Old Photo : Backstory

[El Presidente]

FABRICA TOBACCO SEGUNDO ALVAREZ - HAVANA

 

Backstory 

La Corona Cigar Factory

researcher Raúl Martell Álvarez (July 2018)

 

In 1845 José Cabargas, owner of a small tobacco shop located at 129 Cuba Street, in Havana within the walls, created the famous brand "La Corona". In 1882 the brand was acquired by Manuel López, owner of "La Vencedora" located on Monte Street, who later moved to Figures 28.

Three years later, López entered into partnership with Segundo Álvarez, a prominent Asturian, for his vast experience of more than 30 years in the twisting industry. 1885 Álvarez remains the sole owner of "La Corona" and joins the equally Asturian Perfect López and constitutes the significant firm "Álvarez, López y Compañía" and in 1889 they moved to the lavish building known as Palacio de Aldama located on Calle Reina and Amistad, current headquarters of the Institute of Cuban History .

That same year the prosperous company "Henry Clay and Bock Company Limited" emporio and seed of the future first monopolistic company acquired part of the shares of "La Corona". From that moment until 1898, the management of the factory was shared by Segundo Álvarez with the German businessman Gustav Bock . In the end Segundo has to surrender and sell his shares to the English company “Havana Cigar and Tobacco Factories Limited”, which in turn owns the “Henry Clay and Bock Company Limited”. Later it goes to the strong North American consortium ATC, that is, the monopolistic "American Tobacco Company" of the billionaire James Buchanan Duke.

In 1900, it introduced the brands "Mi Corona" and "Dos Coronas".

Two years later he installed his subsidiary "Havana Commercial Company" in the Cuban capital, which would be identified by the people as the "American Trust" that came with the same objective of acquiring as many tobacco factories as possible, as its owner had done in the United States. United .

Thus, the building of La Corona became "El Palacio de Hierro" for its built structure and for containing a large number of torcedores coming from the firms that the North American monopoly acquired.