Bloch Brothers Tobacco Company

The Bloch Brothers Tobacco Company (formerly the Helme Tobacco Company) of Wheeling, West Virginia was a tobacco company founded by brothers Aaron and Samuel Bloch in 1879.[1] It was best known for its Mail Pouch chewing tobacco. Mail Pouch was a popular chew advertised on over 20,000 barns,[2] most of which were located in the rural Ohio River Valley. Each barn had an end or side painted with the familiar Mail Pouch lettering and advertising, "Treat yourself to the best."

Bloch Brothers Tobacco Company
IndustryTobacco
Founded1879
HeadquartersWheeling, West Virginia
Key people
Aaron Bloch, Samuel Bloch
ProductsMail Pouch chewing tobacco
Headquarters building of Bloch Brothers Tobacco Company, Wheeling, West Virginia
Adjacent factory building

The brothers began manufacturing cigars in 1879 as a side-line to Samuel Bloch's wholesale grocery business. It was discovered that the left-over cigar clippings could be flavored and packaged in a paper bag, and then sold. Mail Pouch chewing tobacco is still produced by Swisher International Group.[3]

See also

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References
  1. "Bloch Brothers Tobacco Works [Mail Pouch] > Research | Ohio County Public Library | Ohio County Public Library | Wheeling West Virginia | Ohio County WV | Wheeling WV History |". www.ohiocountylibrary.org. Retrieved 2022-06-30.
  2. "Demolition uncovers Mail Pouch ad". old.post-gazette.com. Retrieved 2022-06-30.
  3. "e-WV | Bloch Brothers Tobacco Company". www.wvencyclopedia.org. Retrieved 2022-06-30.
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