Cigarette case
Encyclopedia
A cigarette case or cigarette box is a sturdy, most commonly metal container to store small numbers of cigarette
s safely from crushing. In modern times they are also made of plastic
.
In its simpler form (sometimes called cigarette tin) it is an approximately cigarette-length flat metal box opening flatwise symmetrically on hinges into two halves, each storing one row of cigarettes, often held in place by a spring or an elastic strap. Typical cigarette tins in the United States
of the 1920s–1930s stored 50 cigarettes, hence their name "flat fifties" at the time.
Other typical versions are sturdy cases to store standard cigarette pack
s. However there are quite a few patents for advanced cigarette cases,
including a cigarette case with mobile phone
.
Within smoking culture, cigarette cases may be fashionable accessories
. As such, they may be made of precious metal
s, adorned with artistic engraving
s, monogram
s and jewels
. Peter Carl Fabergé
, while most famous for his Fabergé egg
s, also manufactured exquisite cases of gold and gems for the family of the Tsar
, some of which, (e.g. those owned by Danielle Steel
) are reportedly worth up to $25,000 and appreciating. Alternatively, they may be leather
-covered. Cigarette cases are also collectible
items.
The commonly known so-called "silver cigarette cases" are most often chrome-plated
, although there are silver-plated or polished aluminum
, in addition to genuine sterling
ones.
Cigarette cases used to be popular with soldiers, and many World War I
and World War II
veterans (e.g., James Doohan
) stated that cigarette cases saved their lives by stopping bullets.
In 2003 the European Union
witnessed a surge of cigarette case sales, attributable to the introduction of prominent black-bordered warning labels on cigarette packs, e.g., "Smokers Die Younger", etc., by an EU directive in January 2003. Cigarette cases were a way to avoid the invasive labels (another way being various satirical stickers, such as "You could be hit by a bus tomorrow").
The United States Census Bureau
, for the purposes of industry statistics, includes manufacturing or adorning of cigarette cases into the category NAICS
339914
"Costume jewelry and novelty manufacturing".
Due to their compactness, conveniently fitting in a pocket, cigarette cases are often used to store or conceal small items.
Cigarette
A cigarette is a small roll of finely cut tobacco leaves wrapped in a cylinder of thin paper for smoking. The cigarette is ignited at one end and allowed to smoulder; its smoke is inhaled from the other end, which is held in or to the mouth and in some cases a cigarette holder may be used as well...
s safely from crushing. In modern times they are also made of plastic
Plastic
A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...
.
In its simpler form (sometimes called cigarette tin) it is an approximately cigarette-length flat metal box opening flatwise symmetrically on hinges into two halves, each storing one row of cigarettes, often held in place by a spring or an elastic strap. Typical cigarette tins in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
of the 1920s–1930s stored 50 cigarettes, hence their name "flat fifties" at the time.
Other typical versions are sturdy cases to store standard cigarette pack
Cigarette pack
A pack or packet of cigarettes is a rectangular container, mostly of paperboard, which contains cigarettes. The pack is designed with a flavor-protective foil, paper or biodegradable plastic, and sealed through a transparent airtight plastic film. By pulling the "pull-tabs", the pack is opened...
s. However there are quite a few patents for advanced cigarette cases,
including a cigarette case with mobile phone
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
.
Within smoking culture, cigarette cases may be fashionable accessories
Fashion accessory
Fashion accessories are decorative items that supplement and complement clothes, such as jewelery, gloves, handbags, hats, belts, scarves, wigs, watches, sunglasses, pins, stockings, bow ties, hand fans, leg warmers, leggings, neckties, suspenders, and tights....
. As such, they may be made of precious metal
Precious metal
A precious metal is a rare, naturally occurring metallic chemical element of high economic value.Chemically, the precious metals are less reactive than most elements, have high lustre, are softer or more ductile, and have higher melting points than other metals...
s, adorned with artistic engraving
Engraving
Engraving is the practice of incising a design on to a hard, usually flat surface, by cutting grooves into it. The result may be a decorated object in itself, as when silver, gold, steel, or glass are engraved, or may provide an intaglio printing plate, of copper or another metal, for printing...
s, monogram
Monogram
A monogram is a motif made by overlapping or combining two or more letters or other graphemes to form one symbol. Monograms are often made by combining the initials of an individual or a company, used as recognizable symbols or logos. A series of uncombined initials is properly referred to as a...
s and jewels
Gemstone
A gemstone or gem is a piece of mineral, which, in cut and polished form, is used to make jewelry or other adornments...
. Peter Carl Fabergé
Peter Carl Fabergé
Peter Karl Fabergé also known as Karl Gustavovich Fabergé in Russia was a Russian jeweller of Baltic German-Danish and French origin, best known for the famous Fabergé eggs, made in the style of genuine Easter eggs, but using precious metals and gemstones rather than more mundane materials.-Early...
