View Full Version : Lighting up a Players Navy Cut
The Sailor
22-01-2008, 06:55
Cigarettes that won the war in the Atlantic.
The convoy isn't showing any lights and you come off watch and slip down out of the wind for a fag.
What else to offer around to your frozen mates but your dry tin of bond Players Navy Cut.
Here is an interesting little aside to the Players Navy Cut story that was submitted to the site some time ago:
http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/hmsedinburghcrew.jpg
Thomas Huntley Wood of HMS Edinburgh during the celebrations for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897.
Many thanks to David Wood, whose great grandfather is the subject of the photograph.
The photograph was taken in 1897 as stated above, whilst the ship was based at Spithead (Galway Bay). This and other photographs were taken of him due to his stalwart appearance as the photographer thought he epitomised what a sailor should look like. This photo then appeared in Navy and Army Illustrated and as far as he was aware that was the end of it but then in 1898 it reappeared as an advert for Players Navy Cut cigarettes which again surprisingly also appeared in the Navy and Army Illustrated. This kind of rankled with him as he hadn't given permission for the use of the photograph so he contacted Players complaining of this and after some communication they agreed to pay him and also sent him some "baccy" to test its qualities. They then launched an advertising campaign for Players Navy Cut cigarettes based on the image above which became one of the most recognised brands of all time. The rest as they say is history.
The Sailor
22-01-2008, 20:59
Good one Kc. That was an interesting addition.
I thought this post would get a lot of interest from old sailors. Maybe they smoked Senior Service. I dunno.
I loved these old tins. I was trying to find a pic of the round Players tins of 50.
herakles
23-01-2008, 02:42
I'll bet they were Senior Service! Perish the thought they were Capstans!
Today of course in this ghastly politically correct climate we have been forced to live in, there would be no smoking.
What next I wonder? A ban on pink gins maybe?
The Sailor
23-01-2008, 03:01
Take a look at this baby Herk? I searched and found a pic of the tins of 50 that you always see featured in the war movies.
And thanks for answering my post. I have missed your input mate.
herakles
23-01-2008, 04:01
I well remember that packaging but as I never smoked that brand, can't comment on it. I was a Capstan man myself unless I wanted to show off and flashed a packet of Sobranie.
Batstiger
23-01-2008, 09:07
Good thread!
I can't add any pictures but have plenty of memories. I was a Gold flake man myself but liked the ships Woodbine which was the size of a Player and only cost 4/6d (twenty two and a halfpence) for 200.
Don't forget the Blue liners for the Barrack stanchions. I believe they even put tips on those after I left the Andrew!
Come to think of it I cannot ever remember tips on cigarettes in those days except for the old Craven A corked tip.
Thanks for the memory, I have now been a non smoker for four years but couldn't half do with a drag now!
Regards to all,
Bob.
herakles
23-01-2008, 12:10
Woodbines won us the First World War!!
You are right Batstiger. Red packet Craven A did have a corked tip. I don't think the blue packet was so sophisticated.
Then there was the roll your own blue Capstan. Definitely not with a cork tip!
Been off them for 4 years eh! Just a sec. whilst I butt mine out.
My Warrant Officer used to smoke Capstan full strength and I used to say to him that they would kill him and they did!....he died of lung cancer 3 days before his 55th Birthday and his retirement from the RAF
herakles
23-01-2008, 19:33
I should be so lucky Melv. Party pooper!
The Sailor
23-01-2008, 22:34
Check out these German tins.
Pic 1. This German tin from Hanover, was manufactured around 1914 to hold a 100 oriental cigarettes. The patriotic theme shows a German officer smoking and relaxing while standing in front of some warships in the naval dockyard, all set against the German flag.
Pic 2. This tobacco tin from Germany's "Third Reich" era. The illustration is of a large cargo ship flying the Nazi flag on the stern. It is difficult to find in good condition as the flag is often defaced to hide the swastika.
Pic 3. This colourful and highly detailed German tin was produced in Dresden around 1910 to hold a 100 Turkish cigarettes.
