My grandfather lived in rural California in the 1920's and apparently smoke Five Brothers exclusively.
The Most Popular Pipe Tobacco.... 50 Years Ago.
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I started a similar thread a couple months ago. My findings concluded that it was “probably” Captain Black Original/White... although, Prince Albert Cherry Vanilla was a close second, but I’ll never know for sure...
53 yrs ago I started with Middleton's Cherry Blend and nearly burnt my tongue off. I switched to Prince Albert, SWR & Half & Half (since that's what was available at the Base BX in 1967) and stayed with those blends for many years, except for Half & Half when Pinkerton took over production. I left that one behind at that point. I can't remember smoking Captain Black, although I may have at some point, I just can't remember. If I did, it didn't leave a good impression. The blends I mentioned were the most popular back then, at least to the pipe smokers I knew.
Not to overthink what is essentially a stroll down memory lane, and bearing in mind that I grew up with a dad who smoked only Granger (from a pouch) for fifty years, I think non-smokers, or kids who have only smoked a few pilfered cigarettes, smell pipe tobacco differently than once they actually smoke it. A lot of the room note that we enjoyed as kids is changed by having actually smoked a pipe quite a bit. But memories are sweet.
Growing up ( 1960s and 1970s), my Grandpa smoked Amphora Brown. Dad made a brief foray into the pipe when I was pretty young. For him, it was Borkum Riff Whiskey Cavendish.
Mike S,
Mike S,
Back then I had no idea what deer tongue was or if it was in H&H. Pre-internet days, I just smoked the OTC's that I liked - not knowing what specific tobaccos were in a particular blend. Back then I wasn't so analytical and didn't think about what blend tasted like figs and raisins or woodsy and leathery, etc. I just smoked what seemed good to me.
Captain Black and Borkum Riff seemed quite popular but I didn't care for any of them. H&H, Carter Hall and Prince Albert were my go-to's.
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Condor, St Bruno, any type of brown/black twist or pig tail, Gold Block and Walnut Flake, John Cottons, War Horse are pretty much the UK main stay from 50 years ago.
It's nice to read the evocative and vintage names of the old tobacco blends that were commonly sold OTC. Brings back fond memories of my dad and some of my uncles...RIP.
While codgers had their favorites.....most just bought whatever was available, at the time, on the store shelves....and they were happy to have it.
I once bought my dad a big tin of PA for a Christmas gift. He smoked "Mixture No. 79". He thanked me with a Christmas hug and eventually smoked that whole can of PA. I never knew if he enjoyed smoking it, or not. He's make it a point to let me see him loading his pipe with my gifted tobacco, and smiled when he lit up the pipe.
While codgers had their favorites.....most just bought whatever was available, at the time, on the store shelves....and they were happy to have it.
I once bought my dad a big tin of PA for a Christmas gift. He smoked "Mixture No. 79". He thanked me with a Christmas hug and eventually smoked that whole can of PA. I never knew if he enjoyed smoking it, or not. He's make it a point to let me see him loading his pipe with my gifted tobacco, and smiled when he lit up the pipe.
I would guess Middleton's Cherry Blend. I smoked that for my first few years of pipe smoking and frequently got complements on the aroma.
I think Clan has that sort of classic old timey pleasant pipe smell. I wouldn't suggest smoking it unless you want to see you tongue go up in flames though.
@condorlover1 I've smoked quite a bit of Condor and St. Bruno Ready Rubbed in my clay pipes and find them a pleasant smoke.
When I bought my first clay pipe I thought there were only 4 different pipe tobaccos; namely Condor, St. Bruno, Clan and Mellow Virginia. I've tried all these in my clays!
I agree with you about the smell of Clan; I've smoked some in my clay pipes and still like a smoke of it sometimes.
Is Dr Pat Irish Mixture sold in NZ?
My 4th grade teacher occasionally smoked it in the classroom at lunch.
The room smelt heavenly.
The topping recipe must have changed because although still good, the modern version does not trigger any memories.
That’s the one you said was like racing green aye?
ive Never seen a dr pat tin for sale, but it may have been. We had a dr john brand of pipes that were imported to nz.
there were obviously other famous blends that came from australasia, havelock being one that jumps to mind.
Yes, although Dr Pat has different leaf and a different cut, the topping smells the same as Orlik Racing Green.
[Both are good but Racing Green is my favourite of the two]
Haven't seen Havelock for years. Thought it was a cigarette flake.
Not ever heard of Dr John.
My dad was a SWR and Half & Half guy. Worked at Nasa - everybody smoked at their desks back then.
Hey, wait a minute! That's ME you're talking about!! -laugh-
Hmmmm.....Fifty-five years ago? It was heaven! To name a few...
Sir Walter Raleigh (the aromatic came later)
Granger
Velvet
Holiday Mixture
Revelation
Bond Street (Bourbon Street)
Half & Half
John Rolfe
Kentucky Club
Edgeworth (ready rubbed and slices)
Union Leader
Barking Dog
Blue Boar
Hickory
Sugar Barrel
Brindley's Mixture
Country Doctor
Carter Hall
Middleton's Cherry
Paladin
Captain Black (White)
Iwan Ries Three Star Blue
Iwan Ries Ko-Ko Mixture
Model
Hines Mixture
Walnut
Prince Albert (Horrible, but, it was a thing back in ye olden times.)
Amphoa (Original and full aroma)
Cheers,
Chili
In 1970, I was a college student and had no interest in smoking tobacco from pipes. I recall seeing Borkum Riff ads and lots of it being displayed at various retailers.
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