, while most famous for his Fabergé egg
Fabergé egg
A Fabergé egg is any one of the thousands of jeweled eggs made by the House of Fabergé from 1885 to 1917. Most were miniature eggs that were popular gifts at Eastertide...
s, also manufactured exquisite cases of gold and gems for the family of the Tsar
Tsar
Tsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism...
, some of which, (e.g. those owned by Danielle Steel
Danielle Steel
Danielle Fernandes Dominique Schuelein-Steel , better known as Danielle Steel, is an American romantic novelist and author of mainstream dramas....
) are reportedly worth up to $25,000 and appreciating. Alternatively, they may be leather
Leather
Leather is a durable and flexible material created via the tanning of putrescible animal rawhide and skin, primarily cattlehide. It can be produced through different manufacturing processes, ranging from cottage industry to heavy industry.-Forms:...
-covered. Cigarette cases are also collectible
Collectible
A collectable or collectible is any object regarded as being of value or interest to a collector . There are numerous types of collectables and terms to denote those types. An antique is a collectable that is old...
items.
The commonly known so-called "silver cigarette cases" are most often chrome-plated
Chrome plating
Chrome plating, often referred to simply as chrome, is a technique of electroplating a thin layer of chromium onto a metal object. The chromed layer can be decorative, provide corrosion resistance, ease cleaning procedures, or increase surface hardness.-Process:A component to be chrome plated will...
, although there are silver-plated or polished aluminum
Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
, in addition to genuine sterling
Sterling silver
Sterling silver is an alloy of silver containing 92.5% by mass of silver and 7.5% by mass of other metals, usually copper. The sterling silver standard has a minimum millesimal fineness of 925....
ones.
Cigarette cases used to be popular with soldiers, and many World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
veterans (e.g., James Doohan
James Doohan
James Montgomery "Jimmy" Doohan was a Canadian character and voice actor best known for his role as Montgomery "Scotty" Scott in the television and film series Star Trek...
) stated that cigarette cases saved their lives by stopping bullets.
In 2003 the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
witnessed a surge of cigarette case sales, attributable to the introduction of prominent black-bordered warning labels on cigarette packs, e.g., "Smokers Die Younger", etc., by an EU directive in January 2003. Cigarette cases were a way to avoid the invasive labels (another way being various satirical stickers, such as "You could be hit by a bus tomorrow").
The United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, for the purposes of industry statistics, includes manufacturing or adorning of cigarette cases into the category NAICS
NAICS
The North American Industry Classification System or NAICS is used by business and government to classify business establishments according to type of economic activity in Canada, Mexico and the United States...
339914
"Costume jewelry and novelty manufacturing".
Due to their compactness, conveniently fitting in a pocket, cigarette cases are often used to store or conceal small items.
In popular culture
- In some of the James BondJames BondJames Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
films, Bond is issued gadgets which are concealed in cigarette cases. - In the film Black SwanBlack Swan (film)Black Swan is a 2010 American psychological thriller film directed by Darren Aronofsky and starring Natalie Portman, Vincent Cassel and Mila Kunis. Its plot revolves around a production of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake ballet by a prestigious New York City company. The production requires a ballerina to...
, Lily uses a cigarette case. - Francisco ScaramangaFrancisco ScaramangaFrancisco Scaramanga is a fictional character and the main antagonist in the James Bond film and novel The Man with the Golden Gun. The film was so named because it described Scaramanga's possession of a golden gun....
, the antagonist in the 1974 film The Man with the Golden GunThe Man with the Golden Gun (film)The Man with the Golden Gun is the ninth spy film in the James Bond series and the second to star Roger Moore as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond...
, assembles his signature weapon the Golden Gun from a cigarette lighterLighterA lighter is a portable device used to generate a flame. It consists of a metal or plastic container filled with a flammable fluid or pressurized liquid gas, a means of ignition, and some provision for extinguishing the flame.- History :...
, a pen and a cigarette case. - The Team Fortress 2Team Fortress 2Team Fortress 2 is a free-to-play team-based first-person shooter multiplayer video game developed by Valve Corporation. A sequel to the original mod Team Fortress based on the Quake engine, it was first released as part of the video game compilation The Orange Box on October 10, 2007 for Windows...
spySPYSPY is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* SPY , ticker symbol for Standard & Poor's Depositary Receipts* SPY , a satirical monthly, trademarked all-caps* SPY , airport code for San Pédro, Côte d'Ivoire...
class is equipped with a disguise kit hidden inside his cigarette case, which he can use to disguise himself as another class and team. - In Boardwalk Empire the main character Nucky Thompson can often be seen with a cigarette case.
- In Chinatown, the protagonist, J.J. Gittes, carries around a cigarette case.
- In the film TitanicTitanic (1997 film)Titanic is a 1997 American epic romance and disaster film directed, written, co-produced, and co-edited by James Cameron. A fictionalized account of the sinking of the RMS Titanic, it stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Jack Dawson, Kate Winslet as Rose DeWitt Bukater and Billy Zane as Rose's fiancé, Cal...
, the valet, Mr. Lovejoy, uses a cigarette case.