Albert Wilhelm Heinrich (1862-1929) was Kaiser Wilhelm's younger brother and a Prussian Prince. He was a career sailor entering the Imperial German Navy at the age of 15 and rising to the rank of Grand Admiral. He had a completely different nature to his brother, being was very popular in Northern Germany and he was considered to be a good overseas diplomat. His 1912 trip to the United States was particularly successful, where he won the support of the American press and the people; of which a large proportion were of German ancestry. He was very interested in racing cars, sailing and he held one of the first pilot's licenses in Germany.
Batstiger
23-01-2008, 23:42
Anyone got a scan of the old duty free stamps we used to have for our quota unless abroad?
The Sailor
24-01-2008, 04:27
Wait a sec Bob, we've got a few more smokes to get through before the war is over.
herakles
24-01-2008, 05:02
OMG! Craven A. I'd forgotten them.
I haven't forgotten Camels though. I don't have to repeat the story about what they were made of!
I was a tickler man myself. Even sometimes rolled pipe tobacco into cigs when tickler had gone..Dread to think of what we smoked in those days. Been stopped now for almost 50 years..Wonder how much money I could have saved if I had put it on one side.? Cheers, Stan
herakles
24-01-2008, 09:59
Doesn't work that way Stan. You'd have found something else to spend it on.
There were times in the Army when I would add grass to my roll your own baccy. When times are desperate ... ...
OMG! Craven A. I'd forgotten them.
I haven't forgotten Camels though. I don't have to repeat the story about what they were made of!
Craven 'A' Remember the advertising slogan?
"So good for your throat" Yeah! Right!
Navy duty free blue liner's were awash on the black market in Portsmouth. Running a tobacco shop must have been hard work within 5 miles of the Dockyard. :D
The Sailor
24-01-2008, 10:37
Can I offer anyone one of these?
herakles
24-01-2008, 10:50
Dear me Sailor. You did start something with this thread!
The Sailor
24-01-2008, 10:56
Even the Sailor's Smoke was Organised
A "pipe" breaks in on all ship's activity - 'Place spitkids', and small wooden half-tubs are placed in various positions about the upper deck. A spitkid is a maritime spittoon, and to-day is a reminder of those days when sailors chewed rather than smoked tobacco, and spat vigorously and often, days when, as the old saying goes "to spit brown and call a cat a flat-tailed shemale" was the hall-mark of the seaman.
Nowadays the spitkids are there primarily as receptacles for cigarette ends and pipe dottles, for "the Bloke" has been known to verge upon an apoplectic stroke at the sight of a cigarette stub negligently nestling upon his deck planking. A moment later, and the bugle call all have been awaiting rings out - Stand easy. All over the ship work that can be dropped is dropped, out come the pipes and the cigarettes on the upper deck, and for ten welcome minutes the hands smoke and yarn. Then it's Out Pipes (Cease fire) on the bugle and Clean out and stowaway spit kids on the boatswain's pipe, and the work goes on where it left off.
The Sailor
04-02-2008, 05:36
From time immemorial he has been allowed to buy tobacco - either tobacco in the uncut leaf or shredded for pipe or cigarette - at prices which pay no King's duty on board ship. For instance a pound of some of the best pipe tobacco in the world can be bought once a month for half a crown! As this is "duty-free" tobacco, however, it must not be landed in quantities more than are needed for immediate use. There is always a chance that some greenhorn may try and take a tin ashore for his father, not realising that if the Customs Officer finds it on him he will get into serious trouble and, like all other privileges, there is always a chance of the privilege of duty-free tobacco being removed from everyone else at the same time. Hence the need for the quick "frisk" and the occasional opening of a parcel. It is just the same when liberty men return from shore. Again they are liable to be "fanned," not this time for tobacco, but in case any of them has brought any liquor on board, for that is absolutely against the rules.
herakles
04-02-2008, 05:45
At least our ships are "wet". Unlike those of our American cousins. Or have they changed their rules? Jeff - where are you?
