Sol Levy. A little bit of cigar history for the Aussie lads.

[El Presidente]

https://www.jwire.com.au/from-australias-jewish-past-a-potpourri-of-jewish-legends/

Sol LEVY

One of the most prominent city shops of yesteryear was owned by Sol Levy, who was known as the ‘’Tobacconist Extraordinaire’’.  It is understood that Sol arrived in Australia sometime in the late 1880s and started trading at 713 George Street Haymarket Sydney in 1890.  The shop’s life spanned over 100 years.  A barber’s saloon was also part of the premises until the 1900’s.

Sol and his family manufactured hand-rolled cigars using imported tobacco from the early 1890s.  Sol Levy specialised in pipes and cigars, pipe cleaners, Zippo and Dupont lighters and tobacco pouches.  Then came the cigars and a printed guide suggested, among others, that the characteristics of a Romeo y Julieta are “spicy/floral/slightly sweet/creamy” making it suitable for the novice smoker, while the Cohiba is “rich coffee/chocolate/spicy/woody” and definitely for the connoisseur.

 

 

By 1892, Sol was awarded first prize for cigar making at the Royal Easter Show.

Sol had no children but adopted his nephew, Ted Levi to manage the shop.  Ted went on to have 10 children, among them Sol Levi, who took over the reins for many years, the last owner being Sol’s daughter.

There was very little change made to the shop, prior to the last 40 years when the shop was finally closed in 2015.  The second-hand display case Ted bought for the shop in 1932 was still there, as were the bottles of bay rum aftershave, razor strops and cut-throat razors from when the store doubled as a barbershop.

Everyone who smoked knew of Sol Levi tobacconist and people would come from interstate and overseas to visit the shop and purchase tobacco, pipes and cigars.

Sol Levi tobacconist was certainly an icon up until the shop closed on 7 November 2015

[Fuzz]

Here's a bigger pic of the original store.

 

circa 1980 - Norm Harvy (L) and Sol Levy (R).

Inside the shop with the last owner, Sol Levy's great-granddaughter Evelyn Platus

And in case you were wondering what shop was next door.... (and is still there).

 

 

[El Presidente]

Fuzz found it by accident  

 

 

[Fuzz]

1 hour ago, El Presidente said:

Fuzz found it by accident  

 

By accident? You think so little of me?

[Fuzz]

Sol Levy store manager, Norm Harvy, with a box of Monte No.2 worth AUD122.75 (circa 1983)