Is this a cigarette holder?

cudamark · Jun 14, 2015

I've seen cigarette holders before, but, all the ones I've seen were longer and more elaborate. This tube is more industrial looking than a fashion statement! It has "J.H. Wilson tobacco" stenciled on it as well as "Kentucky homespun tobacco" and "Mayfield Ky". Seems to be made of aluminum. I've found a 1919 ad for that company online but nothing about the tube and it's use. What do you folks think?

ARC · Jun 14, 2015

Mouthpiece from an opium pipe... ?

But could be cigarette holder... yes.

One or the other.

Loco-Digger · Jun 14, 2015

I think ARRC is half right. looks like the stem of a tobacco pipe.

diggummup · Jun 14, 2015

I don't know what it is but this was a small mail order company, so it could be some kind of advertising giveaway that was completely unrelated to smoking, like companies that give away ink pens and key chains and such. Maybe the identifying parts are missing from the object.

cudamark · Jun 14, 2015

I'll have to find a cigarette butt to test in the end. Looks about the right size for one. That open end is very slightly belled which would make it easier to slide one in.

Back-of-the-boat · Jun 14, 2015

could have been something for a roll your own machine, measured amount of tobacco?

cudamark · Jun 15, 2015

That crossed my mind too but I couldn't figure out how it would work. If you stuffed it with tobacco, how would you get it back out? If you smoked it in the tube, I would think it would get way too hot to hold in your lips. One of the early owners of this ranch bought his tobacco in bulk (I'm talking a barrel here!), so, a roll your own device is definitely possible. Not being a smoker, I just don't know how it would have worked.

NOLA_Ken · Jun 15, 2015

with the open end having a taper I'd think it's a holder for a home rolled cigarette, I rolled my own for a while, and it's not easy to get a perfect size on the ends, so the taper would make it work with variations in the roll, does that end show any sign of burning?

cudamark · Jun 16, 2015

No, no signs of burnt tobacco anywhere on it, but it's been in the ground a while and is a bit crusty in spots. It's not really tapered on the open end, just slightly belled at the lip. the other end with the small hole is tapered.....not a lot, but, you can see it in the photo.

kingskid1611 · Jun 16, 2015

Straw for sipping. Okay seriously have no idea but I like it.

bigfoot1 · Jun 17, 2015

a simple guess.J.h wilson was a mail order buisness and it seems had many tobacco related items avail.a common advertising/promo item in the 20s were company name lighters.the tube type popular.the third is a pen lighter

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Got_4by4 · Jun 17, 2015

Due to the "advertising" printed on the out side. I think that it s a cap to an older "Fountain Pen".
The advertising is on the cap because if it was on the barrel it would wear away with handling.
I think the hole on the end was for a rounded or other end that you see on most pens of that type that also acts to fasten the clip.

The upper is the fountain pen with the cap to the right.

Hope this helps.

cudamark · Jun 18, 2015

Both you guys have good suggestions, but, I just haven't been able to find another one like it. You'd think if it was a novelty or advertising item, that another company would have used that same design, but with different lettering, of course. Most companies don't make their own, but, hire an advertising company to make them.

diggummup · Jun 18, 2015

cudamark said:
Both you guys have good suggestions, but, I just haven't been able to find another one like it. You'd think if it was a novelty or advertising item, that another company would have used that same design, but with different lettering, of course. Most companies don't make their own, but, hire an advertising company to make them.

I agree with them on the advertising angle but I also agree with you. I haven't been able to find anything that resembles it, regardless of the advertising. Being made out of aluminum is another unique quality of it. I haven't found another cigarette holder like this either for that matter. I was thinking maybe it had a steel rod that went through the center of it at one time and maybe it was a screwdriver or something similar but I haven't found any that resemble this one and as a promotional advertising item, it would not be company specific as you have already noted, there would be other examples. It's a stumper for sure!