[deadballfreaK]

With todays thread on T206s as stiffeners it would be a good time to go ahead with this post I was working on even though I don't have it written as well as I would like.

I don't claim to have any kind of expertise in the mysteries of the T206 set, but a few days ago stumbled across some info that I think is new to the hobby in an obscure publication. An article in The United States Tobacco Journal reports that American Beauty, Cycle, Broad Leaf, and Drum ceased production of the little 10 count slide boxes on June 30, 1910. As of July 1, 1910 all four brands were distributed in 15 count soft packs ONLY. Scott Reader states that American Beauty began inserting T206s July 3, 1910 and Cycle sometime in July. One would think Broad Leaf and Drum would also have started in July as well. Put these two things together and it seems obvious that these four brands issued T206s in 15 packs ONLY.

Here are the articles gleaned from 1910 Volumes 73 and 74:

The United States Tobacco Journal, New York May 7, 1910 page 5

"The packing of American Beauty, Cycle, Drum, and Broad Leaf in tens will be discontinued June 30, 1910, and, on July 1, 1910 the packing of these brands in twenties, as well as Golden Star and Victory, will be changed to fifteens, which will be billed at $1.80 for a carton of 750, and not by the thousand. We will make no change whatever in the style packing, price, or amount of gratis on any of the other brands mentioned in this circular*, on July 1, on which the increased internal revenue tax becomes effective.

*The other brands mentioned are: Sweet Caporal, Perfection, Sovereign, Mecca, Hassan, Tolstoi, Piedmont, Old Mill, Fez, Hindu, Lenox, Cairo, Fatima, Richmond Straights, and Mon Plaisir.


Saturday August 13 1910 page 12

NEWS AND HAPPENINGS IN THE RETAIL CIGAR, CIGARETTE AND TOBACCO TRADE
TIMELY HINTS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR THE RETAIL TOBACCONIST

BEAUTIES IN TWENTIES
And Other Popular Brands Still Being Sold by Metropolitan While Stocks Last

Before the increased tax went into effect the Metropolitan Tobacco Co. laid in unusually large stocks of the popular cheap cigarette packages which have since been reduced in the number of smokes contained in order to make up for the increased tax toll. This foresight has enabled the big jobbing concern to continue supplying their trade with such brands as American Beauties in 20's to retail at the old price and as the stocks cannot last long, dealers who are well posted are ordering up all they can afford. Calls for these packages were remarkably heavy, last week, and it will most likely be impossible to fill orders on them after this week at the very latest. There is some grumbling among the trade on the score of the lessened value in the new package; but a fair percentage of the city dealers take a more sensible view. The increased tax must be paid by the consumer. The nickel and ten cent selling prices are too well established on these brands to stand any increase. The imperative alternative was to reduce the volume of the contents. And this has been done in such a way as to protect the retail trade as far as possible by making the change as little noticeable as possible. Meanwhile, the Metropolitan is standing by its trade until the end of the old stocks is reached.

Saturday August 27 1910 page 12

THE LAST CHANCE
The announcement made in this column last week that American Beauties and other popular nickel brands were still being sold by the Metropolitan Tobacco co. in packages of 20 had the effect of starting a run on these goods and by the time this issue goes to press the Grand street headquarters will probably be entirely cleaned out of stocks in the old make-up. However, Drums, Broad Leaf and Cycles in 20's are still in stock at several of the Brooklyn branches, a fact which got to the knowledge of some of the Manhattan dealers this week. It is not a very far cry to the neighboring borough and it is worth car fare to get the bigger packages while they last.

Here is how I add it all up: AB, Cycle, Broad Leaf, and Drum were the cheapos of American Tobacco's line. Nickel cigarettes. Issued in 10 packs for a nickel and 20 packs for a dime. American Tobacco initially only issued cards with their more premium brands. In Aug 1909 a law was passed raising the tobacco tax effective July 1, 1910. It would no longer be profitable to sell these brands for a nickle. It was decided to go with soft packs of 15. This decision was not popular with the consumer. Probably after the announcement in May there was a lot of grumbling. The baseball inserts had proved very popular so why not add them to these four brands as a little bonus to help offset the price increase. I think this was a late decision. Four new backs were needed. It looks like not much time was spent on their design as they are basically identical. The four brands were all manufactured at factory 25 in Virginia. Were so many of the old 20 packs hoarded up before July that fewer of the card bearing packs were sold? Also it has been speculated that Drums were a St. Louis regional brand, but as seen in one of the articles all four brands were sold in NYC.

If anyone wants to pore through the whole Journal just google United States Tobacco Journal 1910. Google has photocopied several years. The publication is geared towards Tobacconists and is very heavy on cigar advertising.