAL TOBACCO acquires SALMON & GLUCKSTEIN
1902 Foundation of ABDULLA & CO and ALLAN RAMSAY

United States CONSOLIDATED TOBACCO sells OGDEN to IMPERIAL TOBACCO.

United States CONSOLIDATED TOBACCO and IMPERIAL TOBACCO found BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO (2 thirds owned by Consolidated, 1 third by Imperial) in order to sell both companies' brands abroad

HARRY ISAAC becomes BURNSTEIN & ISAAC & CO.

W.A. & A.C. CHURCHMAN joins IMPERIAL TOBACCO.

COPE BROTHERS acquires RICHARD LLOYD & SONS

MAJOR DRAPKIN & CO acquires LUSBY LTD
1903 COHEN WEENEN CO acquires JAMES BIGGS & SON.

Closure of WILLIAM BRADFORD and HIGNETT'S TOBACCO CO
1904 Foundation of ALBERT BROMET & CO

J & F BELL merges with STEPHEN MITCHELL & SONS

ADKIN & SONS takes over THOMAS BRANKSTON & CO.

CARRERAS LTD becomes CARRERAS & MARCIANUS CIGARETTES LTD

Closure of LOUIS COEN LTD and J. & E. KENNEDY
1905 Foundation of ANGLO-COLONIAL TOBACCO CO..

Sir Alber Levy founds ARDATH TOBACCO CO

HARRY ARCHER & CO becomes a branch of R. & J. HILL LTD

COPE BROTHERS acquires ROBINSON & BARNSDALE LTD

GALLAHER acquires HARVEY & DAVEY

LOUIS ROTHMAN receives royal warrant from King Edward VII

Closure of GEO MASON & SONS
1906 Foundation of AFRICAN CIGARETTE CO., P. LESSER & CO and OREA CIGARETTE CO

MAYOR, SWORDER & CO becomes MAYOR, SWORDER & HANKS & CO
1907 ALFRED DUNHILL opens a pipe shop at London.

Foundation of U.K. TOBACCO CO. The same year it acquires B. MURATTI & SONS

Closure of ABRAHAM HENRY FRANKS & SONS
1908 ED. LAURENS opens a branch at London

GEORGE DOBIE & SONS acquires J. & T. HODGE

GODFREY PHILLIPS & SONS becomes GODFREY PHILLIPS LTD
1909 Foundation of S.P. ORA

WIX & LOCKERMAN becomes J. WIX & SONS LTD

GODFREY PHILLIPS LTD acquires T.E. HARRIS & SONS
1910 Foundation of FARMVILLE TOBACCO COMPANY LTD.
1911 BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO gets listed on the London Stock Exchange, most shares acquired by British investors
1912 Foundation of MASPERO FRERES LTD

CARRERAS & MARCIANUS CIGARETTES LTD becomes again CARRERAS LTD
1913 Foundation of JOHN MAC KINNEL

CARRERAS LTD acquires ALEXANDER BOGUSLAVSKY
1914 Louis Rothman and Marcus Weinberg found YENIDJE TOBACCO CO
1917 Closure of YENIDJE TOBACCO CO
1919 Abe and Mike Wix found PETER JACKSON

Foundation of REDSTONE

Closure of ARTHUR BURKHARDT & CO
1920 Foundation of CURZON TOBACCO CO
1922 Ireland seceded from United Kingdom

MAYOR, SWORDER & HANKS & CO becomes again MAYOR, SWORDER & CO
1923 LAMBERT & BUTLER acquires ALLAN RAMSAY

Closure of AFRICAN CIGARETTE CO.
1924 OGDEN acquires WILLIAM CLARKE & SON.

Closure of GREGORY FESSAS
1925 BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO acquires overseas business of ARDATH TOBACCO, IMPERIAL TOBACCO the local business

E. & V. ANSTIE LTD acquires I. RUTTER & CO. LTD

GODFREY PHILLIPS LTD acquires J. MILLHOFF & CO

Closure of JOHN WICKS
1926 HUDDEN & CO and TEOFANI & CO LTD found ASSOCIATED TOBACCO MANUFACTURERSLTD.

GODFREY PHILLIPS LTD acquires ABDULLA & CO.

Closure of SOUTH WALES TOBACCO CO
1927 Julius Wix retires and sells J.WIX & SONS LTD. to United States AMERICAN TOBACCO COMPANY
1928 GALLAHER gets floated.

