A very rare and interesting tube!

[Havanaaddict]

This is a very interesting tube, it is made out of paper well cardboard. It has a cellphone insert and a push on cap.

[Puros Y Vino]

Interesting. I wonder if this is from WWII era? Metals, amongst many other raw materials, were hoarded for military efforts, so manufacturers had to make due with other materials.

[Havanaaddict]

That is a interesting theory!   

I smoked this over 10 years ago, but I still remember the flavors like it was yesterday!

[Fugu]

Interesting piece indeed. Looks like a tubo from a Petit Coronas Tubos. I’ve never seen a tube like this or an official record of a tube like this. The text on the cello says 'tube being made from cedar'. So, paper is just the outer cladding as it seems, cap and bottom appear to be made from metal. Would you have a pic of the complete text on the cello by any chance?

Also interesting to note that it’s all written in Spanish.

Like Frank, I’d be keen to know the rough era of production we’re talking about. While I don’t think it’s that old. Would you have a bit more background on it @Havanaaddict?

[Havanaaddict]

Sorry I really can't tell you much as it was a gift, and I am sure he told me more back then I used to drink lots of wine.😂 

Here is a picture of the inside glassine paper.

Translated 

The tube that encloses this cigar is made exclusively of cedar. The precious wood produced in the forests of Cuba. This tube will keep the tobacco in perfect condition, retaining its rich aroma until the moment of being smoked.

Also some pictures of the back.

Translated 

Special Container 

This tobacco is in contact with the cedar and protected from the atmospheric changes. 

[CaptainQuintero]

So it's almost like a veneer wooden tube? Or literally cardboard made from cedar? 

What year did the Crystales-glass style tubes generally cease being produced? They seem on appearances to be a similar sort of time period.

[ATGroom]

18 hours ago, Puros Y Vino said:

I wonder if this is from WWII era? Metals, amongst many other raw materials, were hoarded for military efforts, so manufacturers had to make due with other materials.

This was my thought as well.

According to this article https://www.cigarjournal.com/read-the-story-behind-aluminium-cigar-tubes/ the aluminium tubes first appeared in December 1933. Simon may be filling in between the lines a bit, but he seems to be of the view that prior to the aluminium tube there wasn't any good way to sell cigars in a protective package, rather than the aluminium tube was an improvement on the existing paper ones.

In any case, the Cifuentes y Cia on the label puts this post-1900 and pre-Revolution.

So to me it being an innovation due to wartime shortage seems as good a theory as any. Or Cifuentes y Cia didn't want to pay for Upmann's patent.

3 hours ago, CaptainQuintero said:

What year did the Crystales-glass style tubes generally cease being produced?

They were around into the 70s, and may also have come about as an alternative to wartime aluminium shortages.

[99call]

I believe these were sold on Bond Roberts, but no longer seem to be searchable. 

La Gloria Cubana Naturales Tubulares.

[Havanaaddict]

16 hours ago, CaptainQuintero said:

So it's almost like a veneer wooden tube? Or literally cardboard made from cedar? 

What year did the Crystales-glass style tubes generally cease being produced? They seem on appearances to be a similar sort of time period.

It feels like cardboard in your hand, but for what it says on the paper it is made of cedar with like a gold paper wrapping it.

[Fugu]

Many thanks for the additional pics @Havanaaddict!

The company firming as Cifuentes y Cia. narrows it down to the period between 1941 (August) and 1960 (family was expropriated in July). So, the aluminium tube had been invented/patented by that time (Frankau only held a 5-yr exclusivity contract with Braden for H. Upmann). What surprised me at first is that nothing can be found in catalogues or other publications of that period. But this and the fact that from 1941 on Cifuentes sent a high amount of cigars to the European battlefields (mostly via the US) makes the wartime production indeed a likely possibility. Still strange that a labelling in English is missing (which again doesn’t exactly fit the war production theory). By the fifties Partagás used metal as well as glass tubes. The original box packaging would have been really interesting to see. My guess is it’s been a special production at least or/and was serving a special purpose and market.

Really interesting piece!

[99call]

You learn something new everyday.  Who knew you could buy 3pack (of cedar tubed) Lusitanias in the UK (1973)?

[Fugu]

Lovely! That looks like a merchant’s special packaging / repackaging (gift, promotional etc.), likely commissioned or perhaps even done by themselves.

[99call]

10 hours ago, Fugu said:

Lovely! That looks like a merchant’s special packaging / repackaging (gift, promotional etc.), likely commissioned or perhaps even done by themselves.

To me the cardboard packaging looks like the same supply source as these Romeo y Julieta Churchills.