Nightcap plug

[deathmetal]

Why the Hell do we NOT have Nightcap plug?!

That's a really good question.
I wonder if the flavors would meld too much.
But I'd be game to try any lab experiments on this one...

 

[tarheel1]

isnt it called Gaslight. LOL

 

[blackbeard]

If I had another tin....maybe a 50 ton press will do the trick...because with Nightcap, might need overkill. Just had my first tin (first latakia really today)

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Yeh, it would probably meld too much. The flakes and plugs I've tried that have had latakia, the taste was more "consistent" for lack of a better word. On the ribbons, I can sometimes get wiffs of different leaves, which adds interest. But, I'd try it, and it'd probably be good, just very different in flavor.

 

[mso489]

I'm thinking the form tobacco is given makes significant differences in the taste it delivers. A Nightcap plug might be good, but I doubt it would be Nightcap as we know it. Even medium or thick cut makes a difference as with Semois burley variant. Any blenders care to weigh in on this one? I think storing a blend as a plug changes its flavor profile, a little or a lot depending on the blend.

 

[deathmetal]

I'm thinking the form tobacco is given makes significant differences in the taste it delivers.

I completely agree. For example, ribbon-cut Latakia has an entirely different effect to my taste buds than the thicker cut pieces in some of the American blends.
But I still think a Nightcap plug might be legendary. I think it would have a darker, fuller flavor instead of the spicy blend it is now, more like a Late Night Contemplation blend for us armchair Platonists.

 

[atskywalker]

I've been thinking about "plugging" some of my favourite blends as an experiment. Anyone has ideas on how to do this with household tools?

 

[mikestanley]

"I've been thinking about "plugging" some of my favourite blends as an experiment. Anyone has ideas on how to do this with household tools?"
There are a number articles out there about home pressing blends. Pipe Friendly ad one that stands out. Pipes&Tobacco Magazine has all of the old issues scanned on P&T Foundations.
Mike S.

 

[gloucesterman]

My guess is that it would come out more like a crumble cake than a plug since you're starting out with a cut tobacco not leaf.

 

[dukdalf]

As an aside: Dunhill did consider a latakia plug, around the turn of the century. I believe samples were handed out on either the 2000 or 2001 CPC-show in three grades, labeled latakia plug, latakia plug medium and latakia plug mild.

 

[blackbeard]

I think with the press in my grandfathers shop would not produce crumble cake, maybe a gem stone. I may look into it...just lazy sometimes.

 

[misterlowercase]

As an aside: Dunhill did consider a latakia plug, around the turn of the century. I believe samples were handed out on either the 2000 or 2001 CPC-show in three grades, labeled latakia plug, latakia plug medium and latakia plug mild.

I remember recently seeing an auction for these plugs, wish I would have saved the images, they were just simple foil packs with plain writing and they came with a comment card too --- I guess they never got good feedback because they never went into production.
I couldn't find the auction, but it was listed as "Dunhill Blended Hard Pressed Tobaccos" - maybe someone can find it?!?!?

:puffpipe:
I wish all baccy was available in plug form!
Back in the good old days, Dunhill offered compressed packing for any of their baccy:
http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/reintroducing-dunhill-blends#post-598910
:

The canvas bag looked like this:

Alfred even filed a patent for the technique!

Dunhill Pat. No. 10723/15
Improvements in or relating to the Packetting of Loose Tobaccos.
I, Alfred Dunhill, of 31, Duke Street, St. James's, London, S.1.,Tobacconist, Cigar Importer and Pipe Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows-
The invention consists of improvements in or relating to the packetting of loose tobaccos or tobacco mixtures, hereinafter referred to as loose tobacco.
Loose tobacco when sold in packets intended to be kept in stock for some time is enclosed in tin-foil and an outer paper wrapping. Having regard to its weight tobacco when so packetèd occupies a considerable bulk. This bulkiness, which is a disadvantage in certain circumstances, can not be reduced by compression in the case of the ordinary method of packetting, as compression of the tobacco before it is enclosed in the tin-foil is impractical and compression of the tobacco after it has been wrapped in tin-foil is also impractical as the iin-foil is broken as soon as the tobacco is subjected to a moderate degree of compression.
My invention has been devised with the object of enabling a moderate weight of tobacco, say one-quarter to half a pound, to be packetted within a small compass and yet to be provided with a preservative covering of tin-foil.
According to my invention the required weight of tobacco is first enclosed in a bag, made of linen, calico or other suitable fabric and provided with a mouth adapted to be closed by a string or strings. This bag after being flattened by hand to a shape somewhat resembling a slab is inserted in a tubular or endless or pocket-shaped tin-foil wrapper. The end or ends of the wrapper is or are then folded so as to entirely envelope the bag. The bag enclosed in tin-foil is then placed in a former or mould of box-shape which is secured to the base of a screw or other press and is provided with a movable bottom consisting of a plate or ejector adapted to be raised by the action of a treadle or hand lever. A loose block of wood of approximately the same size as the interior of the former is then placed on the top of the packet, and the press operated so as to cause the head of its screw or plunger to bear on the wood block and compress the packet to the required extent. The packet, which will then be in the form of a flat slab, is ejected from the former or mould by raising the plate forming the movable bottom of said former. The packet is then scaled in any suitable manner, such as by means of two strips of paper encircling the packet and arranged at right angles to one another, or is enclosed in a paper wrapping sealed or secured in any suitable manner.
Loose tobacco when packctted in the above described manner occupies but little bulk, and as the packets are made of slab form packets containing, say, four ounces of tobacco can be readily slipped into a smoker's pocket. Moreover when the tin-foil has been stripped off the tobacco can remain in the bag and can be readily loosened without removing the tobacco from the bag.
Dated this 8th day of October, 1914
Complete Specification:
I, ALFRED DUNHILL, of 31 Duke Street, St. James's, London, S.W.,