Foundation of SPIRO DAMBERGI BROS LTD

Closure of REDSTONE
1929 Foundation of DOMINION TOBACCO CO

CARRERAS LTD acquires JOHN SINCLAIR LTD

P.J. CARROLL & CO acquires T.P. & R. GOODBODY

GODFREY PHILLIPS LTD acquires COHEN WEENEN CO, FAIRWEATHER & SONS and U.K. TOBACCO CO which owns at this time MAJOR DRAPKIN & CO, MARCOVITCH & CO and B. MURATTI SONS & CO

LOUIS ROTHMAN gets listed on the London Stock Exchange and becomes ROTHMANS LTD

Closure of ED. LAURENS and MASPERO FRERES LTD
1930 Abe and Mike Wix found INTERNATIONAL TOBACCO CO LTD

ODGEN acquires HIGNETT BROS & CO

IMPERIAL TOBACCO acquires ROBERT SINCLAIR TOBACCO CO
1931 CARRERAS is the first European company using cellophane sealing for it's CRAVEN A brand.

BENSON & HEDGES launches the worldwide first filter-tipped cigarette, called PARLIAMENT.

Closure of CIVIL SERVICE COOPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD
1932 IMPERIAL TOBACCO takes over 51% of GALLAHER to prevent a hostile takeover.

STEPHEN MITCHELL & SON acquires F & J SMITH.
1933 Foundation of R.S. CHALLIS & CO.

R.S. CHALLIS & CO acquires BURNSTEIN & ISAAC & CO.
1934 GALLAHER acquires INTERNATIONAL TOBACCO CO LTD and PETER JACKSON

E. ROBINSON & SON acquires J.A. PATTREIOUEX
1935 Closure of R.P. GLOAG CO
1936 GALLAHER acquires E. ROBINSON & SON which owned at this time JAMES ILLINGWORTH LTD and J.A. PATTREIOUEX
1939 DUNHILL starts cigarette production

IMPERIAL TOBACCO acquires WALTERS TOBACCO CO
1940 Closure of EDWARD WARD
1941 COHEN WEENEN CO acquires DOMINION TOBACCO CO
1944 E. & V. ANSTIE LTD gets absorbed by EDWARDS, RINGER & BIGG LTD
1946 IMPERIAL TOBACCO becomes a minority shareholder of GALLAHER

ADKIN & SONS gets absorbed by W. & F. FAULKNER LTD
1947 WALTERS TOBACCO CO gets absorbed by EDWARDS, RINGER & BIGG LTD

Closure of MAJOR DRAPKIN & CO
1950 THOMAS BEAR & SON gets absorbed by BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO
1952 CARRERAS buys marketing rights of ALFRED DUNHILL LTD
1953 CARRERAS LTD acquires MURRAY SONS & CO.

GALLAHER acquires BENSON & HEDGES and COPE BROTHERS

REMBRANDT TOBACCO CO acquires ROTHMANS LTD
1954 PHILIP ALLMAN & CO. LTD gets absorbed by AMALGAMATED TOBACCO CO.

W. & F. FAULKNER LTD acquires WILLIAM T. DAVIES & SONS
1956 South African REMBRANDT GROUP acquires CARRERAS LTD.

BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO acquires overseas business (except USA) for BENSON & HEDGES brands
1957 FRANKLIN & DAVEY gets absorbed by EDWARDS, RINGER & BIGG LTD.

W.D. & H.O. WILLS acquires STEPHEN MITCHELL & SON

Closure of B. MORRIS & SONS
1959 THOMAS OGDEN acquires W. & F. FAULKNER

Closure of COHEN WEENEN CO.
1960 BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO acquires ARDATH TOBACCO CO. completely

Closure of INTERNATIONAL TOBACCO CO LTD and THOMSON & PORTEOUS LTD
1961 Foundation of CHURCHMAN, LAMBERT & RINGER by merger of W.A. & A.C. CHURCHMAN with LAMBERT & BUTLER and EDWARDS, RINGER & BIGGS
1962 GALLAHER acquires JOHN COTTON

GALLAHER acquires J. WIX & SONS from United States AMERICAN TOBACCO COMPANY in exchange for 13% share holdings
1964 Closure of PETER JACKSON
1967 CARRERAS LTD acquires 51% of ALFRED DUNHILL LTD.

J.A. PATTREIOUEX gets renamed to SENIOR SERVICE LTD
1968 United States PHILIP MORRIS acquires GODFREY PHILIPS

IMPERIAL TOBACCO sells it's remaining shares of GALLAHER.

United States AMERICAN TOBACCO COMPANY acquires 50% of GALLAHER
1970 Closure of HENRY WALMSLEY & SON
1971 Introduction of health warnings at side

Decimalisation of curreny (1 Pound = 100 New Pence, before 1 Pound = 20 Shillings = 240 Pence)
1972 The convention from 1902 between United States AMERICAN TOBACCO COMPANY, IMPERIAL TOBACCO and BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO is revoked. IMPERIAL TOBACCO and BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO get back the exclusive ownership of their original brands.

