Old ways of keeping cigars

[rollzst]

I don't really know about this topic but it would be very interesting to find out the ways people used to keep cigars, say before the 1950's.

I know that they would have used cedar humidors just like we do today but there were only analog hygrometers, and not the vast amount of humidifiers on the market today. There were also more problems with temperature fluctuations. Has anyone got more info on this, picture would be great!

[tippexx]

[QUOTE=rollzst;64192]I don't really know about this topic but it would be very interesting to find out the ways people used to keep cigars, say before the 1950's.

And I've always wondered how did they deal with humidity during transportation prior to steam. Both for raw tobacco and finished products?

[bigbarneyhotdog]

No idea, I've only been collecting since 2005

[rollzst]

Just been doing a bit of research about this and i have found out they often used to use apple cores instead of humidifiers. Pretty interesting, i wonder if this would flavour the cigar in any way

[Lou3]

Spanish cedar interiors are relatively recent. Milk glass was the common interior before Spanish cedar. I was talking to a tobacconist about the overpowering cedar smell I used to have in my humidor, and he said he preferred the old milk glass interiors. He said that an entire Spanish cedar interior can affect the cigars' flavor too much, and I suspect he's right. I think a milk glass interior with Spanish cedar dividers would be a happy medium. If I can find the right antique humidor with a milk glass interior, I'll try it.

Tin and copper were also common interiors.

[snooky]

Yeh i heard they would use apple cores as a humidifier but i get the impression we are more fortunate today, though not so sure the soil is as rich today, after many years of harvesting.
Wonder what the oldest cigar is today and what it might taste like. ?

[Tariacuri]

Yeh i heard they would use apple cores as a humidifier but i get the impression we are more fortunate today, though not so sure the soil is as rich today, after many years of harvesting.
Wonder what the oldest cigar is today and what it might taste like. ?

There is a blurb on the Gotham cigar museum site about smoking a cigar from the 1880's I think?? I have some clear Havana's from the 1930's but have not smoked them yet - waiting for some warm weather and a nice context. They are really interesting looking little figurados. Even if they taste like crap I thought it would be cool to try one. The cello looks like the colored stuff on the Perdomo Champagne's.

Their perfect condition is a testament to the hardiness of cigars in general (IMO). I panic if my wineador fluctuates the least bit but I know these cigars were not humified for periods in the past.

[EugeneSax]

I've smoked some Romeo PC's & Monty 4's from the 70's or early 80's that weren't kept in a humidor, but in a wine cellar. The cool, stable temperature & probably quite damp conditions don't seem to have had any detrimental effect - in fact they were definitely the best Monty 4's and amongst the best Romeos I've had.

BTW In case anyone else was wondering - Min Ronny reckons 1934 was the year cellophane "...started to be commonly used [for packaging Cubans]."

[G-man]

Finally the meat and potatos of cigar chat !

Wow we learn something new every day ! Thank You Sir

Just been doing a bit of research about this and i have found out they often used to use apple cores instead of humidifiers. Pretty interesting, i wonder if this would flavor the cigar in any way

I would have to say Probably not . As I don't believe folks collected as many cigars as we do today .

Lou this is brilliant research !

Spanish cedar interiors are relatively recent. Milk glass was the common interior before Spanish cedar. I was talking to a tobacconist about the overpowering cedar smell I used to have in my humidor, and he said he preferred the old milk glass interiors. He said that an entire Spanish cedar interior can affect the cigars' flavor too much, and I suspect he's right. I think a milk glass interior with Spanish cedar dividers would be a happy medium. If I can find the right antique humidor with a milk glass interior, I'll try it.

Tin and copper were also common interiors.

I have been staying away from lining walk-in humidors with Spanish cedar for years now
A . Cost factor and I didn't feel it necessary as most cigars come in cedar boxes
B . Most shops don't have Spanish cedar lined walls .
I also had spoke to a large distributor in Delaware years ago as to why all his walls weren't Spanish cedar and he told me if cigars were in cedar boxes then why do we need the rooms to be done in Spanish cedar . And I also think it alters the taste .

Cello in the 30s ! More knowledge for me to store
Thanks you

I've smoked some Romeo PC's & Monty 4's from the 70's or early 80's that weren't kept in a humidor, but in a wine cellar. The cool, stable temperature & probably quite damp conditions don't seem to have had any detrimental effect - in fact they were definitely the best Monty 4's and amongst the best Romeos I've had.

BTW In case anyone else was wondering - Min Ronny reckons 1934 was the year cellophane "...started to be commonly used [for packaging Cubans]."

Now this is what we should be talking about on a daily bases !
Just my $.02

[PoohBore]

i had a couple of nc cello wrapped cigars recently. Took em out of the cello and the smell of amonia was so strong.

[peanutpete]

Lou this is brilliant research !

Spanish cedar interiors are relatively recent. Milk glass was the common interior before Spanish cedar. I was talking to a tobacconist about the overpowering cedar smell I used to have in my humidor, and he said he preferred the old milk glass interiors. He said that an entire Spanish cedar interior can affect the cigars' flavor too much, and I suspect he's right. I think a milk glass interior with Spanish cedar dividers would be a happy medium. If I can find the right antique humidor with a milk glass interior, I'll try it.

Tin and copper were also common interiors.

I have been staying away from lining walk-in humidors with Spanish cedar for years now
A . Cost factor and I didn't feel it necessary as most cigars come in cedar boxes
B . Most shops don't have Spanish cedar lined walls .
I also had spoke to a large distributor in Delaware years ago as to why all his walls weren't Spanish cedar and he told me if cigars were in cedar boxes then why do we need the rooms to be done in Spanish cedar . And I also think it alters the taste .

now i defer to your knowledge about spanish cedar changing the taste but would that not also be the same if they were kept in cedar boxes ?

[G-man]

Sick stage

i had a couple of NC cello wrapped cigars recently. Took em out of the cello and the smell of ammonia was so strong.

The stogies were probably in there sick stage if yo smelled ammonia !
Cello is suppose to breath ? Thats what I've been told for years. When I store my cigars long term I always keep cello on . The ones I plan on burning I remove from cell and keep them stored in a separate Humidor.
Works for me . Does anyone else do this ?

[snooky]

Not sure if keeping cello on for too long is good, i understand that simialar products can become carcagenic. Have to research this. As if tobacco isnt anyway.

[Smallclub]

Not sure if keeping cello on for too long is good,

Absolutly ZERO issue with the cello; I have some La Corona panatelas in cello from 1991 that are just perfect.
I've never heard of any vintage cuban cigars collector who would remove the cello…

[Lou3]

now i defer to your knowledge about spanish cedar changing the taste but would that not also be the same if they were kept in cedar boxes ?

Good point. I don't want to hijack this thread, so I'll start another one about Spanish cedar and alternatives. I plan on stopping by two tobacconists this week, so I'll pick their brains about the topic before I start the thread. I'll edit this post with a link to the new thread.