Tobacconist, Cigar Importer and Pipe Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement -
The invention consists of improvements in or relating to the packetting of loose tobaccos or tobacco mixtures, hereinafter referred to as loose tobacco.
Loose tobacco when sold in packets intended to be kept in stock for some time is enclosed in metal-foil which is itself sometimes enclosed in an outer paper wrapping. Having regard to its weight loose tobacco when so packetted occupies a considerable bulk. This bulkiness is a disadvantage in certain cases.
The present invention consists of an improved method of packetting loose tobacco which possesses certain advantages hereinafter referred to.
According to one way of carrying out the invention the required weight of loose tobacco is first enclosed in a bag, made of linen, calico or other suitable fabric and provided with a mouth adapted to be closed by a string or strings.
This bag after being flattened by hand to a shape somewhat resembling a slab is inserted in a tubular or endless or pocket-shaped metal-foil wrapper. The end or ends of the wrapper is or are then folded so as to entirely envelope the bag. The bag enclosed in metal-foil is then placed in a former or mould of box-shape which is secured to the base of a screw or other press and is provided with a movable bottom consisting of a plate or ejector 'adapted to be raised by the action of a treadle or hand lever. A loose block of wood of approximately the same size as the interior of the former or mould is then placed on the top of the packet, and the press operated so as to cause its screw or plunger to bear on the wood block and press the packet to the required extent.
The packet, which will then be in the form of a flat slab, is ejected from the former or mould by raising the plate forming the movable bottom of said former. The packet is then sealed in any suitable manner, such as by means of two strips of paper encircling the packet and arranged at right angles to one another, or is enclosed in a paper wrapping sealed or secured in any suitable manner.
According to a slightly modified method of carrying out the invention the linen, calico or like bag containing the required weight of loose tobacco is placed in the above referred to former or mould and subjected to a preliminary moderate pressure. The bag is then removed from the former or mould, wrapped in a sheet of metal-foil, and again subjected to pressure in the former or mould.
The pressure employed in this second stage is considerably greater than that used in the first or preliminary stage.
In both cases the loose tobacco before it is placed in the linen or like bag is preferably enclosed in parchmentized paper, waxed paper or any other suitable material which, whilst not imparting a flavour to the tobacco, will prevent the

material of the bag extracting the moisture of the tobacco. The metal-foil used for the outer preservative cover would be of the necessary degree of stoutness, such for instance as that known to the trade as " heavy gauge metal-foil ". Compression of the loose tobacco may be effected by means of apparatus other than that above described.
Loose tobacco packetted according to the present invention occupies but little -bulk, and, as the packets are made of slab form, packets containing, say, four ounces of tobacco can be readily slipped into a smoker's pocket.
Moreover when the metal-foil has been stripped off, the tobacco can remain in the bag and can be readily loosened without removing the tobacco from the bag.
Dated this 8th day of April, 1915

There once was an actual plug available too,

but it was a special wartime thing...

The three temporary war time blends, “Campaign Plug” a matured Virginia, “Campaign Mixture” (blend type unknown) and “Best Scotch Thick Black Twist” were offered at still lower prices. “Campaign Plug”, priced 3/- per lb was “of a strength and character to appeal to the non commissioned officers and men [and of a] form suitable for campaign conditions”. It was really intended to be purchased in bulk and contributed to overseas units for distribution to the troops. To that end Dunhill also offered a pipe, the “Campaign Pipe”, “in lots of not less then 100” at a shilling each. The other two war blends, were a bit more expensive 5/- per lb for “Campaign Mixture” and 4/6 per lb for “Best Scotch” but still considerably less then the standard blends even at reduced military prices.
http://loringpage.com/pipearticles/duntob1.htm

::

 

[davek]

It wouldn't be hard to rig up something to hold the tobacco and you can drive a car onto it and leave overnight for a press.

 

[blackbeard]

It wouldn't be hard to rig up something to hold the tobacco and you can drive a car onto it and leave overnight for a press.

I like your thinking. A bit on the humorous side, but I don't see why it wouldn't work a little. Though I feel it may take more weight than that.

 

[lordofthepiperings]

American blends

Sorry for side tracking, but what, pray tell, do you mean by "American blends"?

 

[deathmetal]

Good question. I'm thinking of blends like my favorite Old Joe Krantz, which is "coarse cut," as compared to what Dunhill and some others use, which is a narrow ribbon cut for better mixing of the flavors. Some other American manufacturers as well like the mixed cut, with bigger pieces of Burley or Latakia, and these then dominate flavor while they are burning. The smaller the pieces, the more flavors at once, I guess.

 

[dukdalf]

It was not my auction, but I can show you what said samples look like:

There was indeed also a very simple form on A5-size that came with them, but I seem to have lost that...