Carreras Black Cat cigarettes, EL green mild 10 b
The antecedents of the Carreras business began trading in the eighteenth century (the company's products and advertising materials consistently bore the motto 'Established 1788'), and forebears of the founder’s family were Spanish apothecaries. The founder of the business was a Spanish nobleman, Don José Carreras Ferrer, who fought in the Peninsular War under the Duke of Wellington (1808–1814). After serving and receiving the highest military honours, it is believed he was obliged to leave Spain on account of his political views.
In 1881, the first cigarette-making machine was patented in the United States by James Bonsack, and by 1883 one of the British manufacturers, W. D. & H. O. Wills, had pioneered the use of the Bonsack machine in England. Wills joined with twelve other companies to form the Imperial Tobacco Group, from which both Rothmans and Carreras chose to remain independent, and by 1901 the Bonsack machine, making 200 cigarettes a minute, was exclusively available only to members of this Group. Around this time another of the cigarette machine makers, Bernhard Baron, had returned to London from the United States in 1896 with a patent for a new machine which could make 450 cigarettes a minute. Baron's progress was watched with interest by Mr. Yapp who was by then running the Carreras business but who was keen to make cigarettes a paying venture.
Having been unable to sell his machines to the newly formed Imperial Tobacco Company, which had a monopoly on the Bonsack machines, Yapp was able to negotiate a business arrangement with Baron in 1903. On 6 June 1903, Carreras became a public company with Yapp and Baron as directors and, under the leadership of Bernhard Baron, heralded the beginnings of competition for the Imperial Tobacco Group and the new American maker, James Buchanan Duke, who was also capturing large slices of the British market with Ogden’s Guinea Gold, the first Virginia cigarette made in England. The original Carreras prospectus was heavily criticised in the City press, but within a short time, the shares were fully subscribed, particularly by members of the tobacco trade, who saw potential in the new venture. The Baron family had a reputation as good employers who treated their staff well.[citation needed] Bernhard Baron would walk amongst his employees daily, enquiring after their families, and his son, Louis, and his grandson, Maurice, also made regular visits to the factory floor. A tradition developed that on Bernhard's birthday, each December, all employees were given two weeks' wages and a cake to take home.
In 1904, an allied company was established. Called Carreras and Marcianus Ltd and operating from St James's Place, Aldgate EC3, the former Baron Machine Company works, the company’s purpose was to commence production of machine-made cigarettes. During the last six months of 1904 three brands made their debut, including Black Cat, the first cigarette in the United Kingdom to contain coupons that were redeemable for gifts.
In 1905 yet more brands were introduced such as Chick, Jetty, and Sweet Kiss and Carreras began coupon trading in Black Cat. The business prospered and in 1906 additional premises were opened nearby, introducing new brands such as Carreras Ovals and Seven Up. Baron chose many novel schemes for the promotion of Carreras’ pipe tobacco and cigarette brands. In 1909, the company introduced the Baron automatic pipe filler in cartridges, which revolutionised pipe smoking and sold by the millions.
In 1921, after the launch of Craven A, Carreras launched more brands such as Wall Arms, Piccadilly, and Turf. By 1927 the business had outgrown the Arcadia premises in City Road; the war had increased demand for cigarettes. In 1928, the famous Arcadia Works was opened in Mornington Crescent NW1, formerly a favourite residence of artists and writers. This building, which has become a major London landmark, was unusual in its design. It was the first factory in Britain to make use of pre-stressed concrete technology, and the first to contain air conditioning and a dust extraction plant. The company was also the first to provide full welfare services for its employees.[citation needed] The Arcadia Works was often visited by royalty, including the Duke of Windsor when he was the Prince of Wales, King George VI when he was the Duke of York, and the Duke of Kent. Many other important visitors from every part of the globe were entertained at Mornington Crescent. Leading to the entrance of the building were two large bronze cats.[3] Cast at the Haskins Foundry in London, these versions of the Egyptian god Bastet were each eight feet six inches tall and stood guard over Arcadia Works until 1959 when Carreras merged with Rothmans of Pall Mall and moved to a new factory in Basildon, Essex. The cats were separated, with one making the short journey to Essex, while the other went to be displayed outside the Carreras factory at Spanishtown, Jamaica.
