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DENICOTINED CIGARETTES

Several brands claiming reduced nicotine enjoyed minor success from the 1920s through the mid-1950s. O-Nic-O, Sano and Sacketts Denicotined (the latter is not included) were the major brands. Each claimed that the denicotining conferred health protection. Medical endorsements were frequent parts of package labeling and advertising.

Next De-Nic and Benson and Hedges De-Nic were test marketed by Philip Morris in 1990. The products used a denicotining process similar to the decaffeination process General Foods uses for Sanka. Scientists at RJR demonstrated that people smoking Next absorbed virtually no nicotine and did not experience EEG changes characteristic of smoking. The scientists concluded that nicotine in cigarettes is responsible for the EEG changes.
(Benson and Hedges De-Nic courtesy of Lee Fairbanks, M.D.)

HEALTH PROTECTION FILTERS 1930 - 1960
DuMaurier was introduced in 1930 (initially in the UK) as a filter cigarette that reduced health problems from cigarettes without interfering with nicotine delivery. The filter was made of crepe paper, a design that continued to be in common use through the 1950s when cellulose acetate became dominant because of inexpensive manufacturing costs and improved appearance. (DuMaurier, 1937)

Viceroy and Parliament were early competitors of DuMaurier for the health-conscious market. Viceroy 70 mm, 1945; Viceroy 85 mm, 1953; Parliament (actually a nonfilter, low nicotine version shown here), 1937.

Cigarette holders promised reduced hazard from smoking through various filter devices. Denicotea, from Dunhill, is still on the market. The Boquilla Sanicot cigarette holder- filter in the exhibit comes from Argentina, 1951.

Lorillard introduced its Kent Micronite filter in 1952. Advertising promised "the greatest health protection in cigarette history." The filter used crocidolite asbestos until 1956 or 57 despite the fact that consultants for the company demonstrated that asbestos fibers were in Kent cigarette smoke in early 1954. The cigarette on exhibit is from a pack of original Kent cigarettes. The blue fibers interleaved with the crepe paper are crocidolite and dyed cotton.

L&M was a major competitor of Kent and Viceroy in the 1950s. The packs illustrate the 70 mm size typical of the period. L&M advertising declared that it used a non-mineral, dust free, and safe filtering material. The packs on exhibit date from 1954 and the late 1950s.

FILTER INNOVATION: THE LAST GENERATION
  • Life (Brown & Williamson, 85 mm filter, 1959; 100 mm filter,1971) Millecel filter.
  • Avalon (Brown & Williamson, 85 mm filter, 1963)
    Triple filter: Millecel, charcoal, Estron
  • Waterford (American, 1965).
    Pinch filter to release water into filter
  • Benson & Hedges Multifilter (Philip Morris, 1969)
    Charcoal and cellulos acetate with plastic baffle to increase ventilation
  • Actron (Brown & Williamson, 1971)
    The example in the exhibit is a trademark pack.
  • Concord (Philip Morris, 1985).
    Dial various degrees of ventilation at the filter end
  • Fact (Brown & Williamson, 1975)
    Selective filtration of aldehydes with an anion exchange resin. U. S. Patent 3,828,800
  • Decade (Liggett & Myers, 1977)
    Selective filtration