The Sailor
04-02-2008, 06:20
Jeff's checking out America's newest aircraft carrier
bert-261
15-03-2012, 13:47
A trifle late mayhaps, but hopefully this Abdullah advertising calender from 1922 will fit in with this thread. In 1986 I worked for a while as security in Southampton docks and found this pinned inside a locker in a derelict building. bert.
eskimosailor
15-03-2012, 13:58
Can I offer anyone one of these?
As I recall there were three manufacturers of these, indicated by a few small letters beneath the 'blurb' on the back. "S & Co" was Sobranie, the best of all, "BAT" was British American Tobacco and I think the third one was a "G" for Gallaghers.
Steve
buster185
15-03-2012, 16:41
Smoked plenty of them, Players being my favourite, but never considered before what 'Navy Cut' actually means?? Can anyone please enlighten me??
Thanks.....Buster
Old Salt
15-03-2012, 17:05
On RFA's we never got the RN cigarettes, were thwy really the sweepings from the factory floor ?? :D But we had all the usual brands. My fsvourite was Senior Service. Lookmg back, how did we survive s couple of pipe smokers puffing away in the mrssdeck ?
Brian
Mitch Hinde
15-03-2012, 21:51
Hi All
Singapore, pay week Senior Service, blank week 7 Diamonds.
Mitch Hinde
Teuchter
16-03-2012, 07:17
Nostalgia
Milliseconds after the pipe "call the hands" - bloke in the next 'mick farts and without opening his eyes reaches a shaky hand out for his smokes & zippo, safely stowed within easy reach on the trunking, and lights up the first of many Blue Liners for the day!!
bert-261
16-03-2012, 07:50
Sometime in the early 70s I gave up smoking Capstan Full Strenth in protest at the price increase. They went from 36 to 39p for twenty. Totally outrageous! What price twenty these days? bert.
Not sure about precise dates but arrived at Chatham in late 1947 and found that some enterprising team had set up a small commercial cigarette rolling machine in a room somewhere near the drill shed. If you took your issue of tinned cigarette tobacco (2s 7p per Lb) to them plus about 5 shillings they would exchange it for two cardboard boxes with about 200 (I think) ready rolled in each. A couple of years later the first professionally rolled blue liners in packets of twenty appeared.
There was also the arrangement where a relative/friend could go to a local tobacconist and order 200 or 500 proprietry brands in tins of 50. These were charged at duty free price for delivery from the manufacturer direct to members of the armed forces. I used to get a regular supply of 'ship's Woodbines' which I think cost about 4 shillings for a tin. Senior Service and other brands were dearer but I can't remember just how much.
Ken
1950 in Wrangler, Home Fleet, Rosyth. Each week we were issued with 100 cigarettes, one bar of chocolate & a bag of sweets. We had no choice of which brand we were given, the brands changed randomly.We liked it when issued Woodbines ( they were full size) because they were cheaper, 4d a packet comes to mind. My next ship Sluys we were issued with Blueliners, the ration was quite large either 600 or 800 , can't remember which, you could have Ticklers,instead, not sure how much. I seem to remember that cigarette tobacco came in 1/4 or 1/2 pound tins. Cigarettes in tins, flat or round , we used to get in the Far Flung.
astraltrader
18-03-2012, 18:03
Taken from the 1956 Navy Year Book.
A classic advertisement that will bring back memories for most British forum members....
alanandbren
19-03-2012, 07:07
Taken from the 1956 Navy Year Book.
A classic advertisement that will bring back memories for most British forum members....
Another classic that hangs on the wall in my so called den.
Alan
fleetchief
29-03-2012, 03:00
My first draft in 1960, as a newly qualified REA3, was HMS Adamant at Faslane. The main NAAFI was on 2 deck, but up at 01 deck in the for'd superstructure was a 'Cigarette Bar'. As well as all the usual brands, including those in 50 tins, it sold brands such as Sobranie Cocktails (multi-coloured); Sobranie Black Russian and Players Perfectos Finos (which were oval in cross-section). I tended to smoke Benson & Hedges, which came in tins, which were useful for keeping little odds & ends in ones toolbox. Still got some of them, after 50 years!!