Carreras Black Cat cigarettes, EL green mild 10 b
The antecedents of the Carreras business began trading in the eighteenth century (the company's products and advertising materials consistently bore the motto 'Established 1788'), and forebears of the founder’s family were Spanish apothecaries. The founder of the business was a Spanish nobleman, Don José Carreras Ferrer, who fought in the Peninsular War under the Duke of Wellington (1808–1814). After serving and receiving the highest military honours, it is believed he was obliged to leave Spain on account of his political views.
In 1881, the first cigarette-making machine was patented in the United States by James Bonsack, and by 1883 one of the British manufacturers, W. D. & H. O. Wills, had pioneered the use of the Bonsack machine in England. Wills joined with twelve other companies to form the Imperial Tobacco Group, from which both Rothmans and Carreras chose to remain independent, and by 1901 the Bonsack machine, making 200 cigarettes a minute, was exclusively available only to members of this Group. Around this time another of the cigarette machine makers, Bernhard Baron, had returned to London from the United States in 1896 with a patent for a new machine which could make 450 cigarettes a minute. Baron's progress was watched with interest by Mr. Yapp who was by then running the Carreras business but who was keen to make cigarettes a paying venture.
Having been unable to sell his machines to the newly formed Imperial Tobacco Company, which had a monopoly on the Bonsack machines, Yapp was able to negotiate a business arrangement with Baron in 1903. On 6 June 1903, Carreras became a public company with Yapp and Baron as directors and, under the leadership of Bernhard Baron, heralded the beginnings of competition for the Imperial Tobacco Group and the new American maker, James Buchanan Duke, who was also capturing large slices of the British market with Ogden’s Guinea Gold, the first Virginia cigarette made in England. The original Carreras prospectus was heavily criticised in the City press, but within a short time, the shares were fully subscribed, particularly by members of the tobacco trade, who saw potential in the new venture. The Baron family had a reputation as good employers who treated their staff well.[citation needed] Bernhard Baron would walk amongst his employees daily, enquiring after their families, and his son, Louis, and his grandson, Maurice, also made regular visits to the factory floor. A tradition developed that on Bernhard's birthday, each December, all employees were given two weeks' wages and a cake to take home.
In 1904, an allied company was established. Called Carreras and Marcianus Ltd and operating from St James's Place, Aldgate EC3, the former Baron Machine Company works, the company’s purpose was to commence production of machine-made cigarettes. During the last six months of 1904 three brands made their debut, including Black Cat, the first cigarette in the United Kingdom to contain coupons that were redeemable for gifts.
In 1905 yet more brands were introduced such as Chick, Jetty, and Sweet Kiss and Carreras began coupon trading in Black Cat. The business prospered and in 1906 additional premises were opened nearby, introducing new brands such as Carreras Ovals and Seven Up. Baron chose many novel schemes for the promotion of Carreras’ pipe tobacco and cigarette brands. In 1909, the company introduced the Baron automatic pipe filler in cartridges, which revolutionised pipe smoking and sold by the millions.
In 1921, after the launch of Craven A, Carreras launched more brands such as Wall Arms, Piccadilly, and Turf. By 1927 the business had outgrown the Arcadia premises in City Road; the war had increased demand for cigarettes. In 1928, the famous Arcadia Works was opened in Mornington Crescent NW1, formerly a favourite residence of artists and writers. This building, which has become a major London landmark, was unusual in its design. It was the first factory in Britain to make use of pre-stressed concrete technology, and the first to contain air conditioning and a dust extraction plant. The company was also the first to provide full welfare services for its employees.[citation needed] The Arcadia Works was often visited by royalty, including the Duke of Windsor when he was the Prince of Wales, King George VI when he was the Duke of York, and the Duke of Kent. Many other important visitors from every part of the globe were entertained at Mornington Crescent. Leading to the entrance of the building were two large bronze cats.[3] Cast at the Haskins Foundry in London, these versions of the Egyptian god Bastet were each eight feet six inches tall and stood guard over Arcadia Works until 1959 when Carreras merged with Rothmans of Pall Mall and moved to a new factory in Basildon, Essex. The cats were separated, with one making the short journey to Essex, while the other went to be displayed outside the Carreras factory at Spanishtown, Jamaica.