Foundation of ROTHMANS INTERNATIONAL by merger of ROTHMANS LTD and CARRERAS LTD

Closure of CHURCHMAN, LAMBERT & RINGER
1973 UK joins European Union

Closure of ABDULLA & CO.
1975 United States AMERICAN BRANDS acquires remaining 50% of GALLAHER

Foundation of AMERICAN CIGARETTE CO.
1978 Closure of U.K. TOBACCO CO
1979 Closure of ROBERT LEWIS
1980 GALLAHER acquires SOBRANIE LTD which own at this time BARNARD LEWIS CIGARETTES LTD, CITY CIGARETTES LTD, CHICHESTER TOBACCO CO, SULLIVAN POWELL & CO, THE OSBORNE TOBACCO CO and RING CIGARETTE CO

Closure of FRIBOURG & TREYER
1983 Closure of BACON BROTHERS
1986 HANSON TRUST PLC acquires IMPERIAL TOBACCO
1991 Foundation of THE ENLIGHTENED TOBACCO COMPANY
1992 introduction of front health warnings

JT INTERNATIONAL acquires MANCHESTER TOBACCO
1993 GALLAHER acquires European rights for BENSON & HEDGES brand from BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO
1994 GALLAHER sells it's international rights (except Western Europe) for SILK CUT brand to BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO
1996 HANSON TRUST PLC floats off IMPERIAL TOBACCO
1997 United States AMERICAN BRANDS spinning-off it's last tobacco unit GALLAHER on the Londen Stock Exchange. GALLAHER becomes again an independent company.
1999 ROTHMANS INTERNATIONAL becomes part of BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO

GALLAHER acquires from R.J. REYNOLDS the tradmark rights for DICKENS & GRANT and DORCHESTER and the British distribution rights for CAMEL and MORE and it loses it's royal warrant.

Foundation of CHANCELLOR TOBACCO by former managers of United States DIMON and GALLAHER.

Closure of THE ENLIGHTENED TOBACCO COMPANY
2001 IMPERIAL TOBACCO gains British distribution rights for MARLBORO
2003 new big front health warnings with white background and black frame
2007 GALLAHER gets acquired by JT INTERNATIONAL
....sad commentary,

all this great tradition was blown to bits by eu-minded progressive governmental forces,

hell inna handbasket,

a shame.

 

[kanaia]

You are the best misterlowercase. Thanks

 

[kcvet67]

Another great job.

 

[monty55]

Wow! :clap:
Thank you Minister Troy!

 

[fadingdaylight]

Wow, my ignorance is shining today. I had no clue that some of these companies dated back as far as they do. Thanks for shedding the light Minister.

 

[escioe]

....sad commentary,

all this great tradition was blown to bits by eu-minded progressive governmental forces,

hell inna handbasket,

a shame.

Don't you think that just regular old market forces has something to do with it? It's not just that governments are regulating it to death. People have moved on, en masse, to other vices. Less good vices, I think, but that's their call.
Thanks though for posting this. There is a really incredible history of an industry here. I like seeing the familiar names going back before the founding of this country, or at least before the Civil War. I like less seeing the demise in the last fifty years of several houses I'd have loved to try.

 

[wilson]

That's an amazing and fascinating compilation. Thanks.

 

[brian64]

Another interesting and informative post misterlowercase...thank you.

Don't you think that just regular old market forces has something to do with it? It's not just that governments are regulating it to death. People have moved on, en masse, to other vices. Less good vices, I think, but that's their call.

True, but the market forces are, in large part, the result of the propagandizing of the consumers...social engineering.

 

[andystewart]

Thanks Troy - that's truly amazing! So many blasts from the past and happy memories. I read history at the University of Bristol, a beautiful place paid for by the Wills family tobacco money as a competitor to Oxford and Cambridge. I received my degree from the Chancellor in the Great Hall of the Wills Building.
I remember decimalisation in 1971 very well; I'd mastered 'old money' as a child and had to learn a whole new currency and pricing system. The sheer volume and weight of old coins - half-, one-, three-, and sixpenny pieces plus shillings, florins, half-crowns and crowns meant that you often walked lopsided with the number of them in your pocket! The high value of the pound (the lowest-denominated note) meant that you always had lots of 'shrapnel'!
Well done! Andy

 

[dread]

Very interesting - as usual a fantastic job. There is a lot of world history in there if you know what was going on with the tobacco trade, the Americas, and colonialism as those companies came into being and passed away. Really neat stuff!

