New museum development is a hard habit to quit! (From Stourbridge News)

New museum development is a hard habit to quit!

5:00pm Sunday 22nd November 2009

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THE Black Country Living Museum is urging smokers and non-smokers to pass their habit on to them, as it sets up the latest development in the 1930s High Street.

The museum is setting up a tobacconist shop and needs memorabilia dating between 1935 and 1939 to fill its shelves before it opens to the public next summer.

Preedy's Tobacconist Shop used to have more than 40 shops across the Midlands and sold all the well known tobacco brands.

And now residents are being urged to dig out any old tobacco tins or smoking paraphenernalia which could be displayed in the shop.

Stephen Howard, assistant curator for displays, said: "To help ensure the accurate reconstruction of an important part of our social history we are keen to hear from anyone with connections to the industry or with access to memorabilia.

"We are looking for display fixtures for pipes, smoking paraphernalia, vintage tobacco tins in good condition, cigarette packets of the era such as Du Maurier, Passing Clouds, Woodbine, Park Drive, Weights, Cinderella, Navy Cut and Senior Service; snuff boxes, point of sale cards, posters and cigarette cards."

Back in the 1930s smoking was considered a glamorous pastime, with 75 per cent of the population regular smokers.

And as loose tobacco sold at three and four pence an ounce and a packet of five Woodbine cigarettes sold for a tuppence, it was also cheap - with very little known about smoking related diseases.

Mr Howard added: "We all know the great damage that cigarettes do to our health but it is important that the museum truly reflects the times and the importance of smoking in everyday life.

"Cigarettes had a relatively clean image, with little awareness of links with heart and lung disease. I'm sure men and women brought up in the 30s and 40s will remember the slogan 'Craven A will not affect your throat.'"

If anyone has any information or memorabilia to help the museum contact Stephen Howard at stephenh@bclm.co.uk to make an appointment.

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