How Can You Tell How Old a Tin Is?

[lasttango]

These are some tobaccos I picked up on IPSD at HOLT'S in Philadelphia. The proprietor said that the Gawith tins were "in the back forever." He said he only brought them up the other day - The Tins have some rust on them... I know that doesn't necessarily mean that they are old.... in any case, I believe these labels are fairy current... Is there anyway to tell if the tins are 1,2,5,9 years old?
here is a pic:
Fixed thread title, please see rule number 9. Pertinent portion: Please capitalize words in the thread titles. Thank you, Robert.

 

[judcole]

That's the current Briar Fox label; dunno when it changed, but it wasn't like that when I tried it 6 or 7 years ago.

That also appears to be the current label on the SG tins.

Some manufacturers date their tins in a method understandable to folks outside the company; many do not.

 

[mikestanley]

Can't tell much about the Gawith except those are the newer tin label style. This just means they aren't more than six years old. Could be close to that because of the rust. The yellow sticker on the bottom of the Briar Fox is a date label.
Mike S.

 

[danielplainview]

January 20 2015

 

[lasttango]

Thanks... The briar fox is new... Just wondering about those Gawith tins... They're probably just a year or two old...

 

[jpmcwjr]

Good eyes!

 

[sablebrush52]

Pipestud has a good handle on labels. Maybe he can help. With some makers, like Pease, Rattrays, and Escudo, a date code is stamped on tin.

 

[pipestud]

I don't think you gents need my help. Mike Stanley nailed the Gawith tins (Red Banner on front means post 2008), and Dave G got the Briar Fox. I wish they'd pass a law saying all tins must be factory date stamped. :wink:

 

[cigrmaster]

Unless you have a date code such as GL Pease uses, then you are guessing at the age. You might get close if the tins are very old and have different art work, but other than that just smoke it and be happy it does have some age. The tins you are showing were most likely stored improperly which caused the rust. I have 2004 tins of Samuel Gawith Full Virgina Flake that have no rust on them, as they were stored properly.