An unusual and very rare 1920s brass cigarette dispenser / cigar cutter / match holder / ashtray in the form of a torpedo, found in Germany.
Made of brass, in the shape of a torpedo, the body lifts to load, and lowers to dispense a cigarette. The ends twist to open and access a latch that drops the sides of the body, for loading cigarettes. The brass rotating propeller is a 3 blade cigar cutter. The brass fin is a match holder with Emery strikers. The heavier bottom-enameled ashtray sits on solid round brass feet.
It is marked “D.R.G. or Deutsche Reichsbahn-Gesellschaft (“German Imperial Railway Company”, 1924-1937.) This smoking set was made for the inauguration of the railway in 1924 and used in their saloon/lounge cars.
Excerpt from Wilkipedia:
” … on 30 August 1924 a law was enacted providing for the establishment of a state owned Deutsche Reichsbahn-Gesellschaft (“German Imperial Railway Company”, DRG) as a public holding company to operate the national railways. The aim was to earn profits which, in accordance with the Dawes Plan, were to be used to contribute to Germany’s war reparations. …”
This is a rare and historically significant addition to any collection of tobacco-, railroad-, and/or military-related objects.
Approximate dimensions: 8 7/8″ long, 4″ high, 4 3/4″ deep.
Condition: in excellent vintage condition with minor wear consistent with age, with very shallow, almost undiscernable dings on the striated body, please see the pictures.