Another REA, a classmate who shall remain nameless, also smoked B&H. He would carry TWO tins, one with just a couple inside, which he would produce saying 'Can't offer them round, as I only have two left'. When no-one was looking he would pull out the other nearly full tin and transfer another couple to his 'in use' tin. Needless to say, he was always the first to take a cigarette when someone else offered them around.
It was rumoured that the only reason Adamant went to sea once a year, was so that it could continue selling Duty Free cigarettes.
Ed
jbryce1437
06-04-2012, 19:30
Just got back from helping my son hang a shower screen. He didn't have a 3mm drill bit so I had to nip home and get one, stowed in my old baccy tin.
I still have a few others, containing nuts, screws, etc., but all showing their age, just like me:D
Jim
Dave Hutson
07-04-2012, 12:28
Not sure about precise dates but arrived at Chatham in late 1947 and found that some enterprising team had set up a small commercial cigarette rolling machine in a room somewhere near the drill shed. If you took your issue of tinned cigarette tobacco (2s 7p per Lb) to them plus about 5 shillings they would exchange it for two cardboard boxes with about 200 (I think) ready rolled in each. A couple of years later the first professionally rolled blue liners in packets of twenty appeared.
There was also the arrangement where a relative/friend could go to a local tobacconist and order 200 or 500 proprietry brands in tins of 50. These were charged at duty free price for delivery from the manufacturer direct to members of the armed forces. I used to get a regular supply of 'ship's Woodbines' which I think cost about 4 shillings for a tin. Senior Service and other brands were dearer but I can't remember just how much.
Ken
Ken,
In 1958/9 there was a team of Maltese girls at HMS Phoenicia on Manoel Island who operated a Cigarette rolling business - tipped or plain - used them every month.
Looking at my trophy cabinet I still have a packet of 20 Blueliners - unopened still with the Cellophane wrapper - probably taste a bad now as they did then.
Dave H
I only joined up because I thought there may be a chance of meeting these two girls.......Alas!
114430 114431
A tin of pussers ticklers was worth more than it's weight in gold on the black market in Hamburg when I was there in 1950.
Don Boyer
09-04-2012, 07:29
Back in the days when I smoked, I smoked non-filtered cigarettes and was able to occasionally buy Players, which I thought were pretty good. Still don't know what "navy cut" means though...:cool:
Glad I gave it up, though. Especially when I see today's prices for a pack. Gas and cigarettes will put you in the poor house these days! :eek:
My twopenn'orth: as a non-smoker, I have been fascinated by this discussion. My brother smoked cigarettes but my father smoked a pipe, and used leaf to create his own 'perique'. I knew I had seen something about this on the forum somewhere, and found it under 'Unidentified Rank' ---
Q: Leaf tobacco, for pipe or chewing.
Strip veins out of leaves.
Treat with Rum.
Wrap in small canvas rolls and tie with string, like a small hammock.
Leave for 3 months. It turns out solid and pitch black.
Cut in small bits for chewing, or for filling your pipe
___UQ
There is also a link to a much more sophisticated account of the practice, perhaps this was the original 'Navy Cut'!
Edna
I think leaf tobacco stopped being available about 1950, the same time as open razors (cut throats).
Tried smoking a pipe for a brief period but gave up on watch, especially in boiler rooms. Walking past a fan outlet was like forced draught to the pipe and you finished up blowing smoke out of orifices you did't know you had. Stuck to blueliners after that.
Ken
astraltrader
17-04-2012, 10:09
A couple of other cigarette adverts from c1955 that should bring back memories for some of our senior members.... ;)
eskimosailor
17-04-2012, 11:30
A couple of other cigarette adverts from c1955 that should bring back memories for some of our senior members.... ;)
One of my favourites from this era was Churchman's No.1. A favourite when I was feeling flush, but usually meant I was back to Weights the next week.
Steve
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