Some Imperial smoking items...

[Deruelle]

Sorry for the photo, I don't understand I try again

[Deruelle]

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[Deruelle]

cigarette case

[Deruelle]

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[Deruelle]

...

[Tom Y]

Not German, but from her Gallant Allies. Turkish meerschaum, NZ bringback from Gallipoli or thereabouts.

[Daniel Murphy]

Finally, here is my favorite Imperial smoking item. In 1991, while wandering about on the crest of the Dead Man at Verdun, I spotted the edge of this sticking up out of the dirt. After carefully wiggling this straight up and out of the earth, I realized it was a cigarette tin. A friend got excited, grabbed it from me and opened it (thankfully doing no further damage to it) thinking there might be an Iron Cross inside. Sadly there was nothing inside but dirt and it was only when I got back to the hotel that I cleaned it and realized that much of the lithography was intact. Having been in the ground for 70+ years the condition is remarkable. It is a tin for "Gold Saba" cigarettes made by Garbaty of Berlin. I often wonder if the Prussian owner survived the battle.

Dan

Edited December 4, 2006 by Daniel Murphy

[Daniel Murphy]

Open.

[mott5ranch]

Finally, here is my favorite Imperial smoking item. In 1991, while wandering about on the crest of the Dead Man at Verdun, I spotted the edge of this sticking up out of the dirt. After carefully wiggling this straight up and out of the earth, I realized it was a cigarette tin. A friend got excited, grabbed it from me and opened it (thankfully doing no further damage to it) thinking there might be an Iron Cross inside. Sadly there was nothing inside but dirt and it was only when I got back to the hotel that I cleaned it and realized that much of the lithography was intact. Having been in the ground for 70+ years the condition is remarkable. It is a tin for "Gold Saba" cigarettes made by Garbaty of Berlin. I often wonder if the Prussian owner survived the battle.

Dan

Looks like a bullet went through it . . . . I've shot enough metal things to know. That was in my younger days of course.

[Daniel Murphy]

Looks like a bullet went through it . . . . I've shot enough metal things to know. That was in my younger days of course.

Yes, that is why I have always wondered if the original owner survived. Actually it would have been a shell splinter since the shape of the hole is squared off.

[JensF.]

Especially in Verdun many items were hit again and again by shell fragments. It must not mean, the owner carried it as it was hit. Or lets hope, he didn't...

Here is a Batschari cigarette tin from neighbouring Cote 304.

[JensF.]

Inner side:

[Jef]

This cigar is a bit younger. Should I keep it for a special occasion...?

[attachmentid=63770][attachmentid=63771][attachmentid=63772][attachmentid=63773]

[Daniel Murphy]

Here is a nice trench art lighter made from shell case brass. This is so precisely made without even a seam visible, it has got to be German. A very classy and stylish piece that I purchase from a German man who collected old lighters. It is engraved only "Verdun". No need to elaborate on that!

Dan

Jens,

I would love to know how they did the old lithography on those cigarette tins that made the label so resistant to oxidation. Simply amazing they have survived.

Edited December 12, 2006 by Daniel Murphy

[Daniel Murphy]

Open.

[Hauptmann]

Hi all,

Here's a few bits I thought I'd add to the pile.

Not sure if this lighter is WWI or WWII... no markings but the old girl still works and is in great shape:

[Hauptmann]

This one is definitely Imperial:

Sadly missing the main part on top but looks as if a new one could be screwed right in. Finding one would be the trick though.

[Hauptmann]

Imperial pipe:

[Hauptmann]

[Hauptmann]

Matches:

[Hauptmann]

[Hauptmann]

That's it for now.

Dan

[Gilles]

And bottom view with makers name and city.

made in Hamburg, nowadays they write it "Jungfernstieg"

[Gilles]

They can't be seen too well though in the packet.

They look like... magic cigarettes! Was it the secret behind German warfare?

[Tom Y]

Along with the bar I just posted was this matchbox cover.

U-shaped, black enamel over blued steel with an applied EK.