Tops Embossed Tin Sign: Vintage 1950’s “Natural Scotch Snuff” – VS6449

We are a one stop shop when it comes to outfitting your man cave or game room. We can can outfit an entire vintage cigar lounge themed room for you, or help you find that one special item that has been missing from your collection.

Tops Embossed Tin Sign Additional Details

Like all of our original collectible advertisements, this vintage Tops embossed tin sign is sold in original, unrestored condition. This sign is in very good condition overall, as pictured, and has its share of scuffs and scrapes, but is overall a very nice example of this now nearly 70-year-old sign. We believe in keeping signs in unrestored condition, because these blemishes are part of the history and story of the item. All of our signs are guaranteed to be authentic, backed by over a century of experience in the antiques and collectibles marketplace. This advertisement is original memorabilia from one of America's most iconic brands. We are a one stop shop when it comes to outfitting your man cave or game room. We can can outfit an entire vintage cigar lounge themed room for you, or help you find that one special item that has been missing from your collection. In addition to signs, we have vintage restored vending machines, and more, that we have fully restored to working, museum quality condition. Our Americana restorations are the best in the business because nobody has been doing it longer, or pays as much attention to detail.

This vintage Tops embossed tin sign is the perfect conversation piece that will wow your friends and clients alike. Like all of our vintage collectible signs, it is guaranteed authentic, investment quality memorabilia. We specialize in those hard to find signs that serious collectors are looking for. All antique collectables offered are genuine memorabilia and appreciable assets, not fake reproductions. All items are fine collectable art at the highest world class collector level. Contact us for pricing on this vintage Tops embossed tin sign, or any of our collectible Americana, antique signs, or old gas pumps at 1-800-292-0008.

About George Washington Helme

Helme, born in Kingston, Pennsylvania, USA, was the ninth child and fifth son of Major Oliver Helme (descendant of an old Rhode Island family begun by Christopher Helme) by his second wife Sarah Pease Fish.

As a young man George Helme obtained a clerkship with Asa Packer, a wealthy contractor involved in the construction of locks, boats, and railroads for the transport of coal (and who eventually founded Lehigh University). In his mid-twenties, Helme resigned his position with Mr. Packer and moved to Louisiana, where his older brother Samuel was living. There he studied law and was admitted to the bar in New Orleans around 1851, subsequently establishing his own law practice, which he continued until the outbreak of the American Civil War.

He returned north to marry Margaret Appleby in 1856 in Spotswood, New Jersey. Their first two children, daughters, were born before the Civil War. The first child, born in New Jersey in 1857, died a year later. Their second child was born in New Jersey in 1859. Their third child was born in Chatawa, Mississippi (about 100 miles north of New Orleans) in 1862, just after war broke out. Their last child, a son, was born after the war in 1866 in New Jersey.

Helmetta: Snuff Town

In 1866 he formed a co-partnership with his brother-in-law Jacob Appleby, for the manufacture of snuff and tobacco. This lasted until 1877 or 1878, when Helme became the full owner of the enterprise, eventually renamed the George W. Helme Tobacco Company, and one of the largest snuff producers in the country. During the middle 1880s he purchased land between Spotswood and Jamesburg, New Jersey on which his mill and 105 homes for workers were built. This area, initially known as Railroad Mills, became Helmetta, New Jersey, and was reputedly named after his youngest daughter Olivia Antoinette, whose nickname was Etta.

At the time of Helme's death Helmetta had a population of five hundred persons, and five factories employing over three hundred persons, many from Spotswood and Jamesburg. For ten years Helme was a member of the board of trustees of the State Reform School at Jamesburg and president of the board for eight years. His family was influential in establishing St. George's Episcopal Church in Helmetta.

Read More At: George Washington Helme On Wikipedia