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Posted By: JimB

I am late to this thread, but find Ted's theory very interesting. I would like to tweak it a little bit and see what you all think.

I think Plank was not in the T206 set because he did not want his image associated with tobacco, much like Wagner. This is supported by his lack of a presence in a number of the tobacco issues of the day like T205, T202, T207, T3, etc. which were all issued when he was a major star. In contrast he was included in virtually all of the caramel set of the time, and they were much smaller productions.

Ted's theory however can add a dimension that makes this all more understandable. If he were 100% correct, then presumably Bender 150s and Davis 150s would be as rare as Plank 150s. I think Planks were pulled at roughly the same time as Wagners for the same reason. The lack of other Philadelphia players in the 150 series could be explained by Ted's theory. Maybe Bender and Davis did not go along with it.

When the 350 series was released, perhaps whatever held back other Philadelphia players was lifted and they were all included in the 350 series. Mistakenly somebody at ATC included Plank in the new group, unaware that his exclusion from the 150 series was for an entirely different reason, his reluctance to be associated with tobacco. When it was realized what happened, the Plank 350 was pulled immediately, like it had been before.

This is an elaborate speculation, but I think it makes some sense.
Thoughts?

JimB