In the late 19th century a Mr Albert Levy founded the Ardath Tobacco Company based in London. He registered the brand name "State Express" which originated from a previous trip to the USA travelling on the fasted train in the world, ( at the time ) known as the "Empire State Express" with engine number 999. As a result this brand was known as "State Express" and numbered 111 up to 999 to distinguish their differences. No 333 were similar in size to Player's Navy Cut and 444 were Turkish, 777 were cork tipped and so on.

This clock is a bit unusual and has an early battery type mechanism and keeps good time. Has anyone got a spare" 333" 20 packet?? Date late 1920's.

bacco