From Chris Rundle
Your item about self-lighting cigarettes stirred memories buried in a haze of ancient smoke (19 March, p 25). The Israelis may be about to patent the idea, but the British beat them to it – by about 40 years.
Self-igniting ciggies were sold, albeit briefly, in tobacconists’ shops in the UK in the 1960s, along with a host of other unusual smokers’ requisites, including double-length cigarettes (sold singly) and packets of five Woodbines, for days when the pocket money was running low.
I can no longer recall the brand name, but I clearly remember them having a red band around the tip, which would splutter into life when rubbed against the striker on the side of the pack. They weren’t around very long, they didn’t always work, and serious smokers claimed the sulphur taint sucked through the cigarette on lighting spoilt the flavour of the tobacco, though this was of such poor quality that others argued its flavour was actually improved.
Williton, Somerset, UK
