T he 1950 s were a period of flourishing consumerism, mass advertising and marketing and attraction with novelty. In that context, a wide variety of tobacco-related devices and tricks showed up on the marketplace and in popular culture. A few of these gadgets were totally attractive or spirited; others were conceived to highlight convenience, spectacle or bravado. Among the much more severe novelty principles that circulated in magazines, trade catalogs and fairgrounds was the concept of a gizmo efficient in consuming several cigarettes– also an entire pack– in one operation. This post takes a look at the historic and social background of such tools, their designs and marketing, and the health and regulatory perspectives that frame just how we understand them today.
Historical and social context Postwar success and the growth of mass media integrated to stabilize and glamorize cigarette smoking. Cigarettes were marketed commonly on radio and, significantly, on television; star recommendations and elegant images enhanced tobacco’s associations with class, masculinity and recreation. The 1950 s likewise generated a thriving novelty industry: family gizmos, party playthings and “electric” inquisitiveness assured to streamline life or entertain visitors. Against that backdrop, tobacco companies, accessory …