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Tom Smith and the History of the Christmas Cracker

by Peter Kimpton

By , About.com Guide

What if the Christmas Cracker hadn't been invented when it was? No, this is not the opening line of one of those corny Cracker jokes but a serious question. What if, here in 2007, you were a businessman and some young fellow offered you this quite flimsy decorative paper object as a new money making concept? You would probably smile politely and show him the door. But what if he told you that his invention would still be going strong 150 years later? Almost certainly you wouldn't believe him – after all, how many products survive for that length of time virtually unchanged?

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Click on each picture for larger image and more information.

Images 1-12 of 14
Tom Smith 1823 - 1869Bank of Love Cracker BoxA.J. CaleyBatgers Cracker Box
A. J. Munnings1891/1892 Catalogue Covers1903/04 & 1906/07 Catalogue CoversCracker Box Label
1910/1911 Tom Smith Catalog1930/1931 Catalogue CoverCracker Box Label 1930/1931Tom Smith's Factory Fire 1963
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