Topic: H. L. Savory ashtray.

[Paul S.]

There are few smoking related items on the Board, and it may only be ashtrays that would be of interest.  This has a few years of age, so definitely vintage, and may be of interest to someone.
I contacted John Turner who has a web site and is very knowledgeable about such matters, and he has very kindly provided the following, for which a very big thanks, and I have explained that we do not discuss values on the GMB so no problem regarding the absence of a value :

""I am unable to provide much information as the ash tray does not advertise a specific brand of tobacco or cigarettes.
H.L. Savory were established in London in 1885 and traded until taken over by Alfred Dunhill in 1938.
They were originally Pipe Makers and antique Savory Pipes are highly regarded. Like many other tobacconists they imported cigarettes in the early part of the 20th Century as cigarette smoking grew in popularity. They are not listed in the 1912 smokers handbook but they do appear in the 1925 publication as shown below. As you can see the advert features mainly imported cigarettes and I would imagine that the ashtray was probably distributed as a promotional item either to the licenced trade in support of a cigarette brand or as an end user collectible which was a popular form of promotion in the post WW1 period. So I feel that the ash tray probably dates from between 1919 - 1936, as to value I afraid I cannot offer an opinion.
Hope the foregoing is of some help to you.
Regards
John Turner                 Tobacco Collectibles""

[Bernard C]

Paul — Fascinating special.   The blank looks to me as if it could be Jobling's "Ash Tray, Round", listed in their mid '30s catalogues with an ex factory gate trade price of 4/3 a dozen.   Unusually for this catalogue there is no pattern number.   The catalogue illustration is very scrappy, but clearly shows the three cigarette rests.   Jobling certainly made high quality specials, a Cockerel and a Horse's Head were two basic specials of their hexagonal ashtray, to which you could have lettering added.   I have another which is all words, in capitals in a very plain sans serif font.

Alternatively the fancy lettering and coat of arms might be the work of a specialist on a bought in blank.   The most obvious name here is LONDON SANDBLAST DECORATIVE GLASS WKS. LTD.   See http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,5084.0.html   Note that Jobling was a manufacturer of the round and oblong paperweight blanks that this firm used.

HTH,

Bernard C.