As requested I’m posting some photos of the Wilson’s Menthol Snuff that Pieter was so kind to sned me from South Africa. This snuff is not on Snuffhouse’s list of snuffs, but it does appear on Filek’s Snuff List of All Time under Swedish Match. My guess is that it is one of the many tobacco companies that are part of that large conglomerate. @Filek, if you read this, please provide a link to the information source that you used for this snuff. As you can see the tin is a bit larger than a normal Wilson’s of Sharrow Tin or a J&H Wilson tin. I’m guessing its about 25g. The surface was very reflective and resisted photographing, so I took several shots. Hopefully you can piece it all together from this. As Pieter said, it says: * WILSON (TOP MILL) (PTY.) LTD. RUSTENBERG S.A. * CAUSES CANCER These letters are embossed along with the principal name in the center. I tried to make a rubbing of this with a pencil, but it didn’t work out very well, so the photos will have to do. To add to the confusion its name is Wilson (Top Mill) which might confuse people who might be thinking of J&H Wilson’s Top Mill No. 1 Snuff.
Just a brief review of it, while I’m here. As someone who is not in love with menthol, I did not find the menthol in this very potent. This is not “super menthol” as I think someone confused it with Singleton’s. It has a spearmint taste, not unlike Taxi Rock, but a little plainer. Its a little rough, but its good. It does get pretty dried out, even though its somewhat course in grind. Pieter recommends keeping a tonka bean in with it, and if I could find one, I certainly would. I just asked at the co-op (health food store) today for one of these, they didn’t know what it was, but I put in a special order to see if they can find some for me.
Also while I was taking pictures, I pulled out the Singleton’s since there seems to be a litte confusion regarding this as well. From the little I know of it, mainly gathering information from Filek’s page again. This seems to have travelled from company to company over the years. It was once produced by J&H Wilson, Illingsworth, and one or two others, before being bought by Swedish Match. Again, it looks to be a semi-independent company within Swedish Match’s conglomerate. When it was under one of the English makers that’s where it was presumably made but possibly sold well in South Africa, so perhaps that’s why Swedish Match has relocated it there. This “tin” is plastic and has a dialing dispenser hole on the edge. Its about the same size as a Wilson’s of Sharrow tin.
Thank you very much Xander, at last Wilson SA is on the world map!!! I will let them know and they might send you a ton of this “wonderful” snuff.
I don’t think I have room to store a ton! But you, and they, are welcome!
Xander, yes it seems as if Swedish Match has gulped down this one as well. But the tins used by this Wilsons rust so badly, I doubt whether they will last long enough to reach the other side of the globe!!
Xander is that rose the Wilson’s (WoS) 10g tin? WoS also make one ounce tins…if it’s the latter, then the Wilson’s SA really is HUGE. I wonder if WoS knows about this South African company. The name confusion seems to me to be interesting to say the least.
@ Xander: Thanks for the review. Pieter sent me the very same tins of snuff - I liked the Singleton’s, but am still unable to open the Wilson’s tin at all, and don’t really want to cut it (or myself, in the process!) open as I like the design of it.
Debbie, I battled with a tin myself. It’s rusted and you will have to knock the lid off. Take a knife, up side down, and hit the lid on the side of the tin lightly. Just make sure that you are working over a piece of paper because once the lid is loose, it will fall off.
Thanks Pieter - I will try that.
The WoS is a 10g. I put the J&H Wilson there too, as I think that shape tin only comes in one size and you’d get the idea of scale. The Wilson’s Menthol Tin is also visible on my desk in the photo in the collection pictures thread, maybe that will give you a better scale. Let me know if you can’t find it. This tin has a bit of rust too under the lip. The lid comes off easily though, just give a little twist.
Hi Filek, No I’m not! I used your site to look it up as I could find no info about it. On your site “Singleton’s Super Menthol” is listed under several companies. Only two (J&H Wilson, and Swedish Match) are still in business. Since J&H Wilson don’t make it anymore as far as I know, I figured it was a Swedish Match owned South African made snuff. It has an address on the back “Singleton, P.O. Box 1889, Potgietersrus 0600” It also has an ISBN number: 6 001754 000029. If any of that helps you, maybe we can learn more about this one.
This habit of buying brand names from defunct companies is interesting. I wonder how closely the recipes are followed? I remember Singletons when it was Singletons, I don’t remember it as anything special. I think Pieter said there was some connection with J and H at some point, I would be interested if any member could shed some light (Roderick?) on how this all happens.
So Filek, is the one I posted completely new to you? Or is Van Erkoms a subsidiary of Swedish Match?
Google Van Erkoms Tobacco and you will find some interesting data
I think Pieter is rather lucky to have these snuffs made in his country. Here in the USA, if you arn’t a Scotch lover, then it’s too bad, of course we have shops that import some, and online buying, but I mean, I wish we in the US had a proper home country made nasal snuff.
I agree, tom.
Maccoboy
Now that’s one I am curious about, but I have never seen it for sale at a shop.
try Nicotine Rush