John McKinnell Clan Tobacco Ednburgh Macbeth in Photo Essay (very pic heavy)

[papipeguy]

Two things strike me about this. The tobacco itself in no way resembles the Dutch "Clan" by Theodorus Neimeyer. Secondly, the address on the back of the tin is pre zip code. The mailing code for NYC is definitely pre 1960 and highly probable that it is much older than that.

The fact that it is difficult to find anyting about the brand on the internet suggests that the blend has been out of production for decades.

Here's a list ing form 1935 for John McKinnell products and Clan is listed. Have fun with this one.
JOHN McKI NN EI.L-- continued.

I oz. 2
Milton Mixture

Golfers' Special ,,

City

I leather

Zomba .,

Wembley ,,

I|.S.A. Black Cut ..

Three M~nkz (Mild) ..

Monkshead (Medium)

Monkshood (Full) ..

No. I Harmony ..

No. 2

Heather J~'i~ke (decorat'eh tins
.1 oz. "~,m. 1 lb.

2y2 4/4 8:8 17 -I

2 I 4/2 8.4 Ifi 8

2)- 4. 8.- It; .
i,s 3.1 li ~ 13/4

1.4 2/8 5 4 HL.8

1:4 2/8 5,4 Ill 8

2,(i 5/- IO - 2o/-
~[(~ 51- 10- 2tU-

2i4 418 94 18/8

2/2 4~4 88 17/4
Keystone . ..

Clan

Braemar Cut Golden B'a'r

� Cigarettes (Hand Made).

Purkish Gems, Small Oval ......

Finest Egyptian, Minor Oval ....

Sonoma, Finest Selected Virginia ....

Bridal Veil, Petit Virginia ......

Lorraine Virginia ........

Dunedin ........

Weight Cigarettes (Hand ]~Iatle).

 

[pstlpkr]

Say whaaaaa? 8O

 

[marmal4de]

That's all floccinaucinihilipilification to me.

 

[pstlpkr]

Year: Series 109 (1939)
Here is where I found it: LINK
I win! :nana:

:puffpipe:

 

[marmal4de]

Don't I get 87% credit for the brilliant idea!?

 

[ichbinmuede]

So a 72 year old tin of tobacco? Well hell that is some serious aging. I (and I presume the rest of us) expect a full report upon lighting it up.

 

[johnnyrebel]

Im speechless, this all is really awesome. ::

 

[pstlpkr]

floccinaucinihilipilification

:worship: Great word Marmal! Click the link for pronunciation.
Sorry about this; but, that word is nearly sesquipedalian. :D

 

[papipeguy]

Excellent work, Lawrence. I love a good mystery. Now to the business at hand. Does one smoke it or sell it? Could be worth some serious cash. Here's a site selling Three Nuns for $300.
http://www.cubancigars4u.com/Vintage_pipe_tobacco.htm

 

[marmal4de]

Lawrence it is indeed long winded.

Does one smoke it or sell it?

If that were my decision, I would smoke it, some things are priceless.

 

[julesholling]

I'd smoke it too and hope above all other things in the world that it is nicer than the current version of Clan!

 

[letsgodowntherabbithole]

Ok guys, heres an update.

The tobacco is slowly re-hydrating. I put it in a jar from a humidor/rack that I have sitting around here. Inside the jar I have a small can of cricket quencher that has been saturated with distilled water as well as a paper towel that has been saturated in distilled water across the top with the humidor lid held on tightly. I have a hydrometer in the jar and I'm about to keep it right at 72, which is what a tobacoonist said would be ideal to slowly rehydrate this tobacco.

The cake that they tobacco had dried into has no expanded and broken up. The tobacco is crumble dry still but has expanded to about twice the volume it use to be.

In about an hour I'm going to call C and D and talk this over with them. What I would like to see happen with this is someone pick it up and remake the blend.

I have always said I was going to smoke just one bowl, and I think I'm going to take about 2 bowls worth and keep them back for when my future children are born. Past that though, I stand by my first thought as to I'm am not worthy enough of a pipe smoker to have this. Also, if it is going to pull in 300 bucks, here on my barista pay that is more money then I make in a week.

Plan A is for a major blender to take this and remake the blend so we all can enjoy it for time to come though

 

[ichbinmuede]

Sending some to a blender to have it recreated sounds like a very good thing. If it's a great flavour and a fine smoke it'll be great for the entire pipe community. Shoot with that you'll have done more for the community than the average smoker.

You'll be a hero!

 

[python]

Nice pics Rabbit!
I would suggest that you do NOT let the humidity/moisture level reach 72%RH. The proper moisture level for pipe tobacco is somewhere in the 12-18% range.
Once the tobacco is soft and flexible again, where when you squeeze a pinch between your fingers it feels springy, stop rehydrating and put it in an airtight jar.
Congrats on the find!

 

[letsgodowntherabbithole]

hmmm thats good advice there bob. I had read that to re-hydrate it 72 was the best until the tobacco felt "right" then you lower it to 15 for 48 hours then jar it in a dark jar with a good head of air on top.

You would know more then me though, how do you suggest I keep it 12-18%? Also, how long do you think I need to keep it that way for it to re-hydrate?

 

[unclearthur]

For the initial re-hydration the RH is probably not a factor. When it's ready to store it should fall into the range Bob mentioned.

 

[expatpipe]

This has been a really fun thread to follow, learned about rehydrating to boot. with great pics! Enjoyed with cup of coffee and an afternoon smoke. Thanks for sharing.

 

[letsgodowntherabbithole]

Another update here guys

The tobacco is coming along nicely, it's increasing in volume and I think that if you smoked your tobacco a little on the crunchy side you could go ahead with it as it is. I'm hoping to let it go for a few more days to really bring it back to where it would be if the seal had never been broken.

I have talked with Chris over at C&D and got some great feedback and a phone number and name to call in the UK. I'm still trying to figure out how to get that call to go through though. If your from the UK and would like to help me along that would be great! Send me a pm, as the person's phone number I have here I was told isn't exactly public knowledge.

I have really come to the point that I want to see a blender pick this up rather then give the tin away to someone who will appreciate it. If we can bring this back it can be something we all can enjoy again.

 

[papipeguy]

Heck of a quest. Good luck and keep us posted. You may want to stress that the interst in older blends is very high in the USA.

 

[winterland]

Whatever happened with this tobacco? I just saw a tin for sale on ebay. Doesn't look as old though.