“Give me a Big Dick and a Homo any day.”
“I prefer the taste of a good Pussy.”
1990’s sex talk? Not at all.
It’s two young men discussing their favorite 1920’s cigar. Meanings change, and many brands seen in showcases a century ago would elicit much different reactions today.
Not all questionable brands are sex related. Drug names could also be problematical. Here are a few brand names, including a surprise or two, you won’t find used today.
Brand Names You Can’t Use Today
A National Cigar Museum Exhibit
© Tony Hyman
X-Rated products are popular today, but not openly in showcases.
Try-Angle Cigar & Cheroot Co., Richmond. Fact. 61, 2nd VA. 1880’s. [4413]
Name your cigar after things men like.
John Fischer, Chicago, Fact. 241, 1st IL.
1940’s. [1647]
Most men liked this brand.
K.H. Jacobs, Windsor Fact. 492, 9th PA.
[1644]
Every man likes this brand.
Geo. P. Lies, Fact. 200, 3rd NYC c1890
[1646]
This brand wouldn’t last long today.
C.W. Saunders Fact. 43, 1st (Coldwater) Mich.
c1905. [10224]
They say once you try one, you’re hooked.
Uncataloged. Ibold & Co., c.1950 [1650]
Ibold’s cop out in later years; their gentrification,
if you prefer.
Not in the NCM collection.
“You want a WHAT...?”
Is this proof they’re made not born?
Homo Cigar M’f’g Co., East Chicago, Indiana.
Fact. 32, 6th Dist. IN. 1918 [1648]
“Who you calling a...?”
Yorkana Cigar Co., Fact. 1050, 9th (Yorkana) PA.
c1905 [1651]
“Who you calling a ....?”
British trade card for brand you won’t find today.
[8810]
Today, the whole country gets their panties in a wad
when two female singers peck on TV.
Fact. 249, 1st PA. 1917
[1645]
Brand refers to both the horses and the women.
J.W. Minnich, Dallastown, Fact. 2411, 9th PA 1905. Bang has meant copulate since the 1600’s. [10222]
Niche marketing gives everyone his own brand. Once thought normal, it can put you in jail today.
Clarke, Smith & Co., Binghamton,
Fact 1239, 21st NY c1890 [2609]
How well would a brand called The Molester do today?
Marcelino Perez, Tampa, Fact. 176, Florida c1920. [1652]
If you sew wild oats...
A.P. Snader, Ephrata Fact. 2319, 9th PA [10004]
...you might get a hickey.
Peter Jacobsen Cigar Co., Davenport, Fact. 203 IA for Hickey Bros Cigar Store Chain. [1638]
Even better, you might get a ....
Henry Haines, Maytown, Fact. 792, 9th PA., c1900.
[2608]
...or a ...
A. Lewis, Rensselaer, Fact. 69, 6th IN c1890
[2607]
...or better yet.
Printer’s stock label from catalog. [4089]
Ta-ta meant good-bye but enuff of us old folks remember when it was part of a girl’s anatomy.
Sutro & Newmark, Fact. 723, 3rd NYC 1875 [2614]
Only one? I think this word would be taboo just
because every late night comedian would make fun.
Fact. 1745, 9th PA. 1880’s. [4490]
White slave? As un-PC as can be. How long
could this be sold today?
Geo. Oaks, Fact. 273, 1st Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
[7725]
A woman served as dessert? Another brand that would raise more than a few hackles today.
Not in the NCM collection.
w0000
This brand was “Manufactured for the drug trade”
a claim not likely to win favor today.
D.H. Salinger, Fact. 16, 3rd NYC c1880 [6164]
“I want a fix” is not what manufacturers want to hear.
Louis Thomas, Fact. 33, 3rd NYC c.1884 [2611]
Every drug used today had its cigar namesake which wouldn’t appear as a modern brand.
Factory 302, 9th Dist. PA c1915 [0857]
This might be a big seller today.
Jos. Bucher, Dayton, Fact. 604, 1st Ohio, 1898 [1653]
This one would probably sell well too.
Alex Riston, Reynoldsville, Fact. 59, 23rd PA
c1893 [1654]
As would this.
[10292]
Looks like the guy who designed this box was
sampling the product.
Globe Tobacco, Detroit, Fact 832, MI c1885 [1655]
A brand the DEA wants to find.
O.E. Diehl, Felton, Fact. 608, 9th PA c1904 [1656]
A stash-box package, but not publicly usable today.
A.C. Henschel, Fact. 600 Minn. c1905 [1657]
Opium poppies would not find favor today.
Barnes, Smith Co., Binghamton, Fact. 1239,
21st NY 1912 [1658]
Kids dancing naked on extasy. Hmmm?
Is there a less likely image to be used today?
Uncataloged lid only. c1876 [1659]
The Nazis ruined a great Indian symbol.
Louis Heitman, Dayton, Fact. 701, 1st Ohio
Salesman’s sample 12 box, c.1905. [1660]
Some daring soul might name his cigar after sex or drugs, but this brand will never be seen again!
H.J. Max, Quaker City, Fact. 202, 11th Ohio, c1900 [10252]
“Smoke the WHITE CAP CIGAR or leave town.”
This qualifies as a 3rd brand you won’t see today. There’s no proof it was ever used. The only examples are found in printer’s catalogs; the label has never been found on a box. [1679]