 

[misterlowercase]

escioe - yeah, a bit of oversimplification on my part, there were many other factors involved, but the point of merit which brian64 brought up is true as well --- also, one of the amazing aspects is the maze-like merging and absorbing that went on within the industry, and many of the little fish ended up getting eaten by the big fish, like consider how J.F. Bell only made 3 Nuns in-house for like 15 or so years, the other hundred years of its existence being outside of the original blenders!
andystewart - great story, thanks for sharing! Wills was at the forefront both in industry and social concerns, not only did they provide some of the best pipe tobaccos known to man, but they also make a positive impact on the community at large...one of the best books detailing their incredible history is linked below, well worth finding a copy to read with pipe, it's a big book!

http://books.google.com/books?id=k2yT6hZxekAC&printsec=frontcover&dq=%22W.+D.+and+H.+O.+Wills+and+the+Development+of+the+UK+Tobacco+Industry%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=-m24U7TYLYXv8AGD1oBQ&ved=0CCcQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22W.%20D.%20and%20H.%20O.%20Wills%20and%20the%20Development%20of%20the%20UK%20Tobacco%20Industry%22&f=false
The old British money confuses the hell outta me,

what about a farthing?



I recently watched an old flick called A Kid For Two Farthings, it was actually pretty damn great!

It's a unicorrrn!

:P

 

[settersbrace]

Glad to see you back and posting MLC! It's pretty exciting to be involved in a pastime that has roots into the 18th century as well as knowing that much of our tobacco is still processed with much of the original equipment.

 

[stbruno70]

Mrlowercase: well done. Your list should become a sticky.
A farthing was 1/4 of a pre-decimal penny.
Andystewart: I remember decimal day as well. Fortunately, some of the new coins had been introduced years earlier and co-existed with their older equivalents. The new 5 p coin was the same size and value as a shilling and so on. Still, on decimal day all the shop keepers rounded up their prices, blamed it on decimalisation and doubtless made a bob or two on the conversion.
Remember the guinea?

 

[misterlowercase]

Thanks St.Bruno70!
Looks like it was a good bit confusing then,

D-Day!

:

:

Here are some photos from an old Wills booklet which show just how massive an undertaking it was to operate a large tobacco factory...

http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/ye-olde-british-tobacco-factory-wills-circa-1934

:

:

 

[misterlowercase]

Just to clarify,

I did not compile this timeline.
I found it on an Austrian cigarette collectors site,

http://www.zigsam.at/

...and of the various timelines I've came across this one was very well put together specifically regarding the UK stuff --- although I think there are a couple of errors, I didn't go thru it with a fine tooth comb, but now I think I will, and also add some of the missing bits too.
:!:
In April it was announced that the Imperial factory in Nottingham was set to close in May 2016, thus goes the last big tobacco factory in England, it's an ultramodern built in 1970 and called Horizon --- a Gallaher factory remains in Northern Ireland, but it's owned by Japan Tobacco International.
The story ran in many papers, and it was interesting to read the online comments, this one is from Huffington Post and is typical of many of the "good riddance" themed replies...

A complete and total Labour victory, saving countless lives and eventually trillions of pounds and dollars. The Conservatives fought the ever tightening tobacco restrictions put in place by Labour tooth and nail but once passed here in the UK, such restrictions were taken up by the United States as good Policy and for the betterment of us all. Killed the Pub industry, but those closures were worth the lives saved. Labour should be forever remembered and praised for the bravery and wisdom of getting millions off the addiction of tobacco.

Here is one of the more well written articles,

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2605804/Stubbed-Nottingham-factory-shutdown-marks-gasp-thriving-British-tobacco-industry-gave-cigarette-girls-cards-thousands-jobs-cost.html
...and if you're interested and haven't seen it before,

check out this incredible image archive of Player's related glories of yore...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/50284741@N02/
Player's Please!
:crying:

 

[dirtydex]

Excellent list. Thanks.

 

[Dutch Pipe Smoker]

Jawdropping awesome Troy! :worship:

 

[cortezattic]

Absolutely superb post! Thanks for sharing all this researched material with us. :clap:

 

[misterlowercase]

Thanks gents,

it's cool to see how it all formed, morphed and evolved over the ages...

 

[andystewart]

Thanks again MLC. The pics are great and I'm going to read that book. Whoever wrote that Huffington Post piece is an idiot.
As Mason says, the farthing was worth one quarter of a penny. They ceased to be legal tender in 1960, just before I was born, but there were plenty around for a long time. And Mason, I do remember guineas - value £1/1/- , 21 shillings or 1 pound and 1 shillings. As far as I know the only time they're mentioned now is in Horse Racing, with races like the 2,000 Guineas and to value racehorses. Bizarre, but touching and evocative.
Andy