Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1897-04-02
CIGAR RIBBONS.
Hlnety-fDua styles Made and Their MAJ
ufactusst ~ Important Industry.

Hlnety-fDuR styles Made and Their Ma.
ufactusar IN Important Industry.
Ono New York firm alone turns out
yearly an average of moro than $2O0,D0O
worth Of cigar ribbons and OH these era
ploys nearlN 500 hands. Until 1868, 1T ia
nid, no, cigar ribbons were manufactured
here. The use of silk ribbons to tie up ci-
cars originated in Cuba. The Smniard's
patriotism impelled HIM to choose the ma
tional colors of rcd and yellow, and tl1eso
two colors> separate or in combination, arc
still the favorites. The, first ribbons were
made In Barcelona andwerc the rich GRIM
son scarlet known as the Figaro, tho vivid
yellow Of the Cabanas; and Partigas and
the red and yellow of tine Espanola.
The first domestic ribbons made were Of
cotton, If II pale yellow with u brown
stripe running down the center, and this
was speedily followed by II ribbon made
wholly If silk. In 1863 u cigar manufac-
turer in this country conceived tho idea Of
having his nane printed on tho elk rib
bon, which had hitherto boon plain, and
also tho shape of the cigar. This was at
first done in black, then III Colors and
eventually in silver and gold, with ON
bOsSctl work and coats of arms. Thon tho
name. was woven into the ribbon instead
of being printed. Many of these ribbons
are still in ,lsc ON expensive goods. Woven
ribbon is very valuable us IL Trademark,
since 1t is impossible to duplicate 1t In
small quantities.
In 1868 tho first ribbon factory was g.
tablishcd in this country by Il man named
Wicke, who established u small factory
near the East river. 1t was operated by
two Swiss. Tho demand tor tho ribbon in
creased, and in 1870 tho profits werU SO
good that Il four loom factory was started
and operated by Swiss wCavcrs especially
imported. Only two widths of what Is
termed "Londrcs' ribbons wtre then
made In 1887 there wero moro ribbons
used in proportion to the total number Of
cigars manufactured in this country than
In any other year, ind since thcn the bun.
ding of cigars has steadily decreased IN
favor of the system Of packing 25 or SO In
box without ribbons, but SO great has
been the increase in the number Of cigars
made, now over 1 1000, 900, 600 yearly, that
the ribbon business has not decreased, but
has steadily held it's own.
Tho raw silk for the ribbon ia imported
direct from Japan and China There arc
Oh styles of cigar ribbons made, varying
in width from one eighth of IN inch to u
inches. United States ribbons arc sold III
Canada in preference to the English make,
although tho duty on our goods Is heavier.
Some of tho machinery is very interesting,
especially tnnt used for weaving in the
namo of the firm in black.
Some years ago tho general public was
bitten by Il cigar ribbon fad, and many
ribbons were sold by cigar dealers to make
lambrcquins, sofa cushions, etc. WON
IN in New Haven made a Table mat of 400
separate ribbons, and 1t fetched $l6O,
while 1, cushion made by II cigar manufac
turing firm us u compliment to an actress
whose name was used us Il trademal (
cost $3.50 simply for tho nccdlcwork and
time expended OH it.-Ncw York Sun.