Wigan Album

Great Derrick, I smoked Capstan full strength, in the pink packets, for a while when I was a lad then switched to No 6 to get the coupons, before going on to roll ups eventually. I haven't touched one for almost 40 years now, but I daresay the damage is already done.

What a fantastic piece of history Derrick, have you got the cards in an album. They could be worth a bob or two.

Does anyone remember Tom Thumb cigars, I always remember my dad smoking them only at Christmas and new year.

Pity the cards didn't say stop smoking!

This photo brings back memories!!, good one Derrick. Eddie, i am led to believe that your body is back to 'how it was' after 10 years of not smoking, 48 years today for me, never had a drag of one from that day to this.

I remember the T.V ad as well Mary , it went ' Tom Thumb cigars for Christmas, Tom Thumb in tins of ten, Tom Thumb is more, it's another name for, the Christmas gift for men'. I'll bet you remember the tune as well don't you?

Eddie, 'full strength, as a lad, that,s going some. My father smoked them and he was a heavy duty smoker. The big C got him in the end even though the Germans couldn't . Thanks for the great picture Derrick.

My grandad smoked Capstan full strength, he was in the first world war and worked all his life, he died in his sleep age 88 in the mid 1970s. I know smoking is bad for you and i'm not saying start smoking, but many people do blame smoking on many thing. Please don't take this the wrong way. Happy new year.

The health people reconds it take five years before smoking gets out your system.

Well-remembered TV Jingle, Eddie! I used to but my Dad a cigar in silver-coloured tin tube and some Holland House tobacco for his pipe when I was only a young girl, from Ashton's Tobacconists in Wigan. Don't recall ever being asked my age. I love the photo.....love old packaging!

I'd bet the lads at Wigan's stations et al would have had the ability to use the equipment shown on all of those picture cards.
The cards with the album offer shown at the top, are the 'home issue', while cards without the offer were issued in The Channel Islands.

Derrick you've got a gem there, a collector would love to buy. How many cards and packets have you.

Alex Stan +everyone,The cards are just loose ,there are 45
cards in the packet 50 in the set 5 are missing. It was my
late father in law who saved them, my wife kept them safe in
a drawer,They are very interesting to read if you are into
railways It would take a long time to read them all I stopped smoking in 1999 I would like to thank everyone for
their nice comments thanks D.C.

I seem to recall one particular brand, it may have been Craven 'A' advertising their product as being ' kinder to your throat' , or ' beneficial to your bronchial tubes', or some other nonsense. Whilst 'Camel' brand claimed that ' More doctors smoke Camels than any other brand '. What a crock. Let us all join together and thank the Lord for consumer protection.

I could make a tank out of that packet

Given a couple of matchsticks, an elastic band a slice of candle and a cotton bobbin I could make one as well Mick. I hereby challenge you to a reenactment of the battle of El Alemein. I choose to be on the losing side. I've always had a soft spot for losers.

Eddie,I could make a robot from the inside of the packet but
not on here LOL D.C.

A ha, you've triggered a deep rooted memory there Derrick, I seem to remember that one. It's a very long time ago now and I've forgotten how to do it, but I seem to recall it involved rolling the silver paper into a tube. Am I on the right track? Ha!

Eddie Yes your on the right lines but not the silver paper I
cant tell you any more D.C.

I'd like get exited over a pack of cigs. Get a grip

Eddie: Recently discovered that Stanley Matthews once advertised Craven 'A' cigarettes; "The Cigarette for Me", he declared. Well, Well.

I have a not-so-fond memory of elderly men with emphysema who coughed up their guts--Then held out a hand and begged for a cig. It was nearly always a Woodbine. This was during the 'Flu epidemic in 1957, when smoking was still allowed in hospitals.

Well start smoking then Pey or keep quiet.

This is a very interesting subject, this packet could be from the 1930s very rare. Thank you for showing.

I have a 1959 calendar made of cig packets. There is a photo of it on "Assorted", under "ephemera", fourth page.

Roy, I smoked my last woodbine cigarette on Bolton Municipal golf course in March 1964 when I was 36. I had an operation to remove cancer from my stomach in April 2009.

I stopped smoking when I was 21. Woodbines were then 1/9d for 10 and players were 2/6d for 10. I am 85at the end of this month. My dad died aged 76, a lifelong woodbine smoker

When I was at school around 1960, we used to go to the shop across the road at dinner time, ( I won't name the shop or the school for obvious reasons ), and they'd split a pack and sell you a single Woodbine for one old penny.

Fred, I remember that there was a machine on the pavement and after you`d put 2d in the slot, out would come 2 woodbines and 2 matches.
Then the open at one end 5 woodbine packet came later - don`t know how much it cost.
I still have a Rizla which you used to roll your own cigs.

It puzzled me. When I went for my annual M.O.T. in March, the nurse asked me if I had ever smoked, I said. "Yes, fifty six years ago" she said. "Oh, you will have to have a breathing test then." Consequently, I did pass the breathing test. It seemed a waste of time to me.

Albert NOT a waste of time, because you passed!

Have you noticed no matter how many times you go to the doctors you are asked the same question, Do you smoke? Only when i'am on fire doctor.
How much do you drink? It depends how much I can swallow. Are you still sexually active? What's that doctor?

In the late 1950s we used go in the Black Cat snooker hall in Market St Hindley we used to pay 6d old money for a game
of snooker a woodbine cigarette + 1 match to light the cig
with,lots of 14 year olds were puffing away at their fags
till a teacher walked in told them all to go to the headmasters study for six of best on the behind with his
cane I will always remember that .D.C.

If you do smoke and your at the doctors, the first thing they say is STOP SMOKING, If you don't smoke, well they can't blame it on anything can they...drink maybe.

During the war, and during the time of National Service, nearly every soldier, sailor, or airman smoked. Fags were so cheap. I believe the navy got them buckshee. Serving abroad they were equivalent to 5p for twenty, any brand.

Forgive me Albert, no offence intended. It's just that the first few words of your previous comment put me in mind of one of the characters from ' Only Fools and Horses ', I daresay you'll be familiar with the one I mean. Just having a bit of fun, that's all. Regards. Eddie.

Eddie. A good classification of me. " Uncle Albert" Except he was Royal Navy,and I was R.A.F. but not in the war, like he was.

Poor old Uncle Albert Didn't you just love him and Del and Rodney would never let him finish his tale.

Albert: My father-in-law was in the navy in the war he was a chef on the Valiant that got sunk in harbour. When you say they got cigs buckshee your correct they got them any time in large packs. He also gave up his rum ration to a chap who used to twist long lengths of pipe tobacco.
When he came home on leave and got to the pub the smell of rum was heavy in the air.