Part 1
Why Elephant & Castle?
Once upon a time
visitors to a tobacco shop would be greeted
by dozens, even a hundred or more colorful and interesting tobacco
tins lining the shelves. |
English, or more specifically London made tobaccos were
the envy of the tobacco trade. Firms like McConnell's, Dunhill,
Dobies, and Astleys made a wide range of high quality smoking
mixtures which were sold throughout the world. |
London's dominance was so strong American tobacco companies,
in spite of abundant and inexpensive quality tobacco, produced
blends like Carter Hall, Bond Street and Walnut while London
firms made Nightcap, Balkan Sobranie and Three Nuns. |
Herman Lane of Lane Ltd, a visionary in the pipe and tobacco
world, challenged London with Crown Achievement a high quality
mixture. It was never viewed as more than an expensive London
"wannabe," though it was certainly a worthy contender.
Interestingly, Mr. Lane ultimately reversed his direction and
stopped competing with the London manufacturers. He created Capt.
Black - an aromatic - - which has been the most successful pipe
tobacco in history. |
The E&C project had its beginnings after Ken McConnell lamented
the number and types of tobacco no longer produced by his and
other tobacco manufacturers. |
Ken was acutely aware that fewer and fewer manufacturers were
working in London, and many had been consolidated by larger manufacturers
outside of England proper within Great Britian. |
on to Part 2
Creating
Elephant & Castle |