Here we have a card that is immediately reminiscent of the way that arms and armour used to be displayed in museums, wired stiffly to the wall in long, dark corridors, with a strictly hands-off approach to visitors.
And I am certain that many of us remember such trips, with the school, walking through gloomy corridors unable to talk, and definitely not to lean across the red rope and try to handle an exhibit, with grumpy guards ready to pounce on any misbehaviour, even if it was only the glimpse of a gleam in a tiny eye.
This approach may have protected the exhibits, but it failed to inspire the interest of any of the children, either in the subject they were being shown, or in museums in general.
Today, museums are so much different, and they are specifically designed to show children that the past is not so boring after all. Handling is encouraged, and special events, especially at half terms, cannot fail to bring delight whilst also imparting knowledge, in simple, small chunks, that the child is guaranteed to want to share with others. If you have a local museum, have a look at their schedule, they are all online these days, and prepare to be amazed. And why not nip down and share in the excited delight of little voices, having fun?
Best of all, the Royal Armouries museums at Fort Nelson, Portsmouth and in Leeds are free to go in, including access to all the galleries, the daily live shows, and any demonstrations, though do be aware that there may be fees for special events, especially those which involve other groups using their facilities.
Unfortunately the Tower of London does have an admission charge, and it is quite hefty.
In our original "Directory of British Cigarette Card Issuers (Past and Present)", issued in 1946 as RB.7, there is quite a bit of information about George Dobie & Son. Ltd., namely :
G. DOBIE & SON LTD.
Clark Street, Paisley
(Also trades under the name of Hodge, 86 Greenhill Road.)
Only introduced cigarettes when J. & T. Hodge business taken over in 1908.
One set only, "Weapons of All Ages" (inscribed "Geo. Dobie & Son.").
"Four Square"
There is an even greater surprise though, because J. & T. Hodge appear in this book too, as :
.J. & T. HODGE (Defunct.)
Paisley.
Previously 30 St. Ninian Street, Glasgow.
This name is carried on by Dobie`s of Paisley. See entry under that name (as from 1909).
Founded 1825.
First in Scotland to manufacture cigarettes and circulate cigarette cards. "Scottish Scenery" (1893)
"Texan Smokes", "New Orleans", "Hand Cut"
There is actually a lot more to J. & T. Hodge than this, and several generations of tobacco manufacturing. The first J. & T. Hodge was founded in Glasgow, presumably in 1825, but we know very little about it, only that in 1852 a John Henderson Hodge was born, and he was recorded as being the son of James Hodge, a partner in that firm.
This son emigrated to America in 1876, and kept the family association with tobacco by starting a company called the John Hodge Tobacco Company, of Kentucky. A few years after this, he was also joined by his younger brother, Thomas, who appears to have been named for the T. Hodge of the Glaswegian company. John Hodge then wed a local girl, and had three children in fairly close succession in the 1880s, James, William, and John.
Now back home in Glasgow, John Henderson Hodge had retired, and as his brother had presumably died, he left the company to William Hodge, his grandson, who in turn passed it on to his son, another Thomas, who remained in charge right until its closure in the mid 1970s. However in our records it says that the company was acquired by Dobie in 1908, so that could be when John Henderson Hodge died, and he left part of the company to his grandson in order to retain a family connection.
As far as the two claims that they were the first cigarette manufacturer in Scotland, and the first to circulate cigarette cards. "Scottish Scenery" (1893), that is proving difficult to research, but maybe you know? If so do please tell us. And if you have a card of "Scottish Scenery" we would welcome scans of front and back.
In our original World Tobacco Issues Index, the header simply tells us that George Dobie and Sons, Ltd, was "Founded 1809. Trading 1956. Cards issued in 1924 and 1933." Our set is described as :
WEAPONS OF ALL AGES. Sm. 68 x 36. Nd. (25). Issued 1924 ... D42-2
There is another set, too which was obviously discovered after the publication of the "Directory of British Issuers". This has not yet been used on this site, but it was of "Bridge Problems. Circular folders, 64 m/m diameter. Nd. (?22). Issued 1933 ... D42-1"
Now by the time of our update to this volume, the company had become "associated with Godfrey Phillips in the mid 1950s" and more cards had been issued. However you can read about those elsewhere on this site, for we showed one as a Card of the Day on the 1st of October, 2024