Hi hilbert,
Thanks for turning the picture around, Yes! these cabinets were used for displaying loose cigarettes with the brand name on the glass and price per oz which varied. Sold in paper bags like loose sweets were sold. However, the tobacco in the loose cigarettes exposed to the air, just dried up and would burn very quickly, hence the vacuum packed tins which made the cabinets obsolete but ideal for collectors to show of their tins or packets.
bacco