[Vintagecatcher]

Hi JC,

Welcome back to the forum.

Jefferson Burdick assigned the Old Mill Cabinets with the American Card Catalog number of H807-1. Many collectors have not agreed with this classification, and have suggested that the set should have had a "T" classification instead of the "H" designation.

As Leon has often stated over the years, Burdick's classification are usually correct. The distinction of why he choose an "H" classification is simple: Old Mill Cabinets were designed to be "window advertising" for merchants selling Old Mill Cigarettes.

Similar to the Boston Garter Cabinets, Old Mill Cabinets were designed to bring attention to the product as a visual merchandising tool. Their purpose was to advertise the product on the store front level as opposed to being the prize received for purchasing the product. It is also believed that they served the purpose as "toppers" that were placed on top of the cases of cigarettes that the merchants received.

The ad on the back of the OMCs hints to where the focus with regards to marketing and distribution would be located.

The backs state:

OLD MILL CIGARETTES Blue Bloods everyone. Made of Virginia and Carolina tobaccos---pedigreed leaf. Blended exquisitely and wrapped in genuine WHEAT STRAW paper-- the kind you have always used in rolling your own cigarettes. MILD AND SATISFYING

H807-1 Old Mill Cabinets use player images from players in only 3 of the 8 series in the T210 set. Only from Series #2, #5, and #7 are the images pulled from to create the larger Old Mill Cabinets. These series represent the Virginia League, Carolina Association, and the Eastern Carolina League. The same area where the Old Mill tobacco originated from.

Highlight the local players with the local product...BUY LOCAL!

The fact that only players from these three series have been found on Old Mill Cabinets would rule out the likelihood that Joe Jackson would have an OMC. His issued T210 was in Series #8. Although Joe Jackson did spend time with the Greenville Spinners in 1910 before being called up...so one can still hold out hope that one exists! There is a very slim chance since 3 OMCs have been found that have no corresponding card found in the T210 set. These players are: Walt Doane (Roanoke Tigers), Charles "Bunny" Hearn (Wilson Tobacconists), and Harry Spratt (Roanoke Tigers).

Patrick