четверг, 28 июня 2007 г.

Lucky Strike

Lucky Strike was founded by R.A. Patterson in Richmond, Va. in 1871. He used the name Lucky Strike in reference to the Gold Rush days. He manufactured several types of tobacco products and offered them in tins of different sizes and shapes. Everything that would appeal to the tobacco user of the time. In 1903, Mr. Patterson sold Lucky Strike to W.T. Blackwell & Company of Durham, NC. Two years later, in 1905, the American Tobacco Company acquired the stock. After that period, Lucky Strike tins had "R.A. Patterson Tobacco Co. Rich'd Va." in the outer circle of the Lucky bulls-eye, and "American Tobacco Company, Successor" stamped on the side. Then in 1917, they removed the Patterson name, added "It's Toasted", and introduced the new Lucky Strike logo to their tins. They also used the new logo to start a new cigarette brand to compete with other popular brands of the day. Luckies were marketed in the same green pack until 1940. These are the packs you see with the word Cigarettes written in large gold letters under the red bulls-eye, taller on the ends and shorter in the middle.

In 1940, they changed the word Cigarettes to small white letters. Then, due to the demand for green pigment for the war effort, and pressure from consumers that disliked the green pack, changed the color of the pack to white in 1942. Hence the phrase, "Lucky Strike green has gone to war". An ad campaign, which was very successful for the American Tobacco Company.

The American Tobacco Company started a new ad campaign in 1944, "Lucky Strike Means Fine Tobacco". The L.S./M.F.T was added to every pack. This slogan was so popular, it was never eliminated from the pack and is still on the Lucky Strike cigarette packs sold today.

About 1909 the American Tobacco Co combined the Lucky Strike tobacco with another ATC brand called Buckingham. This was the beginning of a new brand called Half & Half. They did this until 1939, when they removed the Lucky Strike logo from the can, but continued to market the Half & Half product.

When the ATC ran it's promotional "Lucky Strike green goes off to war", not only did they change the color of the cigarette packs, but they also changed the color of their tobacco tins. Every Lucky Strike container had gone to plain white, but kept the familiar bright red Lucky bulls-eye. Some items where even packaged in white cardboard to save metal for the war effort. New tin packaging was introduced after the war, then due to much competition and a decline in popularity, all tobacco products were discontinued about 1954, with the lone exception of Lucky Strike cigarettes.

In 1986 they made a commemorative pack of green Luckies for 70 years of production.

They closed the original plant in 1987.

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